Credit: Photo by Phil DeSimone
After Bad Bunny’s last appearance in Tampa on December 8th, the most popular musician in the world came back on Tuesday night to give us all the drama and showmanship we’ve expected from him.

The crowd this time around was more diverse, reflecting his mainstream success. Fans adorned in Western-themed attire, assembled to witness the highly anticipated return of the Puerto Rican megastar, marking his 44th performance on his nationwide “Most Wanted Tour.” This production, segmented into four distinct acts, exuded a heightened sense of theatricality compared to his previous endeavors. Evidenced by intricate pyrotechnic displays, San Benito opened with an orchestra, complete with violins, cellos, brass, and all, which delivered a captivating 10-minute opening act from one of the two crescent-shaped stages strategically placed on either side of the arena.

After the breathtaking introduction, Bad Bunny ascended from beneath the stage, shrouded in a cloud of smoke as he commenced his performance with his new song, “Nadie Sabe.” Leaning into the microphone under a spotlight, clad in a dark jacket, black cap, and bedazzled bandana, Bad Bunny remained steadfastly connected to his melancholic, introspective side as he sang. It wasn’t until the second song, “Monaco,” that the backup dancers made their entrance, donning simple black attire and keeping their choreography minimalistic. This starkly contrasted with his previous tour “Un Verano Sin Ti”, which celebrated vibrant, exuberant summer festivities on the beach. The San Benito of this year, however, is transformed: grounded, serious, mature.

As he moved through Act I with songs like “Fina”, “Mr. October”, and “Baticano”, Benito frequently kept his face obscured, at one point wearing a ski mask and sunglasses, enhancing the show’s air of mystery and adding to his enigma.

For Act II and Act III, The King of Latin Trap made his grand return on horseback, adorned in a freshly minted, cowboy-approved ensemble, truly living up to his illustrious moniker. Spotlighting his earlier trap triumphs such as “25/8” and “Thunder Y Lightning,” Bad Bunny refrained from extensive dialogue between songs – his presence alone spoke volumes. As the first non-English-language artist to dominate the top of Spotify’s streaming charts, his mere visage was enough to drive the crowd into a frenzy. He predominantly chose to silently observe the 360-degree wall of fans, occasionally pointing towards them or pressing his hands together in a gesture of gratitude, which invariably provoked delighted screams. At the conclusion of Act III, however, he paused to convey his heartfelt appreciation to the fervent audience, reclining atop the piano that would soon accompany his next few numbers.

Despite Act III’s focus on trap, Act IV culminated in a delightful surprise for aficionados of his electrifying reggaeton hits. Tracks like “Safaera,” “Yo Perreo Sola,” “Efecto,” and even “Me Porto Bonito” ignited the closing segment. Nearly the entire audience sprang to their feet, and it seemed as if every colorful laser and floating fluorescent light in the venue illuminated, revealing a sea of ecstatic faces. Streamers, confetti, and sprays of overpriced beer and mixed drinks soared through the air, adding to the jubilant chaos.

Regardless of the genre Bad Bunny ventures into—whether he dons the attire of a ranchero one day or transforms into a tropical cyberpunk the next—he consistently infuses his work with a distinctive sense of vulnerability. This unique trait defines his contribution to the genre as his ability to candidly convey his emotions, whether it be heartbreak, anger, joy, or loneliness, is unmatched. Benito is perpetually immersed in and exploring his feelings, so as long as Bad Bunny continues to wear his heart on his sleeve, his fans will undoubtedly keep returning for more.

SETLIST:

1. ORCHESTRA
2. NADIE SABE
3. MONACO
4. FINA
5. HIBIKI
6. MR. OCTOBER
7. MERCEDES CAROTA
8. CYBERTRUCK
9. BATICANO
10. TELEFONO NUEVO
11. PA TI
12. 25/8
13. VUELVE CANDY B
14. THUNDER Y LIGHTNING
15. GRACIAS POR NADA
16. UN x100TO
17. AMORFODA
18. CALLAITA
19. LA CANCION
20. PERRO NEGRO
21. SAFAERA
22. YO PERREO SOLA
23. LA SANTA
24. LA JUMPA
25. DÁKITI
26. EFECTA
27. ME PORTO BONITO
28. UN PREVIEW
29. WHERE SHE GOES

Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.

Follow us: Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

This article appears in May 16-22, 2024.