Bad Bunny Unveils Music Video for “NUEVAYoL”

Summary

“NUEVAYoL” blends salsa and dembow, sampling “Un Verano en Nueva York” to honor Puerto Rican musical roots
The video features moments of cultural pride, including a quinceañera and scenes of everyday Nuyorican life
Released on July 4, the visuals highlight themes of identity, heritage and connection to Puerto Rico

Bad Bunny recently unveiled the music video for “NUEVAYoL,” a hit single from his album “Debí Tirar Más Fotos, which stayed at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for three weeks straight after its release. The video was strategically launched on July 4, reflecting the song’s messages about identity, resistance, and diaspora pride. Moreover, it subtly references one of the song’s initial lines, making the visual representation a strong manifestation of personal expression.

On the album “NUEVAYoL”, there’s a particularly captivating track that delves into the dembow genre, famous for its catchy, energetic pulses. This piece starts with a reminiscent snippet of “Un Verano en Nueva York” by Andy Montañez and El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico – an iconic salsa hit – combining traditional musical roots with contemporary city rhythms. The end product is a lively mix that honors Puerto Rican culture while creating room for it in the current global music landscape.

The video is a moving homage to the Nuyorican lifestyle, showcasing the multifaceted identity of Puerto Ricans residing in New York. It highlights cultural pride, strength, and happiness, even when away from the island. The initial scene establishes the mood: Bad Bunny enters a taxi and enquires, “When will this cold snap end?” This line immediately juxtaposes the physical coldness of the city against the heartwarming moments within the community that follow.

The story continues with a quinceañera – a traditional family-centric coming-of-age celebration popular among Puerto Ricans – showcasing the lasting influence of these customs throughout generations. Subsequently, the video transitions to an impactful, symbolic moment: Bad Bunny hoists the Puerto Rican flag atop the Statue of Liberty, echoing Tito Kayak’s activist act of planting a flag on the statue’s crown in the later 2000s.

In a subsequent shot, Bad Bunny can be observed giving a salute atop the Statue of Liberty, adorned with the flag of Puerto Rico. The sequence swiftly transitions to a cluster of people gathered around a radio, tuned into a falsified voice supposedly belonging to Donald Trump, who expressed remorse to immigrants: “I acknowledge my error. I wish to apologize to the immigrants in America… This nation is devoid without immigrants. This nation is void without Mexicans, Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, Colombians, Venezuelans, Cubans.

Check out the “NUEVAYoL” music video above.

Read More