Most people who do not know a lick of Spanish have not only heard of Bad Bunny but can probably even sing along to a few lines of his most popular songs. While some of Bad Bunny’s fans have been around since 2016, his fame and universality have rapidly increased over the last few years. These avid listeners who have been supporting him for years now welcome in a new wave of fans. His latest album, Un Verano Sin Ti, has only contributed to a recent spike in his popularity.
When The World’s Hottest Tour was announced, tickets quickly sold out and Bad Bunny decided to add more dates to the tour—even putting on a couple of shows in the same city. According to an article by Billboard’s Eric Frankenberg, Bad Bunny has “[rewritten] his own record for the highest grossing Latin tour in Boxscore history.” With the tour selling 944,000 tickets, grossing over $232 million across 21 sold-out shows in 15 cities, its significance is evident. Granted that the album itself is hugely successful, the tour being correspondingly accomplished checks out. Bad Bunny is breaking the glass ceiling, as he is crowned with being the first Latino artist to receive this much acclaim. Several record-breaking titles are under his belt.
Multiple ingredients of Bad Bunny’s latest creative work have become well-known. Even the sad-faced red heart on Un Verano Sin Ti’s album cover has become an adored, iconic element for fans. Bad Bunny’s showcase of his musicality is praised and is a key component in the album’s eminence. Billboard’s Keith Caulfield asserts the album’s rank with his 2022 article “Bad Bunny’s ‘Un Verano Sin Ti’ Back at No.1 on Billboard 200 Chart for 12th Week.” Adding to this, Complex’s Jose Martinez informs that “Un Verano Sin Ti is the only album in Billboard history to never fall below No. 2 in its first 18 weeks on the chart.” Granted this, even after the novelty of the album wore off, fans still continuously streamed its tracks. 2022 Forbes article “Bad Bunny’s ‘Un Verano Sin Ti’ Passes ‘Encanto’ Soundtrack As Biggest Album Of The Year” by Marissa Dellatto reveals that the album “is only the ninth album since 2000 to spend at least 10 weeks atop the chart and the only one in all-Spanish. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and was the second album in history ever to do so—Bad Bunny’s 2020 album El Último Tour del Mundo was the first.” This type of accomplishment may subconsciously demonstrate to his fans that breaking boundaries is possible and a worthwhile pursuit.
The relationship that he has built with his fans in conjunction with his overall popularity allows him to do things that other artists don’t venture to. He has achieved a close bond with his fans where they feel comfortable enough to call him by his first name, Benito. Considering the foundation he has built, he is able to take risks that he deems are important and could be rewarding. Of his greatest priorities is his dedication to his birthplace, Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is a theme in his songs. Bad Bunny dedicates much of his efforts and success to Puerto Rico. Among his latest activist efforts was his music video for El Apagón, informing listeners of Hurricane Fiona’s detrimental effects on Puerto Rico and the corruption affecting its inhabitants. Releasing a twenty-two-minute video highlighting Puerto Rico’s distress instead of a three-minute dancing video is a risk.
Ultimately, Bad Bunny has created a new space for Latino artists globally through his far-reaching success. His latest project, Un Verano Sin Ti, has won him even more recognition and applause. Its musicality lends to the records he has set not just as a Latino artist but as a musical artist in general. His achievements usher in emerging artists and challenge existing artists to push the envelope.
Want to see more HCFSU? Be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube and Pinterest!