Bad Bunny ‘DtMF’ (2025): How a Song About Photos Became a Cultural Touchstone

When Bad Bunny opens DtMF with “Otro sunset bonito que veo en San Juan,” he’s not just describing scenery – he’s setting the stage for what has become 2025’s most poignant reflection on memory, cultural identity, and the bittersweet nature of time’s passage.

Released January 5 on “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” the track has evolved from a personal meditation into a cultural touchstone, igniting worldwide discussions about memory preservation and cultural identity.

Bad Bunny Debí Tirar Más Fotos Album Artwork

Within days of its release, DtMF became more than just another Bad Bunny hit – it emerged as a catalyst for conversations about how we document both our personal histories and our shared cultural heritage.

The Poetry Behind Bad Bunny’s DtMF Lyrics

Like Julia de Burgos’s seminal poem “Río Grande de Loíza,” where she writes about Puerto Rico’s landscape as an extension of identity, Bad Bunny weaves the physical and emotional landscape of San Juan throughout DtMF.

The sunset he describes isn’t merely atmospheric – it’s a metaphor for fleeting moments that “los que se van” (those who leave) miss most deeply.

The chorus’s central lament, “Debí tirar más fotos de cuando te tuve,” echoes through the song like a modern take on Pablo Neruda’s reflections on absence and memory.

But where Neruda dwelt in metaphor, Bad Bunny grounds his regret in tangible modern experience – the photos we forget to take, the hugs we forget to give.

DtMF’s Musical Innovation: Blending Tradition with Modern Sound

Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, as Bad Bunny is legally known, demonstrates remarkable restraint in the song’s production.

“When I’m at my highest point of popularity, I want to show who I really am,” he told The New York Times, explaining the song’s stripped-down approach.

This musical minimalism allows the emotional weight of lines like “Hoy voy a estar con abuelo to’l día, jugando dominó” to land with full force.

Breaking Down Bad Bunny’s DtMF Cultural References

The song’s genius lies in how it weaves Puerto Rican cultural touchstones into its narrative.

The reference to dominoes with grandfather isn’t just personal – it’s a nod to a traditional pastime that, like many aspects of Puerto Rican culture, faces pressure from modernisation and cultural change.

As Bad Bunny explained, “I am Puerto Rican, I am Caribbean, and my music, my culture, my country’s history run through my veins.”

Why Bad Bunny’s DtMF Resonates Beyond Language

The universal nature of regret and nostalgia has helped DtMF transcend language barriers to become a global phenomenon.

On TikTok, users from diverse backgrounds have adopted the track as a soundtrack for sharing cherished memories, particularly of family members who have passed away or moments that can’t be recreated.

@badbunny
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♬ original sound – Shake de fresa

The song’s impact moved Bad Bunny himself to tears in a viral TikTok response, demonstrating how his personal reflection has evolved into a shared cultural moment.

DtMF Lyrics Analysis: The Power of Contrast

The song’s emotional depth is enhanced by its strategic use of contrast.

After heavy reflections on loss and memory, Bad Bunny drops lines like “Y que tú me envíe’ más nude'” with characteristic playfulness.

This juxtaposition of profound nostalgia with modern casual romance creates a perfect snapshot of contemporary Puerto Rican life – simultaneously deeply rooted in tradition while embracing modern realities.

Cultural Impact of Bad Bunny’s DtMF in 2025

In an era where Puerto Rico faces unprecedented challenges – from natural disasters to economic pressures to cultural displacement – DtMF serves as both warning and celebration.

The song’s message about preserving memories takes on additional weight in the context of a culture fighting to maintain its identity amid rapid change.

As Bad Bunny continues to evolve as an artist, DtMF stands as perhaps his most mature work to date.

It’s a song that operates on multiple levels: as a personal reflection on lost love, as a celebration of Puerto Rican culture, and as a reminder to all listeners about the importance of preserving the moments that matter.

In asking us to take more photos, Bad Bunny really asks us to be more present, more appreciative, and more conscious of the fleeting nature of time – a message that resonates across all cultures and languages.

Bad Bunny – DtMF (English Translation) Lyrics

Intro
Eh-eh, eh-eh, eh-eh, eh-eh

Verse 1
Another beautiful sunset I see in San Juan
Enjoying everything that the departed are missing out on (Departed, departed)
Enjoying nights like those that don’t come often (Often, often)
That don’t come often (Happen)
But wanting to go back to the last time I looked into your eyes
And tell you the things I didn’t get to tell you (You look like my crush, haha)
And to take the pictures I didn’t gеt to take
(Damn, I swear you look so pretty, lеt me take a photo of you)
Ayy, my chest feels empty, I got hit hard
My heart is pounding
Tell me, baby, where are you?
I can meet you there with Roro, Julito, Cristal
Roy, Edgar, Seba, Óscar, Dalnelly, Big J, playing batá
Today, we’ll leave the streets in chaos
And it’d be amazing if you’d play the güiro for me
I see your name and it makes me sigh
I don’t know if it’s fireworks or gunshots
My whitey, my cocaine, my kilo
I’m in PR chilling, but

Chorus
I should’ve taken more pictures when I had you
I should’ve given you more kisses and hugs whenever I could
Ayy, I hope my people never move away
And if I get drunk today, I hope they help me
I should’ve taken more pictures when I had you
I should’ve given you more kisses and hugs whenever I could
I hope my people never move away
And if I get drunk today, I hope they help me

Verse 2
Hey, today I’ll be with Grandpa all day, playing dominoes
If he asks if I still think about you, I’ll tell him no
That my time near you is over now, it’s over now
Ayy, fire up the machines, I’m going to Santurce
Here, they still drink rum
Check out the girls, damn, mami, how sweet
Today I want to drink, drink, drink
And talk nonsense until I get kicked out
I’m so drunk (I’m so drunk), I’m so drunk (I’m so drunk)
Man, you drive, because even if I’m walking I’m about to crash
I’m so drunk (I’m so drunk), I’m so drunk (I’m so drunk)
Let’s enjoy it because you never know how much time we have left
I should’ve taken more—

Interlude
Guys, I love you so much, I really do
Thank you for being here, truly
It’s very important to me that you’re here
Each one of you means so much to me
So, let’s take the picture, come here
Everyone, get in, the whole crew, let’s go
Let’s do it

Verse 3
Now Bernie has a baby, and Jan has a girl
We’re no longer about the flashy stuff and chains
We’re here for the things that are truly worth it
Hey, for reggaeton, salsa, bomba, and plena
Check out how mine sounds

Outro
I should’ve taken more pictures when I had you
I should’ve given you more kisses and hugs whenever I could
I hope my people never move away
And that you send me more nudes
And if I get drunk today, may Beno help me