Grammys 2026: Bad Bunny Writes a Latin Romance in the Language of Resistance on 'DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS': Album Review
- Abby Anderson
- Jan 24
- 3 min read
Stand-out tracks: "NUEVAYoL" “BAILE INoLVIDABLE” "KLOUuFRENS"
Our favorites: "PERFuMITO NUEVO" ""EL ClúB" "KETU TeCRÉ' 'BOKeTE'
Release date: January 5, 2025
Label: Rimas Entertainment
For fans of: Karol G, J Balvin, Becky G
Grammys Album of the Year prediction: Top contender
DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS is translated simply as “I should have taken more photos." An offhand regret whispered under one’s breath, with an underlying softness where Bad Bunny is consumed by loss on a much grander scale - the slow erosion of homeland identity under political modernization, the ache of heartbreak that demands movement even when the heart wants to stay still, and surviving because standing still is not an option.
The project opens with “NUEVAYoL,” a hard, unwavering dedication to Puerto Rican roots. Built on classic salsa rhythms and infused with daring, almost electronic-pop textures, the track sonically mirrors the album’s central tension. Tradition collides with futurism, homeland identity wrestles with political identity, all while not choosing a side, but rather embodying the intensity of cultures forced to evolve under systems that rarely ask permission.
On “BAILE INoLVIDABLE,” Benito leans fully into classic Latin sounds, telling what initially feels like a familiar story of romantic heartbreak. But the simplicity is deceptive, transforming into political dissent, an indictment of borders, economic pressure, and displacement. Here, lovers aren’t just torn apart by emotional distance, but by systems far more ruthless than fading affection. The heartbreak is no longer personal, it’s structural.
Still, Bad Bunny understands the necessity of joy — especially when joy itself is an act of resistance. “PERFuMITO NUEVO” and “WELTiTA,” bolstered by collaborations with Latin female artists, shimmer as lighthearted, dancefloor-ready moments. “EL ClúB” brings the energy home, grounding these tracks in warmth and familiarity. These songs reveal who Benito is when the political screams dim, when the islands of Latin America are allowed to feel like paradise.
As the album moves forward, its sound grows more disoriented. “KETU TeCRÉ” leans into electronic, atmospheric production, matching the emotional confusion of realizing you’ve invested your heart in a love with no future.“BOKeTE” lives in the album’s reflective middle act, using vocal distortion and synth-heavy percussion to embody regret.
With a sprawling 17-track, hour-plus runtime, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS enters its final act on “KLOuFRENS.” The track stitches together the album’s dual obsessions — heartbreak and heritage — while arriving at something close to acceptance. Not peace, necessarily, but understanding. Moving forward becomes less about closure and more about survival.
The emotional cornerstone of the album may be “TURISTA,” where Benito recounts a one-sided relationship defined by emotional labor. He loved and explained himself endlessly to someone who could not (or would not) understand him or the weight he carried. The metaphor extends beyond romance, reading as a commentary on how cultures, too, are often consumed without care or comprehension.
The album’s most politically charged moment arrives on “LO QUE LE PASO A HAWAII,” a blistering critique of colonial erasure disguised beneath supercharged production. It is protest hidden inside heavy sonics, anger embedded in rhythm, and a reminder that dance music has always been a vessel for survival as much as celebration.
Concise yet expansive, intimate yet defiant, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS is conceptually masterful. Bad Bunny fuses his signature Latin pop instincts with piercing political lyricism, crafting both a love letter to his homeland and a warning about the systems that threaten it. At the same time, it mourns the lovers past, present, and future who turn “home” into an idea rather than a place. And more than anything, the album exudes reflection, cultural pride, and a sense of romanticism in the strength of humanity.
GRAMMY FOR ALBUM OF THE YEAR
In terms of album composition, construction, production, execution, and artistic vision, no other nominee checks the boxes to the extent of DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS. However the strength of DTMF is also it's greatest weakness - a voice this strong, this vulnerable, this willing to take shots at the system, is also one that is more likely to be judged for it's purpose rather than the quality of the music, for better or for worse. DTMF deserves this title and remains one of the top contenders, but it's not an automatic winner.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BAD BUNNY:
