REVIEW: Un Verano Sin Ti
PHOTO: The Album cover for Bad Bunny’s Un Verano Sin Ti
By Xochitl Armién,
BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–
Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny, released his latest Album Un Verano Sin Ti on May 6th 2022. In this 23 song album, Bad Bunny gives us upbeat summer beach vibes, as he created the album to be enjoyed at the beach. He puts emphasis on Latino sounds with genres from all over Latin America and the Caribbean as well as an almost all Puerto Rican feature list.
Different from the Urban Trap style he rose to popularity from, this album has a lighthearted, ambient vibe. We get a taste of Bossa Nova in “Yo no soy celoso”, Dembow in Titi me pregunto” and Reggaeton in “La Corriente”. “El Apagon” begins with traditional Afro Puerto Rican Bomba drumming and ends in techno beats. Each sound featured on the album works together to create the perfect summer vibe.
Un Verano Sin Ti speaks to the beauty and struggles of the Puerto Rican people. Bad Bunny discusses the surge of new age colonization with wealthy Americans moving to Puerto Rico for tax breaks, heavy tourism and its effects on Puerto Ricans in the song “ El Apagon”, with the lines: “Yo no me quiero ir de aquí, Que se vayan ellos” which means “ I don’t want to leave, they should leave” which speaks to the the surge of new age colonization with wealthy Americans moving to Puerto Rico and heavy tourism raising the prices, taking land from Puerto Ricans and destroying nature. In the line “Ahora todos quieren ser latino, Pero les falta sazón”, “Now everyone wants to be Latino but they’re missing flavor” he critiques the appropriation of Latino culture. This song sends the message that Puerto Rican culture is not for sale.
In “Andrea”, a song of femme empowerment, Bad Bunny sings to the experiences and struggles of so many women in Puerto Rico and beyond. However the song has dark origins as it is named after a woman who was murdered by her boyfriend last year. The song speaks on femicide and violence against women. Coincidentally it aligns with the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the rise in debate over women’s autonomy over their bodies. “This is about a woman who wants to live a free life in Puerto Rico,” Raquel Berríos of Buscabulla who was featured on this song said.
A highlight from this album is “Después de la Playa”. This song will transport you to the beach with the lyrics and Merengue that is sure to make you dance.
Bad Bunny spent time in the Dominican Republic while recording Un Verano Sin Ti, thus the album is full of Dominican influence. Unfortunately, with only one Dominican artist featured, the album is lacking in Dominican representation, leading many to question whether the diversity in genres included is appreciation or appropriation.
Overall Bad Bunny did not disappoint. This album is a great vibe and a reminder that summer is on the way.
