You may know Bad Bunny from the Shellphone Corona commercial with Snoop Dogg, or the smash collab hit Te Boté, or maybe his dragged inspired Yo perreo sola video. His rise may seem sudden but his work ethic shows that he is in it to make a gigantic impact on the music scene.This is an artist that has released three albums in one calendar year and has elevated to super stardom in such a short amount of time. His signature sound has always been latin trap and new wave reggaeton. With his latest effort, El Último Tour del Mundo, Bad Bunny takes a different direction and brings a unique change to his creative work.
With his new album, El Último Tour Del Mundo, Bad Bunny once again surprises us and released this new foray with little to no promotion. The theme of the album plays out as the last tour of the world before the end of times. In many of Bad Bunny’s interviews he waxes about this album being one with more feeling, more emotion, darker, and one that shows a different side of himself. It may be the final expression of himself before his time is up and if his time is up he won’t go quietly. Gone are the turn up perreo sounds that dominated his art just a few months prior on YHLQMDLG.
TE DESEO LO MEJOR, TE MUDASTE, and HACIENDO QUE ME AMAS hit all the feels. These tracks are laced with sensual heartbreak and some have a more alternative/rock influence. Te Deseo lo Mejor is a track of knowing your wrongdoing in a relationship and acknowledging your imperfection, but bidding the other person good luck regardless. There are bits of arrogance and pride within all three tracks that make for great additions to his already nuanced catalog. The album plays like great stadium music and I can imagine that Bad Bunny sees himself performing some of these live as we turn to a new year and the possibility of an end to the covid pandemic.
If the world is ending, as it sometimes feels these days, Bad Bunny wont go without some trap bangers in his playlist. HOY COBRE is a more typical latin trap track that grabs a hold of you and doesn’t let go for its brief 2 mins and 42 seconds. It’s about making money and spending it fast. BOOKER T is a nice braggadocious anthem in honor of the 5 time WCW Champion Booker T. The lyrics and flow Bad Bunny comes with on this one are as tough as nails.
This is an effort that might miss with some audiences, but may bring new ones and please his core fanbase. There aren’t groundbreaking tactics being used here but the genre bending is something Bad Bunny uniquely does better than most of his contemporaries like Anuel AA, J. Balvin, Ozuna, or Sech. SORRY PAPI feat ABRA is a pop track and TRELLAS is a minimal alternative song. YO VISTO ASI is Nirvana like and has the grunge feel of the early 90’s. ANTES QUE SE ACABA is a latin EDM track that would be a perfect close out track to a long festival night. MALDITA POBREZA is a spanish rock track that speaks of the shittyness of being poor and not being able to afford a Ferrari for his girl.
YO VISTO ASI is a standout track for me. Its anthem of letting people know you dress however you want and anyone’s opinion on how you dress doesn’t matter. In his Youtube interview with Chente Ydrach, el conejo malo talks about being able to create music and have people feel some type of emotion is one of his main goals. While he’s expressing himself and being true to his genuine character, no matter the feedback, it’s worth it to express yourself. This is at the core of what makes me a fan. It is relatable when you are creative without limitation. Making creative works is an extremely vulnerable place to be. An artist like Bad Bunny is an example of what work ethic and genuine creative expression can take you.
This is an album that is more alternative and less latin trap. It is more experimental than his past 2 efforts but is done in an entertaining way. It is a welcome change and shows the evolution of an artist that is really in a creative zone. No album is perfect and there were in my opinion 2 or 3 tracks too many on the album as a whole. Listen for yourself and share what you thought! Check out, El Ultimo Tour del Mundo streaming now on all platforms.
Freshpress 