April 8, 2024 • 26 mins
Since the beginning of his career, Bad Bunny has stood out as an opinion leader and activist for issues that concern him, which are the same issues that affect the population inside and outside of Puerto Rico. With interviews featuring the founders of Bad Bunny Syllabus
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
In the previous episode, we talked about how in just
six years, Bad Bunny has managed to position himself at
the top of the world through fun and danceable music.
He makes sure that people are having a good time,
but he has also had lower moments. In an embarrassing
episode for Benito, a fan approached him in the Dominican
(00:28):
Republic intending to take a selfie. In the video of
the incident, which went viral, you can see many people
around Benito. That fan who approached him took out her
phone and turned on the camera, ready to snap a photo.
With the artist visibly agitated, he snatched the cell phone
and hurled it far away. The surrounding fans watched in shock.
(00:54):
Some speculate that the phone landed in the water, as
they were near the sea at the time. Was recorded
and elicited a myriad of opinions from thousands of fans
and observers around the world. While some backed him up,
seeing it as a defense of his personal space, others
criticized him for being insensitive to a fan. Dominican legal
(01:19):
experts weighed in, suggesting that the singer could face legal repercussions.
Even allegations of gender violence for the behavior. In most
of his recent album Nay Armagnana, Bud Bunny sings in
the first track na yasawe a much Mr donor Mifan,
(01:44):
there are many people waiting for my failure. Sadly, those
people gotta suck it up. You're not my real fan.
That's why I threw away your phone. But that episode
is just a tiny glimpse into Benito's leffe in the limelight.
Over the years, He's emerged as a prominent voice on
matters that resonate within him, addressing issues that impact not
(02:08):
only Puerto Rico but the broader community, and there are many.
Though he's been a celebrated artist for six years, but
Bunny is only thirty years old. This period has been
tumultuous for Puerto Rico. Puerto Ricans, including Benito, have navigated
incalculable challenges. Economically, the island is grappling with debt to
(02:33):
the United States exceeding seventy billion dollars debt that formed
from predatory lenders from vulture funds, and to make it
more problematic to access capital markets, its geographical position makes
Puerto Rico susceptible to hurricanes. With Hurricane Maria in twenty seventeen,
being the most destructive. The island is also situated in
(02:58):
a seismically active region, which led to a devastating series
of earthquakes in twenty twenty. Politically, it witnessed large scale
protests in twenty nineteen that culminated in the governor's resignation,
many say thanks in part to Bad Bunny's activism, Yet
many feel the status quo remains unchanged. Despite these challenges,
(03:21):
there are figures like Bad Bunny who strive to uplift spirits.
They get people moving, all while spotlighting corruption, injustice, and colonialism.
Their overarching mission to elevate the name of Puerto Rico.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
And again, Bad Bunny, but everything that he represents and
talks about, which he's very explicit about, is always going
to center on Puerto Rican people and Puerto Rico as
a place.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
She is Vanie Adillas, a scholar deeply versed in Bad
Bunny and the history of Puerto Rico. As she explains,
there's a facet of this artist that is politically charged
and dedicated to specific causes. In essence, behind the Bad
Bunny persona, there is a Good Bunny advocating for change
(04:16):
he grew.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Up under colonialism, and his artistry is actually indebted to
those conditions and to those struggles. You know, he is
who he is as an artist because he is Puerto Rican,
and so that's why, you know, no matter what he
wavers on.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
After a conflict with Spain, the United States claimed Puerto
Rico as a territory. However, its residents don't possess the
same rights as those in the Fifty States. This disparity
is why many both on the island and abroad, see
Puerto Rico still as a colonial possession. The island's artistic expressions,
particularly its protest music, frequently touched on this theme. Many
(04:55):
were influenced by the tunes of Noel Rnandez, an early
figure in the Neuel movement. There's also Dan Riuea, Proy Brown,
and the quintessential pro independence rock band of the Kids
Like Me growing up in the early two thousands, fiel
A la Vega. They all championed Puerto Rican independence. To
(05:18):
the younger generations, this might seem outdated or dull, Puerto
Rican music has evolved immensely. While regedon is typically associated
with celebration and escaping life's troubles. It hasn't shied away
from political discourse. This was evident in episode seven titled
Without Pereo, There's No Revolution. It's clear that Reggaeton has
(05:42):
the power to unsettle those in authority. So in this
episode we delve into Bad Bunnies socio political impact. I'm
Lela Luciano and you're listening to a flow. Season two,
Episode nine, Good Bunny. As an artist, Benito has shattered
(06:07):
preconceived notions surrounding Reggaeton. With each accolade and record breaking achievement.
As highlighted in our previous episode, he has defied expectations.
Yet surprisingly, Bad Bunny has also found a place in
a realm one wouldn't typically associate with Regton Academia.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
My name is Professor Venessadias. I'm an Associate professor of
Chicano Chicano and Latino Latino Studies at Loyola Marymount University
in Los Angeles.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
I'm Petra Rivera Rideaux. I'm Associate professor of American Studies
at Wellesley College.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Petra and Vanissa came together to start an ambitious and
innovative project to take Bad Bunny's lyrics and messages to
new heights.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
We use Bad Bunny's work to talk about bigger social,
political historical issues like the debt crisis in Puerto Rico,
Hurricane Maria, LGBT rights, the history of reggaeton, and things
like that. We realized that there was a lot of
information that we could bring together from the two classes
(07:15):
to create this website, which is really an online resource
and educational resource for people who are interested in Bad Bunny,
in reggaeton, in Puerto Rican politics.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Pedro Rivero and Vanessa J. Dias, both professors and cultural
studies in anthropology, started exploring Regton as a significant artistic
and cultural subject worthy of scholarly attention. They zeroed in
on Bad Bunny as a lens to examine more than
just Regton. In collaboration, they developed the Bad Bunny syllabus
(07:54):
asipher the essence of this artist and the massive movement
he is spearheaded. However, their journey has been fraught with challenges.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
That I think on the surface, for some critics, it
looks like we're just kind of fan girling about Bad Bunny,
so that in the classroom we're just watching music videos
and talking about how much we love him. I think
that's where some of the controversy comes from. And I
think the second thing that's controversial to some people is
generally the idea of cregathon being a class I think
(08:26):
Gregadon is a type of music that in its beginnings
is associated with drugs, with violence, stereotyped as something that
is like very uncouth, you know.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
From the confines of their classrooms. These educators resonate with
the wave of activism that Bad Bunny, in collaboration with
other Puerto Rican artists, infused into the streets of Puerto
Rico in twenty nineteen. Bunnisa believes Bad Bunny represents so
much more than just his melodies.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
So much about Bad Bunny that doesn't adhere to typical
rises to fame, even you know, as that is changing
so much with influencer and celebrity culture. You know, he
is doing something different from his language politics as gender
and sexuality politics. He's breaking all these records for a reason,
and that's why I think we do need to take
him seriously as a cultural figure and the history of
(09:20):
reregaton and the history of Puerto Rican music.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
To Vanisa, Bad Bunny stands as a symbol for numerous
righteous battles, notably those around gender identity. His single Joe
Perrio Sola from the album Duago Lana, comes with a
potent video co directed by him and Stills. The video
features the artist wearing a tight red vinyl mini skirt,
(09:46):
high heeled boots of the same material, bold red lips,
short sleek hair, and long gold earrings, embracing various feminine attires.
Bad Bunny dances solo in the video, taking a stance
against gender based violence both on and off the dance floor. Prominently,
(10:07):
a sign reading nunamenos is displayed. It's been a global
call that refers to not wanting a single more woman
to die as a result of gender based violence. This
was groundbreaking. No CIEs Regaeton artists has ever presented themselves
(10:27):
fully in feminine attire, a move seen by many is
not only taboo, but also a departure from traditional machista
gender norms. Jo Pereosola paved the way for him to
clinch the Best Latin Artist title at the twenty twenty
Billboard Awards. Upon receiving the honor, Bad Bunny gave a
(10:48):
heartfelt speech quote, this award goes out to all the
women worldwide, especially Ladinas and those from Puerto Rico. Without you,
there would be no music, no Reggedon. Let's put an
end to violence against women. It is time to educate
(11:09):
now for a brighter future. While I don't make social
message songs, we need to understand that one can dance,
be courteous and respectful simultaneously. If she doesn't want to
dance with you, respect her decision. She dances by herself.
(11:30):
And I want to take a moment now to urge
you to go back to season one and listen to
the episode called Donna Velda about my own grandmother's legacy
in the fight against domestic violins, the law she passed,
and her role in the global emergence of Reggedon. If
(11:51):
you haven't done so bad, Bunny shone a light on
the silent struggles women and door, and also paid homage
to an art artists who broke ground with her line
no quierrere si que plakama boy acknowledging Lorena Ivi Quin,
whom we covered in the first episode of this season.
(12:14):
That wasn't the only accolade for him. The following year,
he bagged the same award along with seven others Benito
Martinez has blazed trails in addressing gender matters and advocating
for LGBTQ rights. In February twenty twenty, Puerto Rico was
jolted by another hate crime. The victim was Alek San
(12:38):
Negron Luciano, an unhoused transgender woman from the town of Toabaja.
After using a women's restroom at a fast food restaurant,
she was removed following complaints. She was later ridiculed by
a crowd outside, and soon after she was found dead
from gunshot wounds. Three years later, two men pleaded guilty
(13:04):
for having committed the assassination, but in the aftermath of
the attacks, the local media grossly misreported it as the
killing of a man in a skirt. Weeks later, that
Bunny took to Jimmy Fallon's The Tonight Show, performing ignorants such.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
He's teaching people on live national television what is happening
in Puerto Rico. When he goes on that show and
he's wearing a shirt that says Matara Alexa Noah nombrek fa.
He is teaching people about a crisis in Puerto Rico
around trans violence, around femicide, around LGBTQ hatred right on
(13:45):
homophobia and transphobia.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
It highlighted a pressing issue in Puerto Rico and Latin America. Indeed, globally,
transphobia is real, and some leverage their platforms and lyrical
prowess to con well. Transfemicides represent a dire manifestation of hatred.
They aren't the only type of violence against women that
this artist speaks out against.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
One of his very early music videos, solo That Me,
which is just a woman singing. It's his voice, but
she's mouthing his words at a microphone and it's just her.
But then you see her head snap back, and then
when she shows you when she comes back to the front,
she has a black eye, right, So she's someone who's
experiencing domestic violence in this video. That's really important in
(14:35):
the context of this crisis in Puerto Rico of women
being killed. We're almost desensitized to it. It's so commonplace.
I think it's also really significant not just that he
has this kind of gender fluidity within the Latin music industry,
within this machista genre, but also in the broader society.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
In Puerto Rico. According to the World Health Organization, one
in three women experience some form of gender based violence.
He speaks out against this abuse, using lyrics exclusively in Spanish.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
They think it makes a major intervention. It's part of
what makes him bad. Bunny grew up in a generation
where there's still profound homophobia, but there's more of a
conversation about that, and I think that's also what endears
him to people. I think it's really important for Puerto
Rican society, for US society, for Latine LATINX communities, to
(15:39):
have that kind of representation someone who's provoking discussion about it.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
Vanessa suggests that that Bunny not only celebrates the Spanish language,
but also elevates it to a political level, affirming and
championing Latin American identity.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
We need people to be interested in the issues that
are facing portoc We need people to be interested in colonialism.
We need people to want to know what's happening with
electricity and Puerto Rico, what happened with Hurricane Maria. Well,
when that Buney goes on Jimmy Fallon and says Trump
is a total failure, he's not serving Puerto Rico. We
(16:17):
still don't have electricity on the whole island a year
after Hurricane Maria. People are suffering.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
It's no overstatement for numerous individuals both within and outside
of Puerto Rico. The landscape dramatically shifted after the catastrophic
Hurricane Maria in twenty seventeen, amidst an ongoing economic crisis.
The country was hit by this climate calamity, with wind
speeds reaching two hundred and fifty kilometers per hour, laying
(16:46):
waste to everything it encountered, road bridges, infrastructure, homes, trees,
communication towers, and the lives of every Puerto Rican there.
The official deathtell at the time stood at sixty four. However,
(17:08):
internal reports from the island and academic studies in the
US estimated Maria caused nearly three thousand casualties. Despite the challenges,
Puerto Rican's resistance remains strong. The term resilient after Maria
became a bit of a cussword because Puerto Ricans were
(17:30):
sick and tired of having to be resilient. E la bagon,
a song he wrote after the devastation, spotlights the aftermath
of Hurricane Maria, particularly its impact on the island's electrical infrastructure,
but also widespread gentrification and the rise in the cost
of living for locals that has followed tax incentives used
(17:53):
by rich, generally Americans, and have caused the displacement of
many Puerto Ricans. This track from the album umb Renosinti
sets dance floors ablaze with its electronic rhythms, all while
celebrating the things Puerto Ricans hold dear, the sun, the beach,
and our homeland. Simultaneously, it sends a clear message to
(18:18):
both corrupt politicians but also new colonizers, insisting they're the
ones that should leave. As he continuously echoes Puerto Ricue
Tavien Caron. While the song itself is potent, its deeper
social commentary might be overlooked by some. However, the accompany
(18:39):
and music video, directed by Puerto Rican director Caccio Lopez
and reported by Puerto Rican journalist Bianca Rollo, tells a different,
profound story. While the song duration is three minutes and
twenty one seconds, the video extends to twenty two minutes
and fifty three seconds. It's a captivating show film, employing
(19:01):
a mix of styles and documenting the voice of the
most vulnerable Puerto Ricans fearing and experiencing displacement. There are
scenes of Bad Bunny performing in the streets of his
homeland and also everyday people lip syncing the track. Intertwined
are interviews with ordinary citizens voicing their concerns about the
(19:22):
ongoing challenges, such as the frequent electrical outages, the accelerating gentrification,
and violence, among other issues.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
In his music, you feel the pain, you feel the love,
you feel the anger in something like e la bagon,
but you also feel the joy when that song turns
into this like club bang, right Like you feel all
of these tensions, and that is the music for Puerto Rico.
That is the reality, and that's what he's doing. And
so I think that we can look at sort of
(19:54):
where did he come from and what are his upbringings?
And everyone in Puerto Rico has a different experience because
everyone all of these different realities, but I think that
there is common cultural experiences and he represents those.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
The lyrics go another blackout, off to the beaches to
spark one up. The video carries a direct yet profound title,
people Live Here Aki bive Hinte. Today Bad Bunny might
be recognized as a millionaire artist, but his upbringing was
not glamorous. He grew up facing the same kinds of
(20:34):
struggles as millions of middle class Perto Ricans who often
grapple with the disparities in comparison to Americans due to
colonialist policies they have significant It is the US that
reigns supreme over the island and its resources will continue
after the break. As highlighted in the last segment, Bad
(21:02):
Bunny is not one to hold his tongue. The kind
of upbringing he had shared by millions of his fellow
Puerto Ricans taught him to speak up against injustices. In
his live performances, he vocalizes issues close to his heart.
At a concert during his most recent tour in Puerto Rico,
not only did he kick off a heartfelt homage to
(21:24):
his roots, but he also took a moment to criticize
the island's persistent electricity issues. He remarked that it's the
only place where he needs to have backup generators in
case a blackout happens. During a show, he did not
mince words when he spoke about Governor Pierre luisidemning him
(21:44):
for his support of the island's private electric company, Luma.
This tour promoted his latest studio album, Umberanosinti. As we
discussed in the prior segment, the album beautifully melds various
elements that evoke Puerto Rican pride. Such a rich cultural
and historical backdrop serves as a tool for Petra and
(22:07):
Vanessa to captivate their students. By integrating Bad Bunny into
their curriculum, they aim to address an issue all of
us who grew up in the island personally faced learning
too little about Puerto Rico during our academic journeys.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
When I was developing my course, I wanted to use
Bad Bunny as this hook to talk about Puerto Rico,
just like his music is a hook to talk about
Puerto Rico. And I use his work, his artistry, his lyrics,
his celebrity status to talk about these bigger issues in
Puerto Rico and beyond.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
Understanding the full picture requires a look beyond Bad Bunny's success.
For this multifaceted artist, the journey hasn't always been smooth
or joyous. In March twenty twenty three, Carl's de la Cruz,
a former romantic partner of the singer, filed a forty
million dollar lawsuit against him. She claimed that he used
(23:04):
a recording of her voice in which she says bad
Bunny baby in two of his tracks without her consent,
Yet it's irrefutable that Bad Bunny has left a profound
mark on millions of fans globally. He has also significantly
influenced the professional paths of Pedra and Vanessa, as well
(23:26):
as the academic pursuits of their students, perhaps in ways
he never even anticipated.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
We use Bad Bunny as the hook, but it's bigger
than that. What he is doing has major cultural and
political consequences. He is putting Puerto Rico on the map,
and has put Puerto Rico on the map in a
very different and important way than we've seen artists do before.
He's creating space for people, diverse people, diverse kinds of representation,
(23:54):
especially younger people, to feel affirmed in their gender and
sexual identities.
Speaker 1 (24:01):
Clearly, this artist offers much more than just melodies, beats,
and a great sense of style. Drawing from a playful
twist on his stage name, Bad Bunny founded the Good
Bunny Foundation, its mission to promote sports, music, and culture
throughout Puerto Rico streets, aiming to steer kids away from
(24:22):
violent environments. A notable initiative under its umbrella was dubbed
Umberano Gontiu. These efforts led to presence for countless underprivileged children,
a cause close to bad Bunny's heart, considering that a
mere six years ago, his own circumstances weren't very different.
(24:47):
Even though there were instances where he upset a fan
by tossing away her phone or faced a lawsuit from
a past relationship, Bud Bunny's reputation remains largely untarnished. We've
covered two full episodes of our series talking about him,
both the good and the bad, But what we know
(25:08):
is his public image. As he himself said in his
song NADIYESAUI Hey l woodso hey, people got to stop
being so stupid and thinking they know the lives of celebrities.
Speaker 3 (25:25):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (25:26):
So many podcasts, so much nonsense. His fame and his
talent led him to collaborate with people both on and
off the island. His reach expends far beyond Puerto Rico
as well. Recently, he partnered with a Spaniard who began
her journey in classical music but gradually drifted towards beats,
(25:48):
resonating with Bad Bunny's flavor and that of his fellow
Puerto Ricans not to mention the impact of Puerto Ricans
on the beats of her heart. Stay tuned and discover
more in the next episode of A Flow Season two.
Speaker 4 (26:10):
The second season of A Flow was written and produced
by Albero Sispidis and Reynold Gutierris in partnership with Iheart's
Michael Tura podcast network, and is hosted by me Le Luciano,
edited by Karmel Grattroli, fact checking by Samaria Guiri. Executive
producers are Carmel Grattoli, Rose reed isak Lee and Lee
(26:31):
A Luciano. Sound designed by pacis Ubo Mindoza and Gonzalo Masi.
Special thanks to Veronica Hernandez and Pedro Guire. Our executive
producers that iHeart are Desel Bansis and Arlene Santana. For
more Michael Tura podcasts, listen to the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,
or wherever you get your favorite shows.
In the previous episode, we talked about how in just
six years, Bad Bunny has managed to position himself at
the top of the world through fun and danceable music.
He makes sure that people are having a good time,
but he has also had lower moments. In an embarrassing
episode for Benito, a fan approached him in the Dominican
(00:28):
Republic intending to take a selfie. In the video of
the incident, which went viral, you can see many people
around Benito. That fan who approached him took out her
phone and turned on the camera, ready to snap a photo.
With the artist visibly agitated, he snatched the cell phone
and hurled it far away. The surrounding fans watched in shock.
(00:54):
Some speculate that the phone landed in the water, as
they were near the sea at the time. Was recorded
and elicited a myriad of opinions from thousands of fans
and observers around the world. While some backed him up,
seeing it as a defense of his personal space, others
criticized him for being insensitive to a fan. Dominican legal
(01:19):
experts weighed in, suggesting that the singer could face legal repercussions.
Even allegations of gender violence for the behavior. In most
of his recent album Nay Armagnana, Bud Bunny sings in
the first track na yasawe a much Mr donor Mifan,
(01:44):
there are many people waiting for my failure. Sadly, those
people gotta suck it up. You're not my real fan.
That's why I threw away your phone. But that episode
is just a tiny glimpse into Benito's leffe in the limelight.
Over the years, He's emerged as a prominent voice on
matters that resonate within him, addressing issues that impact not
(02:08):
only Puerto Rico but the broader community, and there are many.
Though he's been a celebrated artist for six years, but
Bunny is only thirty years old. This period has been
tumultuous for Puerto Rico. Puerto Ricans, including Benito, have navigated
incalculable challenges. Economically, the island is grappling with debt to
(02:33):
the United States exceeding seventy billion dollars debt that formed
from predatory lenders from vulture funds, and to make it
more problematic to access capital markets, its geographical position makes
Puerto Rico susceptible to hurricanes. With Hurricane Maria in twenty seventeen,
being the most destructive. The island is also situated in
(02:58):
a seismically active region, which led to a devastating series
of earthquakes in twenty twenty. Politically, it witnessed large scale
protests in twenty nineteen that culminated in the governor's resignation,
many say thanks in part to Bad Bunny's activism, Yet
many feel the status quo remains unchanged. Despite these challenges,
(03:21):
there are figures like Bad Bunny who strive to uplift spirits.
They get people moving, all while spotlighting corruption, injustice, and colonialism.
Their overarching mission to elevate the name of Puerto Rico.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
And again, Bad Bunny, but everything that he represents and
talks about, which he's very explicit about, is always going
to center on Puerto Rican people and Puerto Rico as
a place.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
She is Vanie Adillas, a scholar deeply versed in Bad
Bunny and the history of Puerto Rico. As she explains,
there's a facet of this artist that is politically charged
and dedicated to specific causes. In essence, behind the Bad
Bunny persona, there is a Good Bunny advocating for change
(04:16):
he grew.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Up under colonialism, and his artistry is actually indebted to
those conditions and to those struggles. You know, he is
who he is as an artist because he is Puerto Rican,
and so that's why, you know, no matter what he
wavers on.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
After a conflict with Spain, the United States claimed Puerto
Rico as a territory. However, its residents don't possess the
same rights as those in the Fifty States. This disparity
is why many both on the island and abroad, see
Puerto Rico still as a colonial possession. The island's artistic expressions,
particularly its protest music, frequently touched on this theme. Many
(04:55):
were influenced by the tunes of Noel Rnandez, an early
figure in the Neuel movement. There's also Dan Riuea, Proy Brown,
and the quintessential pro independence rock band of the Kids
Like Me growing up in the early two thousands, fiel
A la Vega. They all championed Puerto Rican independence. To
(05:18):
the younger generations, this might seem outdated or dull, Puerto
Rican music has evolved immensely. While regedon is typically associated
with celebration and escaping life's troubles. It hasn't shied away
from political discourse. This was evident in episode seven titled
Without Pereo, There's No Revolution. It's clear that Reggaeton has
(05:42):
the power to unsettle those in authority. So in this
episode we delve into Bad Bunnies socio political impact. I'm
Lela Luciano and you're listening to a flow. Season two,
Episode nine, Good Bunny. As an artist, Benito has shattered
(06:07):
preconceived notions surrounding Reggaeton. With each accolade and record breaking achievement.
As highlighted in our previous episode, he has defied expectations.
Yet surprisingly, Bad Bunny has also found a place in
a realm one wouldn't typically associate with Regton Academia.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
My name is Professor Venessadias. I'm an Associate professor of
Chicano Chicano and Latino Latino Studies at Loyola Marymount University
in Los Angeles.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
I'm Petra Rivera Rideaux. I'm Associate professor of American Studies
at Wellesley College.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Petra and Vanissa came together to start an ambitious and
innovative project to take Bad Bunny's lyrics and messages to
new heights.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
We use Bad Bunny's work to talk about bigger social,
political historical issues like the debt crisis in Puerto Rico,
Hurricane Maria, LGBT rights, the history of reggaeton, and things
like that. We realized that there was a lot of
information that we could bring together from the two classes
(07:15):
to create this website, which is really an online resource
and educational resource for people who are interested in Bad Bunny,
in reggaeton, in Puerto Rican politics.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Pedro Rivero and Vanessa J. Dias, both professors and cultural
studies in anthropology, started exploring Regton as a significant artistic
and cultural subject worthy of scholarly attention. They zeroed in
on Bad Bunny as a lens to examine more than
just Regton. In collaboration, they developed the Bad Bunny syllabus
(07:54):
asipher the essence of this artist and the massive movement
he is spearheaded. However, their journey has been fraught with challenges.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
That I think on the surface, for some critics, it
looks like we're just kind of fan girling about Bad Bunny,
so that in the classroom we're just watching music videos
and talking about how much we love him. I think
that's where some of the controversy comes from. And I
think the second thing that's controversial to some people is
generally the idea of cregathon being a class I think
(08:26):
Gregadon is a type of music that in its beginnings
is associated with drugs, with violence, stereotyped as something that
is like very uncouth, you know.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
From the confines of their classrooms. These educators resonate with
the wave of activism that Bad Bunny, in collaboration with
other Puerto Rican artists, infused into the streets of Puerto
Rico in twenty nineteen. Bunnisa believes Bad Bunny represents so
much more than just his melodies.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
So much about Bad Bunny that doesn't adhere to typical
rises to fame, even you know, as that is changing
so much with influencer and celebrity culture. You know, he
is doing something different from his language politics as gender
and sexuality politics. He's breaking all these records for a reason,
and that's why I think we do need to take
him seriously as a cultural figure and the history of
(09:20):
reregaton and the history of Puerto Rican music.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
To Vanisa, Bad Bunny stands as a symbol for numerous
righteous battles, notably those around gender identity. His single Joe
Perrio Sola from the album Duago Lana, comes with a
potent video co directed by him and Stills. The video
features the artist wearing a tight red vinyl mini skirt,
(09:46):
high heeled boots of the same material, bold red lips,
short sleek hair, and long gold earrings, embracing various feminine attires.
Bad Bunny dances solo in the video, taking a stance
against gender based violence both on and off the dance floor. Prominently,
(10:07):
a sign reading nunamenos is displayed. It's been a global
call that refers to not wanting a single more woman
to die as a result of gender based violence. This
was groundbreaking. No CIEs Regaeton artists has ever presented themselves
(10:27):
fully in feminine attire, a move seen by many is
not only taboo, but also a departure from traditional machista
gender norms. Jo Pereosola paved the way for him to
clinch the Best Latin Artist title at the twenty twenty
Billboard Awards. Upon receiving the honor, Bad Bunny gave a
(10:48):
heartfelt speech quote, this award goes out to all the
women worldwide, especially Ladinas and those from Puerto Rico. Without you,
there would be no music, no Reggedon. Let's put an
end to violence against women. It is time to educate
(11:09):
now for a brighter future. While I don't make social
message songs, we need to understand that one can dance,
be courteous and respectful simultaneously. If she doesn't want to
dance with you, respect her decision. She dances by herself.
(11:30):
And I want to take a moment now to urge
you to go back to season one and listen to
the episode called Donna Velda about my own grandmother's legacy
in the fight against domestic violins, the law she passed,
and her role in the global emergence of Reggedon. If
(11:51):
you haven't done so bad, Bunny shone a light on
the silent struggles women and door, and also paid homage
to an art artists who broke ground with her line
no quierrere si que plakama boy acknowledging Lorena Ivi Quin,
whom we covered in the first episode of this season.
(12:14):
That wasn't the only accolade for him. The following year,
he bagged the same award along with seven others Benito
Martinez has blazed trails in addressing gender matters and advocating
for LGBTQ rights. In February twenty twenty, Puerto Rico was
jolted by another hate crime. The victim was Alek San
(12:38):
Negron Luciano, an unhoused transgender woman from the town of Toabaja.
After using a women's restroom at a fast food restaurant,
she was removed following complaints. She was later ridiculed by
a crowd outside, and soon after she was found dead
from gunshot wounds. Three years later, two men pleaded guilty
(13:04):
for having committed the assassination, but in the aftermath of
the attacks, the local media grossly misreported it as the
killing of a man in a skirt. Weeks later, that
Bunny took to Jimmy Fallon's The Tonight Show, performing ignorants such.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
He's teaching people on live national television what is happening
in Puerto Rico. When he goes on that show and
he's wearing a shirt that says Matara Alexa Noah nombrek fa.
He is teaching people about a crisis in Puerto Rico
around trans violence, around femicide, around LGBTQ hatred right on
(13:45):
homophobia and transphobia.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
It highlighted a pressing issue in Puerto Rico and Latin America. Indeed, globally,
transphobia is real, and some leverage their platforms and lyrical
prowess to con well. Transfemicides represent a dire manifestation of hatred.
They aren't the only type of violence against women that
this artist speaks out against.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
One of his very early music videos, solo That Me,
which is just a woman singing. It's his voice, but
she's mouthing his words at a microphone and it's just her.
But then you see her head snap back, and then
when she shows you when she comes back to the front,
she has a black eye, right, So she's someone who's
experiencing domestic violence in this video. That's really important in
(14:35):
the context of this crisis in Puerto Rico of women
being killed. We're almost desensitized to it. It's so commonplace.
I think it's also really significant not just that he
has this kind of gender fluidity within the Latin music industry,
within this machista genre, but also in the broader society.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
In Puerto Rico. According to the World Health Organization, one
in three women experience some form of gender based violence.
He speaks out against this abuse, using lyrics exclusively in Spanish.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
They think it makes a major intervention. It's part of
what makes him bad. Bunny grew up in a generation
where there's still profound homophobia, but there's more of a
conversation about that, and I think that's also what endears
him to people. I think it's really important for Puerto
Rican society, for US society, for Latine LATINX communities, to
(15:39):
have that kind of representation someone who's provoking discussion about it.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
Vanessa suggests that that Bunny not only celebrates the Spanish language,
but also elevates it to a political level, affirming and
championing Latin American identity.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
We need people to be interested in the issues that
are facing portoc We need people to be interested in colonialism.
We need people to want to know what's happening with
electricity and Puerto Rico, what happened with Hurricane Maria. Well,
when that Buney goes on Jimmy Fallon and says Trump
is a total failure, he's not serving Puerto Rico. We
(16:17):
still don't have electricity on the whole island a year
after Hurricane Maria. People are suffering.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
It's no overstatement for numerous individuals both within and outside
of Puerto Rico. The landscape dramatically shifted after the catastrophic
Hurricane Maria in twenty seventeen, amidst an ongoing economic crisis.
The country was hit by this climate calamity, with wind
speeds reaching two hundred and fifty kilometers per hour, laying
(16:46):
waste to everything it encountered, road bridges, infrastructure, homes, trees,
communication towers, and the lives of every Puerto Rican there.
The official deathtell at the time stood at sixty four. However,
(17:08):
internal reports from the island and academic studies in the
US estimated Maria caused nearly three thousand casualties. Despite the challenges,
Puerto Rican's resistance remains strong. The term resilient after Maria
became a bit of a cussword because Puerto Ricans were
(17:30):
sick and tired of having to be resilient. E la bagon,
a song he wrote after the devastation, spotlights the aftermath
of Hurricane Maria, particularly its impact on the island's electrical infrastructure,
but also widespread gentrification and the rise in the cost
of living for locals that has followed tax incentives used
(17:53):
by rich, generally Americans, and have caused the displacement of
many Puerto Ricans. This track from the album umb Renosinti
sets dance floors ablaze with its electronic rhythms, all while
celebrating the things Puerto Ricans hold dear, the sun, the beach,
and our homeland. Simultaneously, it sends a clear message to
(18:18):
both corrupt politicians but also new colonizers, insisting they're the
ones that should leave. As he continuously echoes Puerto Ricue
Tavien Caron. While the song itself is potent, its deeper
social commentary might be overlooked by some. However, the accompany
(18:39):
and music video, directed by Puerto Rican director Caccio Lopez
and reported by Puerto Rican journalist Bianca Rollo, tells a different,
profound story. While the song duration is three minutes and
twenty one seconds, the video extends to twenty two minutes
and fifty three seconds. It's a captivating show film, employing
(19:01):
a mix of styles and documenting the voice of the
most vulnerable Puerto Ricans fearing and experiencing displacement. There are
scenes of Bad Bunny performing in the streets of his
homeland and also everyday people lip syncing the track. Intertwined
are interviews with ordinary citizens voicing their concerns about the
(19:22):
ongoing challenges, such as the frequent electrical outages, the accelerating gentrification,
and violence, among other issues.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
In his music, you feel the pain, you feel the love,
you feel the anger in something like e la bagon,
but you also feel the joy when that song turns
into this like club bang, right Like you feel all
of these tensions, and that is the music for Puerto Rico.
That is the reality, and that's what he's doing. And
so I think that we can look at sort of
(19:54):
where did he come from and what are his upbringings?
And everyone in Puerto Rico has a different experience because
everyone all of these different realities, but I think that
there is common cultural experiences and he represents those.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
The lyrics go another blackout, off to the beaches to
spark one up. The video carries a direct yet profound title,
people Live Here Aki bive Hinte. Today Bad Bunny might
be recognized as a millionaire artist, but his upbringing was
not glamorous. He grew up facing the same kinds of
(20:34):
struggles as millions of middle class Perto Ricans who often
grapple with the disparities in comparison to Americans due to
colonialist policies they have significant It is the US that
reigns supreme over the island and its resources will continue
after the break. As highlighted in the last segment, Bad
(21:02):
Bunny is not one to hold his tongue. The kind
of upbringing he had shared by millions of his fellow
Puerto Ricans taught him to speak up against injustices. In
his live performances, he vocalizes issues close to his heart.
At a concert during his most recent tour in Puerto Rico,
not only did he kick off a heartfelt homage to
(21:24):
his roots, but he also took a moment to criticize
the island's persistent electricity issues. He remarked that it's the
only place where he needs to have backup generators in
case a blackout happens. During a show, he did not
mince words when he spoke about Governor Pierre luisidemning him
(21:44):
for his support of the island's private electric company, Luma.
This tour promoted his latest studio album, Umberanosinti. As we
discussed in the prior segment, the album beautifully melds various
elements that evoke Puerto Rican pride. Such a rich cultural
and historical backdrop serves as a tool for Petra and
(22:07):
Vanessa to captivate their students. By integrating Bad Bunny into
their curriculum, they aim to address an issue all of
us who grew up in the island personally faced learning
too little about Puerto Rico during our academic journeys.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
When I was developing my course, I wanted to use
Bad Bunny as this hook to talk about Puerto Rico,
just like his music is a hook to talk about
Puerto Rico. And I use his work, his artistry, his lyrics,
his celebrity status to talk about these bigger issues in
Puerto Rico and beyond.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
Understanding the full picture requires a look beyond Bad Bunny's success.
For this multifaceted artist, the journey hasn't always been smooth
or joyous. In March twenty twenty three, Carl's de la Cruz,
a former romantic partner of the singer, filed a forty
million dollar lawsuit against him. She claimed that he used
(23:04):
a recording of her voice in which she says bad
Bunny baby in two of his tracks without her consent,
Yet it's irrefutable that Bad Bunny has left a profound
mark on millions of fans globally. He has also significantly
influenced the professional paths of Pedra and Vanessa, as well
(23:26):
as the academic pursuits of their students, perhaps in ways
he never even anticipated.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
We use Bad Bunny as the hook, but it's bigger
than that. What he is doing has major cultural and
political consequences. He is putting Puerto Rico on the map,
and has put Puerto Rico on the map in a
very different and important way than we've seen artists do before.
He's creating space for people, diverse people, diverse kinds of representation,
(23:54):
especially younger people, to feel affirmed in their gender and
sexual identities.
Speaker 1 (24:01):
Clearly, this artist offers much more than just melodies, beats,
and a great sense of style. Drawing from a playful
twist on his stage name, Bad Bunny founded the Good
Bunny Foundation, its mission to promote sports, music, and culture
throughout Puerto Rico streets, aiming to steer kids away from
(24:22):
violent environments. A notable initiative under its umbrella was dubbed
Umberano Gontiu. These efforts led to presence for countless underprivileged children,
a cause close to bad Bunny's heart, considering that a
mere six years ago, his own circumstances weren't very different.
(24:47):
Even though there were instances where he upset a fan
by tossing away her phone or faced a lawsuit from
a past relationship, Bud Bunny's reputation remains largely untarnished. We've
covered two full episodes of our series talking about him,
both the good and the bad, But what we know
(25:08):
is his public image. As he himself said in his
song NADIYESAUI Hey l woodso hey, people got to stop
being so stupid and thinking they know the lives of celebrities.
Speaker 3 (25:25):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (25:26):
So many podcasts, so much nonsense. His fame and his
talent led him to collaborate with people both on and
off the island. His reach expends far beyond Puerto Rico
as well. Recently, he partnered with a Spaniard who began
her journey in classical music but gradually drifted towards beats,
(25:48):
resonating with Bad Bunny's flavor and that of his fellow
Puerto Ricans not to mention the impact of Puerto Ricans
on the beats of her heart. Stay tuned and discover
more in the next episode of A Flow Season two.
Speaker 4 (26:10):
The second season of A Flow was written and produced
by Albero Sispidis and Reynold Gutierris in partnership with Iheart's
Michael Tura podcast network, and is hosted by me Le Luciano,
edited by Karmel Grattroli, fact checking by Samaria Guiri. Executive
producers are Carmel Grattoli, Rose reed isak Lee and Lee
(26:31):
A Luciano. Sound designed by pacis Ubo Mindoza and Gonzalo Masi.
Special thanks to Veronica Hernandez and Pedro Guire. Our executive
producers that iHeart are Desel Bansis and Arlene Santana. For
more Michael Tura podcasts, listen to the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,
or wherever you get your favorite shows.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com