Bad Bunny is a Puerto Rican artist who uses his music as a form of protest. “El Apagón” translates to “the blackout,” referring to the recurring blackouts on the island following Hurricane Maria. The song is dedicated to Puerto Rico’s beaches and keeping them to the native Puerto Ricans on the island instead of American tourists and investors taking over the island’s beaches. Bad Bunny made an 18-minute music video that takes on a documentary style to inform listeners about the displacement of Puerto Ricans for the benefit of rich Americans looking to avoid certain tax laws.
Before watching the video, students will have covered Hurricane Maria and its effect on Puerto Rico. Students will first listen to the song and follow along with the lyrics to discuss the message of the song. Then, students will watch the music video and take notes on anything that surprises them or that resonated with them. We will come together as a class to discuss how his lyrics relate to the current state of Puerto Rico and what possible solutions might be. Students will be given an opportunity to offer their own ideas on how to get involved in protecting Puerto Rico’s beaches or do research on some of the movements and campaigns already dedicated to the cause.
Note: Some lyrics are explicit.