Mientras uno está vivo, uno debe amar lo más que pueda
(While one is alive, one must love as much as one can)
DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS World Tour at Stade Roi Baudouin-Brussels, Belgium 20260722
Years ago, if you would to tell anybody I would be not only attending but looking forward to attend to a Bad Bunny‘s concert, they wouldn’t believe you. And I know, there were different times when I didn’t have the openness to listen to his music thoroughly without the veil of prejudice that some people have regarding Reggaeton. So, before anything I would like to apologize for any derogatory comment I did in the past. I stand corrected and humbly say: what a fantastic artist.
As a Latino I didn’t stand ignorant towards Bad Bunny‘s music, I fully fell into his art without hesitation when Un Verano Sin Ti was released on 2022 and some occasional hits from past albums that were on the day by day soundtrack of any Latino. But I gave the extra step into an honest admiration when the latest album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (2025) flooded the music industry and took the world of guard.
DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (2025) is an album that has resonated with both the trauma and resistance of being latino, and the way we cope with it is by dancing and singing along to lyrics that exalt the weight of love, our strong sense of community/family and the beauty of it.
Bringing chants and jumps and dance moves to a peaceful protest claiming the right to express ourselves via our own means. Transforming pain into joy because the moment you share it with friends, family or even strangers on the dance floor (or at the stands of a stadium), pain becomes lighter, is not erased but carried in a wave of salsa steps and dropped in the floor while Perreando hasta el suelo (twerking to the ground).
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So I found myself going not only to one show of the homonymous tour with more than 50 concerts around the world, but the closure show of the Tour in Brussels, Belgium. A night that promised to be spectacular and it exceeded those expectations.
We arrived a bit more than an hour before the open act started, overly confident of me thinking I would have time to get some merch before the start. The queues were immense, we couldn’t pass forward than half the way to the stand when we had to run to our spots to listen to Chuwi.
I couldn’t think of a better act to start the evening than Benito’s connationals, Chuwi. I consciously kept myself from listening to them before the show (apart from the obvious song “WELTiTA” they featured in DBTMF album), as a friend told me I would love them live. So with that premise I gave myself the treat of listening to a band for the first time live and judge from that point. No regrets, at all.
A short but strong set by the Puerto Ricans (PR), a display of energy and talent that few bands have. Chuwi was like a delicious Rum cocktail in a hot day, fresh but warm to the senses, and after one or two sips you find yourself dancing to the mix of PR sounds; Bomba, Plena, Salsa and even Merengue or what my chilango (from CDMX) ears got as Guaracha.
Highlight of their set was “Tierra” specially dedicated to all Latino migrants and our right to be able to live our lives in our countries without the need to leave them. The right to choose the land we want to rest. And “Guerra” with its provocative lyrics, vocal against colonialism and the struggles of being victim of it, a Tamborine with the Palestinian flag waved by Wester states it all. My friend was right, I did love them.
Eight pm sharp the screens displayed a couple chatting (each city had it starting in their local language, this time French) until they start with “LA MuDANZA” intro -…Un aplauso pa’ mami y papi, porque en verdad rompieron- (A round of applause for mommy and daddy, because they really broke it).
Lights on, the full band lined up and elevated from under the stage, … Benito rose silent and faced a frantic crowd. Then followed one of my fav songs of the setlist, “Callaita” from the 2022 album was played with beautiful arrangements that adapted the classic Reggaeton song to the DBTMF music ensemble.
Not satisfied with that display of masterfulness and to pay some tribute to one of the most recognized Belgian musicians, Jose Eduardo Santana played a cover in his Puerto Rican cuatro (the flagship instrument of traditiona PR music) to “Alors on danse” by Stromae. Only to be followed by “PIToRRO DE COCO“, “WELTiTA” feat. Chuwi, and a block of the most heartbroken songs of his latest album “TURiSTA” and my personal favorite “BAILE INoLVIDABLE“, and “NUEVAYoL” with a pause from Benito to recognize and praise every single one of his band members by name. By then I was wondering how I was able to remain sane, banger after banger and it was just the beginning.
The pause allowed for him to move to “La Casita”, a literal house built in the middle of the standing places, opposite to the main stage. This Casita is not just a prop to make the stage fun or cool, but is a representation of a real house in PR. Holding a strong bond to the Boricua people and their identity. An aesthetic nod to the Puerto Rican history and the history of Humacao, an eastern town know by their anti-colonial stance.
“Empezó la fiesta en Bruselas”/”Comenzó el perreo en Bélgica”
“The party started in Brussels”/”The perreo started in Belgium”
(Cultural Note: Perreo could be understood as twerking, however it might rise some eyebrows if said losely. Perreo was originated in Puerto Rico linked to Reggaeton music, while Twerking was originated in the US linked to hip hop.)
La Casita set was defined by the strong focus on Reggaeton rhythms, the band ensemble had a break and background recorded beats are played on the venue’s PA system. But do not misunderstand me, as this does not mean it had less interpretive power, as if anyone would know how to play a Reggaeton set is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, aka. Bad Bunny. “VelDÁ” from DTMF album, and the hits “Tití Me Preguntó“, “Neverita“, “Si Veo a Tu Mamá” were the ones to open the Casita set. Reggaeton and trap sounds to shake every soul (and butt) in the stadium.
Mid Casita set was expected to have the last guest(s) of the tour, everyone came with massive expectations, and as everything that night, it didn’t disappoint. The OG Puerto Rican Reggaeton stars Jowell & Randy went to La Casita’s roof to join Bad Bunny in their YHLQMDLG (2020) hit song “Safaera“, once up there they sang their own “No te veo“, followed by a set of their hottest collaborations like “Siente el boom” (originally feat. Tito El Bambino), and J Balvin‘s “Bonita“, only to close their intervention with “Se acabó la cuarentena“. A set thas was pure fire.
Bad Bunny followed the set after those unmatchable guests to give way to the exclusive song of the city, a personal favorite from “Un Verano Sin Ti” album, “Un coco“, I simply love that guitar with its trap vibe.
Los Pleneros de la Cresta, the Puerto Rican Plena ensemble joined la Casita to play “CAFé CON RON” and their own “Ábreme paso” when they asked the crowd to wave proudly their flags as they themselves were waving the flag of their community in PR, Cecila. I cannot describe with words the visual impact of countless Latin American flags waving in a stadium full with more than 65K people.
When we reached the end of the set, the homonymous “DtMF” was the perfect choice to enclose all the feelings and intentions of the whole Tour, a clearly moved Benito took his time to share some words with the crowd:
“Nunca te olvides de valorar y disfrutar las cosas sencillas de la vida, como reir, cantar, bailar, llorar si es necesario … El pasado no se puede cambiar, … solo podemos aprender de él … lo que si podemos hacer es lo que hemos hecho hoy, disfrutar el momento, el ahora … y Como dice la canción: Mientras uno está vivo uno debe amar lo más que pueda …
Y para quienes no estan con nosotros presentes un beso al cielo y no los olvidemos nunca … su alma está aquí con nosotros hoy.
… Jamas imagine que el cierre de este día sería tan lindo y especial…
… Dtmf también se trata de tirar más Fotos con el corazon y la memoria”
(“Never forget to value and enjoy the simple things in life, like laughing, singing, dancing, crying if necessary… The past cannot be changed… we can only learn from it… what we can do is what we’ve done today, enjoy the moment, the now… and as the song says: While one is alive, one must love as much as one can…
And for those who are no longer with us, a kiss to heaven and let’s never forget them… their soul is here with us today.
…I never imagined that the end of this day would be so beautiful and special…
…Dtmf is also about taking more photos with the heart and the memory”)
That being said, there is nothing else I can add but to extend my love and support to all my migrant comrades, Latinos and non-latinos. We all live in the same world and we better live that life dancing together than fighting eachother.
Shoutout to: Los Chatos (Diana & Carlos), Naye, Lukas, Tatiana. For sharing this moment with me. And to Natalie, Martin, and the Chapin-Crew for the amazing photos from the standing pit.