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

Bad Bunny has always had a way of making personal moments feel universal. DtMF is no exception.

The song isn’t just about old pictures and lost time—it’s about the way nostalgia hits differently when you’re watching the world around you change.

Whether it’s Puerto Ricans leaving their homeland, family members growing older, or a generation realising they’ve lost pieces of their own history, the song taps into something deeper than a simple regret over forgotten snapshots.

The DtMF lyrics capture this sentiment, intertwining personal loss with a broader commentary on cultural identity.

Released on January 5, 2025, DtMF serves as the title track of Bad Bunny’s sixth studio album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos.

More than just a collection of songs, the album is a tribute to his homeland.

The back of the album reads, “This project is dedicated to Puerto Ricans all around the world,” followed by another stamp: “From Puerto Rico to the world.” 

The release was accompanied by a major announcement: rather than embarking on a traditional world tour, Bad Bunny opted for a 30-date residency at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico, with the first nine shows exclusively available to island residents.

The Meaning Behind DtMF: A Reflection on Memory and Cultural Identity

The title, Debí Tirar Más Fotos (translated to “I Should Have Taken More Photos”), might sound like a casual reflection, but the song itself carries a much heavier weight. 

Bad Bunny DtMF lyrics don’t just lament the past—he sings about the spaces left behind when people move on.

There’s a subtle but clear message about Puerto Rico’s diaspora, the loss of cultural roots, and the emotional cost of displacement.

In an interview with The New York Times, Bad Bunny explained,“When I’m at my highest point of popularity, I want to show who I really am.” 

This philosophy is evident in DtMF, where the stripped-down production allows the emotional depth of his lyrics to take the front stage.

In the opening verse, he sings:

Otro sunset bonito que veo en San Juan (Another beautiful sunset I see in San Juan)

It sets the tone of the song as both a love letter and a farewell. He’s not just admiring the scenery; he’s appreciating it with an awareness that it may never look the same again.

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 city isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a symbol of memories, resilience, and the shifting tides of cultural preservation.

Disfrutando lo que se pierden los que se fueron (Enjoying what those who left are missing out on)

Here, he brings in the theme of diaspora. Puerto Ricans forced to move to the mainland for economic reasons don’t just lose their homes—they lose these small, everyday moments that tie them to their identity.

Pero con ganas de volver a la última vez que te miré (But wishing I could go back to the last time I looked into your eyes)

The song weaves personal loss into the broader cultural context. Whether it’s a former lover or an entire way of life, the sense of longing is the same.

The Political and Social Context: A Song Rooted in Puerto Rico’s Reality

There’s a reason DtMF has resonated beyond just its musical appeal. Beneath the personal regret and nostalgia, there’s an undercurrent of frustration about Puerto Rico’s ongoing struggles.

Bad Bunny has been vocal about his deep connection to his homeland, stating, “I am Puerto Rican, I am Caribbean, and my music, my culture, my country’s history run through my veins.” This sentiment is reflected in the lyrics:

En mi vida fuiste turista, tú solo viste lo mejor de mí y no lo que sufría (In my life, you were a tourist, you only saw the best of me, not my suffering)

He draws a parallel between transient relationships and the way outsiders see Puerto Rico.

Tourists come for the beaches, the nightlife, the vibrant culture—but they leave before they have to deal with the blackouts, the gentrification, the economic crisis.

Te fuiste como la luz (You left like the light)

This isn’t just poetic—it’s literal. Puerto Rico’s power grid has been failing for years, leaving millions without electricity after storms, mismanagement, and privatization.

He’s not just singing about someone leaving him; he’s singing about an island constantly abandoned by those in power.

The DtMF lyrics take on an even deeper meaning when viewed through this lens.

Musical Composition: A Fusion of Tradition and Modern Sound

The song’s production is deceptively simple. Produced by MAG, La Paciencia, and Hydra Hitz, DtMF strips away the heavy reggaeton beats in favor of a blend of plena and salsa influences.

The rhythms are unmistakably Puerto Rican, but the electronic textures give it a modern, dreamlike quality.

Hoy voy a estar con abuelo to’l día, jugando dominó (Today I’m spending the whole day with grandpa, playing dominoes)

It’s a seemingly casual line, but it speaks volumes about tradition and the fear of losing it.

Dominoes aren’t just a game in Puerto Rico—they’re a cultural ritual, one that’s slowly fading as younger generations leave the island.

Chart Performance & Global Impact

From the moment it dropped, DtMF became a global phenomenon. Within its first week, it reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and took the top spot on the Latin charts.

@badbunny

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♬ original sound – Shake de fresa

On Spotify, it racked up millions of streams, and TikTok flooded with videos using the song as a backdrop for tributes to lost loved ones.

Many listeners searched for the DtMF lyrics English translation to fully grasp the song’s meaning, further fueling its global reach.

Why DtMF Resonates Beyond Language

Bad Bunny has always had a gift for making hyper-specific experiences feel universal, and this song is no different.

The feeling of looking back and realizing you didn’t capture enough moments isn’t exclusive to Puerto Ricans—it’s something everyone can relate to.

But what makes DtMF special is the way it also speaks to an island fighting to preserve its culture, its people, and its identity in a world that keeps trying to erase it.

Final Thoughts: A Song That Captures Time Itself

This isn’t just a sad song about forgetting to take pictures. It’s about the way time moves forward, whether we want it to or not.

It’s about the photos we didn’t take, the people we didn’t hold onto long enough, and the places that change before we get the chance to say goodbye.

And it’s about remembering—not just for ourselves, but for those who come after us.

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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