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Bad Bunny’s Valentine’s Day Music Releases

He has released a new video every February 14th for the past five years

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Valentine’s Day has long been seen as the go-to day for lovebirds. But in recent times, the notion of love has expanded to encompass various forms of affection, including platonic and self-love. Now, in addition to February 14, we have celebrations like Galentine’s Day, which falls right before Valentine’s Day, and Singles Awareness Day, which follows shortly after.

Now, let’s talk about Bad Bunny. In the past five years, he’s taken on a bit of an anti-Cupid role, focusing on the not-so-rosy side of love. He’s released four songs on the topic, starting with «Amorfoda» in 2018, and hasn’t missed a Valentine’s Day since. Well, except for one time, for a good reason. Let’s dive into it. 

2018: «AMORFODA»

«Amorfoda» was just the beginning. Released on February 14, 2018, the song combines ‘amor’ (love in Spanish) and ‘foda,’ a Portuguese term meaning ‘messed up.’ So, it’s all about Bad Bunny’s first experience with a ‘messed-up love.’ He also shared a childhood photo on Instagram, sitting next to a pixelated-faced girl in his kindergarten class, likely symbolizing his first love and heartbreak. 

With lines like ‘I wish I could be like you, without feelings,’ Bad Bunny captured the feelings of countless people dealing with love woes from that point onward. The music video, directed by Fernando Lugo, unfolds in one continuous shot, showing how the protagonist quickly goes from being intimate with his partner on a sports car to pushing her away with disdain, becoming someone who no longer believes in love. This sentiment, expressed in ‘Soy Peor’ as well, marked a crucial moment in his career. 

2019: «SI ESTUVIÉSEMOS JUNTOS»

A year later, also on Valentine’s Day, Bad Bunny released «SI ESTUVIÉSEMOS JUNTOS» as one of the singles from his debut album X100PRE. Its music video, once again directed by Fernando Lugo, presents us with a dreamlike universe featuring elements that symbolize purity and innocence (such as the horse) or fidelity (like the dog).

Essentially, it portrays the dream of an older man who imagines a hypothetical scenario: a life that could have been, but wasn’t, with the love of his life after celebrating their wedding surrounded by family and friends. “I wonder what would have happened if we were together, still in love,” the singer ponders. However, his music video doesn’t answer any of these questions; instead, it raises new ones filled with nostalgia: “Would we have gotten married? Would we have grown old together?”

2020: «IGNORANTES» (ft. Sech)

 The music video, this time around, was directed by Cliqua and Stillz. In the opening scenes, the young protagonist of this era (and other music videos) shaves his head just like Benito does; there’s even a subtle reference to Benito’s previous album X100PRE with a third eye on his forehead.

Then, the scene transitions to a person engulfed in flames walking towards the sea, while various situations and types of couples are shown. These couples are young and their relationships break the traditional mold (boy-girl), and despite their deep love, they’ve had to part ways due to circumstances beyond their control, leading to feelings of regret and guilt over the breakup. 

2021: «LA NOCHE DE ANOCHE» (ft. Rosalía)

Starring Rosalía and Bad Bunny, both artists ignite a spark with just a touch. Sparks literally fly! This symbolism might be connected to the figure engulfed in flames briefly shown at the beginning of the previous music video. 

But what truly captivates in this music video is its pure artistry. There are clear nods to surrealist masterpieces such as ‘Architecture of the Moonlight’ (1956) by René Magritte; ‘The Persistence of Memory’ (1931) by Salvador Dalí; or ‘The Human Condition’ (1935) by Giorgio de Chirico. We can see it in the arches and staircases, the leafless trees, the landscape, and the color palette. Both artists have shed their veils, torn them apart, and hung them on the bare branches. And just like in the painting, these clothes represent an impossible love story here too. 

2022: Absent for a Good Reason 

“Today will be the first February 14th where I won’t release a new song for you all… but it’s because I’m working on the new album,” he expressed via Instagram in 2022, during a time when he withdrew from all civilization for a noble cause: the production and composition of his fourth studio album, UN VERANO SIN TI (A Summer Without You). “Thank you for your love!! I love you all the same ❤,” he added. 

During this period, the artist even sought a substitute —a kind of double— to spend time with his partner at the time. And who better than Mario Casas for the role? The Spanish actor and Gabriela Berlingeri went on a picnic together amid a paradise island, shared a candlelit evening, and even strolled along the beach. All the time the Puerto Rican artist invested in creating this project —and was absent— materialized in several accolades, such as winning the Best Urban Music Album at the Grammy Awards. 

2023: «OJITOS LINDOS» (ft. Bomba Estéreo)

After trying his luck in love, Bad Bunny decided last year (2023) that the purest love he will ever receive is from his ultimate faithful companion: a beagle named Sansa. As shown in the music video, the singer manages to match with four girls, but none of his dates manage to fully connect to build a solid relationship with potential for a future stable relationship. 

Returning from one of these encounters, the artist has an accident, which could be interpreted as a small nod to NADIE SABE LO QUE VA A PASAR MAÑANA since it appears both on the cover and in a preview. 

What’s your favorite Bad Bunny song for Valentine’s Day? 

Original article in Spanish for LOS40 Spain.

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