Puerto Rico felt like home for Michelle García Mercado as soon as she stepped off the plane in San Juan. The 29-year-old had been away for three years, but a recent concert by global superstar Bad Bunny brought her back to the island, if only for a long weekend.
García Mercado is not alone. Thousands of Puerto Ricans have left the island due to economic struggles and a lack of opportunities amid a debt crisis, worsening infrastructure, rising prices, and gentrification. But Bad Bunny’s decision to play 30 concerts on the island has been groundbreaking, bringing back many who’ve moved away.
The residency, titled “No Me Quiero Ir De Aquí” (“I Don’t Want To Leave Here”), is a celebration of Puerto Rican traditions and rhythms. From the stage, Bad Bunny addresses the hurt directly, telling fans it doesn’t matter where they live, they’re no less Puerto Rican.
The concerts have been a cathartic experience for many, including Yarimar Bonilla, a Princeton political anthropologist who has seen the show several times. “It’s that feeling of melancholy that so many people feel over a world that is slipping away from them,” he said. “Bad Bunny is telling fans it doesn’t matter where they live, but we’re all still Puerto Rican.”
The impact on young people like Jason Domenech and Tanisha Galarza has been particularly significant. Domenech, who left to study in Boston, felt inspired to permanently move back to Puerto Rico after attending the concert. Galarza, a budding musician, wants to make her career in Puerto Rico but had worried about leaving due to economic concerns.
Bad Bunny’s music and message have revived pride in many Puerto Ricans, including Angeline Mundo, who moved to Miami with her family in 2014. Her older daughter has taken a renewed interest in Puerto Rican culture thanks to the singer.
For García Mercado, Bad Bunny’s concert was more than just a show – it was a chance to reconnect with her homeland and find closure after years of feeling away from home. As she said, “I feel at peace. I feel happy for the first time in months.”
Source: https://www.npr.org/2025/08/16/g-s1-82965/for-puerto-ricans-on-and-off-the-island-bad-bunnys-concert-feels-like-home