Bad Bunny has released a new single “Una Velita”, which shines a light on the ongoing struggles of his homeland Puerto Rico. The track, released on September 19, coincides with the seventh anniversary of Hurricane Maria, which devastated U.S. territory in 2017, leaving thousands dead and the island’s infrastructure in tatters.
In the emotionally charged song, Bad Bunny takes aim at the lack of recovery and the persistent blackouts caused by a crippled power grid, which remains fragile even years after the Category 5 storm hit. He doesn’t hold back, delivering brutally honest lines like, “Fueron cinco mil que dejaron morir, y eso nunca se nos va a olvidar” (“Five thousand people they left to die, and we will never forget that”).
The timing of the release also comes during the U.S. election season as Bad Bunny uses his music and social media presence to urge his millions of followers to register to vote and stay politically aware.
In “Una Velita”, Bad Bunny sings over a haunting folk rhythm that builds in intensity, mirroring the urgency of his message: “El puente que tardaron en construir, el río crecido lo va a romper… Falta que el boricua quiera despertar,” highlighting the deep frustration felt by many on the island, not only over the slow recovery efforts but also over the broader political climate. He calls on Puerto Ricans to wake up and take action, reminding them that it’s up to the people to save themselves.
This track follows in the footsteps of his 2022 release “El Apagón”, a direct commentary on blackouts and gentrification in Puerto Rico. Accompanied by a nearly 23-minute documentary, “El Apagón” brought international attention to these pressing issues, with Bad Bunny using his global influence to call out local government inaction.
Listen to Bad Bunny’s moving new single “Una Velita” on all streaming platforms:
