Lasers. Smoke. Pyrotechnics. A real horse. Trap Bad Bunny is back.
After the immense success of his 2022 reggaeton album “Un Verano Sin Ti,” Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny (Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) returned to his trap reggaeton roots with his 2023 album, “nadie sabe lo que va a pasar mañana.”
While “Un Verano Sin Ti” broke the record for most-streamed album ever on Spotify, “nadie sabe lo que va a pasar mañana” became the most-streamed album in a single day in 2023.
That being said, it’s no surprise that Bad Bunny’s tour was so highly anticipated. Called the “Most Wanted Tour,” Bad Bunny announced that he would be going back to his trap era for this performance, writing in online tour promotions, “solamente trap” — or “only trap” — and “if you’re not a real fan don’t come.”
Bad Bunny fans filled United Center for the three nights ahead of Easter Weekend. Initial ticket prices for nosebleed seats surpassed $200, and lower bowl seats cost more than $700 in some cities. The average price of a resale tour ticket was $640, according to SeatGeek.
Though some ticket prices reached four digits, fans still showed up and showed out for one of the world’s biggest artists, and he gave that energy right back to the crowd. The elaborate stage setup included two stages on either side of the venue and a rotating platform that brought him eye-to-eye with the fans in the upper bowls.
Bad Bunny opened the show with a live orchestra — because what else would a three-time Grammy winner do to kick off their show? The orchestra’s playing signaled straggling fans to rush to their seats, but as the music shifted to the opening music from the titular track of the album, the venue’s energy shifted.
As Bad Bunny emerged from the smoke with his head covered in a black scarf, the crowd, filled with cowboy hats and boots as far as the eye could see, was electrified.
Shifting into the show’s second song and one of the most streamed songs on the 22-track album, “MONACO” brought a multitude of effects, including laser shows, smoke screens and, of course, the most energetic choreography you ever did see.
The rest of the show consisted of plenty of other effects and surprises — including Bad Bunny on horseback, flame cannons on beat, flares, light shows from synchronized crowd necklaces and more. Saturday’s performance even featured a surprise appearance from Puerto Rican rapper Young Miko, who appears on “FINA” on the album.
The 37-song setlist placed the concert at just over two and a half hours in length, but Bad Bunny rarely left the stage. He performed the vast majority of the newest album plus a handful of hits from “Un Verano Sin Ti” and his 2020 album “YHLQMDLG” (Yo Hago Lo Que Me Da La Gana/I Do Whatever I Want).
Unfortunately, tracks from his 2018 debut studio album “X100PRE” were few and far between. As the album that solidified his standing as the Latin trap king, I was expecting more songs to make the cut, such as “La Romana” or “200 MPH.”
However, the older trap songs of Bad Bunny didn’t go unrecognized. During the show’s middle chunk, Benito brought back his mixtape days, mixing together popular songs from 2016 and 2017 like “Soy Peor,” “Chambea,” “Vuelve” and “Diles.”
Overall, the show was a complete vibe switch from his 2022 “World’s Hottest Tour.” Flowy beach outfits, palm fronds and bright colors were swapped for denim and leather. Nevertheless, Bad Bunny proved he can do it all, putting on one of the most visually elaborate and appealing shows of the year.
With this tour, Bad Bunny has reminded fans that he is not just an artist and trailblazer of the genre but also an award-winning performer.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @joanne_n_h
Related Stories:
— Olivia Rodrigo Chicago performance screams Gen-Z, announces deluxe album release
— The Moss captivates audience with upbeat music, infectious energy at Lincoln Hall
— Dayglow delivers garage band-like grooves, amiable ad-libs at A&O’s Blowout
