OPINION: You miss it more when you’re away

Over winter break, I was home in Puerto Rico with a friend and his family visiting food stalls and bars as part of a wedding celebration. In one of the places we visited, a group of people was singing bomba, a traditional music genre with African origins and influence.   

In that situation, I realized two things: first, I felt immense joy seeing everyone dancing and singing together even though the two groups of people didn’t know each other. Secondly, my confusion when I tried to sing along signaled a need for me to get more in touch with bomba and other traditional genres. In the group of people I was traveling with, there were a lot of Spaniards, because my friend’s sister was marrying into a Spanish family. For a brief moment, I felt as foreign as they probably did. 

Now in my sophomore year of college, I found a drive to appreciate local music from home, both old and new. Most recently, Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny released his seventh solo album titled “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” (“I Should Have Taken More Pictures”).   

It’s a special album because it sounds and feels like a love letter to Puerto Rican culture. Some songs blend modern and traditional genres, paying homage to the island’s musical history and tradition.   

Bad Bunny didn’t forget the danceable style of music that made him popular. He made sure to include typical reggaeton songs such as “Voy a Llevarte pa’ PR” (“I’m Taking You to Puerto Rico”), but he also included songs that are his take on classic genres such as salsa, featured in “Baile Inolvidable” (“Unforgettable Dance”) and plena, featured in “Café con Rón” (“Coffee with Rum”).   

Despite my appreciation for him now, Bad Bunny failed to make the cut in my Spotify playlist of local music I developed around two years ago. At the time, I was more focused on listening to other modern artists that weren’t as recognized, like indie rock band MaryOla and a pair of R&B/dance pop artists called Duo Deleite (Duo of Delight). Since I started college, I’ve occasionally tuned into traditional local genres like salsa, but not enough to consider myself a fan of them. 

A few days ago, I decided to turn my playlist into a large compilation, mixing modern and traditional genres. Now, my Spotify playlist includes everything from modern Puerto Rican pop and indie music to old school salsa and reggaeton.  

The reggaeton genre is a staple of modern, urban culture in Puerto Rico. It’s the one I mainly listened to before branching out to contemporary artists in other genres. When I was in eighth grade, my brother succeeded in making me a listener of this genre, which I used to criticize as a kid. Before becoming a fan, adults would be pleasantly surprised when I badmouthed reggaeton and called rock the best example of “real music.”   

This change in my music taste was to my dad’s dismay, since I grew up listening to the music he enjoys. Out of all the genres he likes, classic rock wowed me as a kid. The soundtrack to my childhood memories features more songs like “So Lonely” by The Police and “Little Floater” by NRBQ in place of anything considered a “Puerto Rican classic.” My dad is a local music fan, and I know he probably played it in the car or at home when I was a child, but I don’t remember it being as present as rock music. 

My struggle with homesickness became increasingly difficult this school year. Knowing I’m probably not returning home until June took a toll on me during this past Christmas break. Until recently, I didn’t consider myself a fan of traditional genres like salsa, bomba and plena. However, with a growing need to feel connected to my culture while away from home, music — both modern and traditional — has become the most reliable tool.    

For students looking for ways to connect with their culture through resources at IU, I recommend visiting any of the seven cultural centers or connecting with international student organizations on campus.