ANTES QUE SE ACABE

'ANTES QUE SE ACABE' (which translates to 'Before It Ends') by Bad Bunny is a powerful anthem about embracing life to the fullest. The song's core message is a call to live in the present moment, acknowledging the ephemeral nature of life and the importance of finding joy and contentment before time runs out. It champions a philosophy of 'carpe diem', urging listeners to live without fear of death or regret, and to prioritize experiences, love, and human connection.

The lyrics delve into the dualities of existence, recognizing that life is a mixture of good and bad days, and that sorrow is often a necessary precursor to happiness. Bad Bunny encourages resilience and a positive outlook, suggesting that one should 'close your eyes and learn to fly' to overcome challenges and achieve a state of inner peace. While the song mentions hedonistic pleasures like 'alcohol and sex in excess', it immediately juxtaposes this with the sentiment that offering a kiss is better than causing problems, highlighting the greater value placed on love and positive relationships.

Furthermore, 'ANTES QUE SE ACABE' carries a strong message of unity and universal love. It explicitly calls for listeners to 'embrace your brother and don't look at the color', emphasizing equality and the idea that a person's true worth is measured by their capacity to love. It is an ode to life, happiness, and joy, intended to take listeners on a journey of appreciating the present and promoting positivity.

The song opens with a spoken-word blessing, wishing peace and, above all, a great deal of love upon the listeners. This sets a tone of goodwill and positive intention that permeates the entire track. The first verse immediately delves into the inherent dualities of life, acknowledging that existence is a cycle of good and bad days, a reality that is unchangeable. It suggests that joy and sorrow are intertwined, that sometimes tears are a necessary precursor to smiles. There's an encouragement to find freedom and a higher perspective by closing one's eyes and metaphorically learning to fly, implying an internal journey of liberation from worldly worries.

The chorus serves as the song's central thesis, a powerful declaration of the 'carpe diem' philosophy. It's a resolution to live life fully and with joy before it all comes to an end, stating that if death is the outcome, it will be met with contentment. This sentiment is paired with a desire for hedonistic pleasures like 'alcohol and sex in excess', but this is immediately softened by a preference for offering a kiss instead of causing problems, suggesting that connection and affection are the ultimate goals. This refrain is repeated for emphasis, hammering home the urgency and importance of embracing the present moment without reservation.

In the second verse, the artist extends an invitation for a collective celebration, offering a symbolic 'shot of love' to everyone. This is a toast to the simple fact of being alive, of breathing. The lyrics then reframe negative experiences, suggesting that crying is not a crime and that even rainy days have their own unique beauty. A shift occurs as the sun comes out, symbolizing a turn towards better times and an improved state of mind. Time is personified as a healer, a 'doctor' that mends past wounds. The artist asserts his autonomy and control over his own life, portraying it as a movie in which he is the director. He calls for music and celebration to erase any lingering resentment, stating he has no time or energy for grudges. The verse culminates in a powerful call for unity and love, urging listeners to embrace their fellow human beings without regard to skin color, because in essence, everyone is the same. The ultimate measure of a person's worth, the song suggests, is the amount of love they are capable of giving. The verse ends with a casual mention of attempting a longboard trick, with the caveat that even if it fails, it doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things, reinforcing the theme of living without fear of failure.

The song's structure, with its recurring, anthemic chorus, builds a sense of communal chant and shared purpose. The outro fades with repeated affirmations of love, leaving the listener with the core message echoing in their minds. It's a final reminder that amidst the complexities and challenges of life, the most potent and valuable forces are love and the conscious decision to live with joy and connection.

"ANTES QUE SE ACABE" was released on November 27, 2020, as part of Bad Bunny's third solo studio album, 'EL ÚLTIMO TOUR DEL MUNDO'. The album itself was a surprise release, and it made history by becoming the first all-Spanish language album to top the US Billboard 200 chart.

The song was written by Benito A. Martínez Ocasio (Bad Bunny) along with a team of co-writers including Caleb Calloway, Carlos E. Ortiz Rivera, Felix Lara, Gabriel Rivera, Jose E. Ortiz Rivera, Mag, Manuel Lara, and Nino K. Segarra. The production was also a collaborative effort, handled by Caleb Calloway, Chris Jedi, Gaby Music, MAG, Manuel Lara, Felix Lara, and Dímelo Ninow.

A notable element in the song's creation is the inclusion of a sample from a monologue by the famous Puerto Rican astrologer Walter Mercado at the beginning and end of the track. The sampled audio is from Mercado's 'Wacho Marcado', where he wishes his audience peace and a lot of love, which perfectly frames the song's overarching theme. This choice reflects Bad Bunny's practice of incorporating elements of Puerto Rican and Latin culture into his music, grounding the song's universal message in a specific cultural context.

The rhyme and rhythm of "ANTES QUE SE ACABE" are crafted to create a hypnotic and uplifting experience that complements its lyrical themes.

Rhyme Scheme: The song predominantly uses an AABB rhyme scheme in its verses, which gives it a simple, memorable, and song-like quality. For example, in the first verse, 'mal' rhymes with 'cambiar', and 'llorar' rhymes with 'volar'. This straightforward structure makes the lyrics easy to follow and sing along to, reinforcing the track's anthemic nature. The chorus also follows a consistent rhyme pattern, further enhancing its catchiness.

Rhythmic Structure: The song is built upon a mid-tempo reggaeton and Latin trap rhythm that encourages movement and creates a feel-good atmosphere. The beat is steady and persistent, providing a solid foundation for Bad Bunny's vocal flow. The production incorporates elements of future bass and electronic music, adding layers of synthesizers and atmospheric pads that give the rhythm a spacious and hopeful quality. There is a dynamic interplay between the lyrical rhythm and the musical beat; Bad Bunny's vocal delivery often syncopates with the main pulse, adding a rhythmic complexity and a conversational feel to his performance. The song's rhythm and pacing are consistent, maintaining a positive and resilient energy throughout, which perfectly aligns with its message of living life to the fullest.

"ANTES QUE SE ACABE" showcases Bad Bunny's signature blend of musical and literary techniques to create a track that is both catchy and meaningful.

• Musical Fusion: The song is built on a foundation of Latin trap, characterized by its rhythmic patterns and bass-heavy production. However, it incorporates elements from other genres, notably a happy, hopeful trap style mixed with future bass and electronic music elements, creating an uplifting and atmospheric soundscape. This genre-blending is a hallmark of Bad Bunny's style, allowing him to convey a positive message while staying true to his urban music roots.
• Vocal Delivery: Bad Bunny's vocal performance shifts throughout the song. He moves from a melodic, almost gentle delivery in the verses to a more anthemic and declarative tone in the chorus. This dynamic vocal approach enhances the emotional arc of the song, drawing the listener into the reflective verses and then uniting them in the celebratory chorus.
• Use of Samples: The song strategically opens and closes with a spoken-word sample from famed astrologer Walter Mercado, wishing peace and love. This technique, known as framing, sets the thematic stage from the very beginning and provides a sense of closure at the end, embedding the song's message within a familiar and beloved cultural voice.
• Direct Address: The lyrics frequently use direct address (e.g., 'Pa' darte problema' mejor te doy un beso' - 'To give you problems, I'd rather give you a kiss'). This creates a personal and intimate connection with the listener, making the song's message feel like a one-on-one piece of advice or a shared philosophy.
• Repetition and Refrain: The chorus, 'Y antes que se acabe to' esto / Voy a vivir mi vida, si me muero e' contento,' is a powerful refrain that acts as the song's central mantra. Its repetition drills the 'carpe diem' message into the listener's mind, making it highly memorable and anthemic.

"ANTES QUE SE ACABE" was released as part of the album 'EL ÚLTIMO TOUR DEL MUNDO', which had a significant cultural impact as the first-ever all-Spanish-language album to reach number one on the US Billboard 200 chart. This achievement was a landmark moment for Latin music, demonstrating the genre's mainstream appeal and breaking language barriers in the global music market.

Within Bad Bunny's discography, the song serves as a powerful expression of his artistic philosophy, which often blends introspective and socially conscious themes with genre-defying sounds. The track's message of unity, love, and living authentically resonates with his broader cultural influence, where he has been praised for challenging toxic masculinity, advocating for social issues, and championing his Puerto Rican identity on a global stage. The inclusion of the sample from beloved Puerto Rican icon Walter Mercado further solidified the song's cultural roots and its role as an ode to Latin heritage.

While specific chart data for the single is limited, as part of a number-one album, it reached a massive audience and contributed to Bad Bunny being the most-streamed artist on Spotify in 2020. The song's uplifting and hopeful message made it a source of positivity for many listeners, especially given its release during the COVID-19 pandemic. It stands as a testament to Bad Bunny's ability to create music that is not only commercially successful but also emotionally resonant and culturally significant.

"ANTES QUE SE ACABE" is rich with symbolism and metaphors that reinforce its central themes of life, impermanence, and unity.

• 'Cierra los ojos y aprende a volar' (Close your eyes and learn to fly): This recurring phrase is a central metaphor for inner liberation. It suggests transcending earthly worries and limitations not through physical escape, but through a change in perspective and a journey inward to find peace and freedom.
• 'La vida e' una movie, soy mi propio director' (Life is a movie, I'm my own director): This metaphor casts life as a film, empowering the individual as the one in control of their own narrative. It emphasizes agency and the power to shape one's own experiences and reactions to events, steering the story towards a positive outcome.
• 'El tiempo es mi doctor' (Time is my doctor): Here, time is personified as a healing force. This metaphor conveys a sense of hope and resilience, suggesting that wounds and negative experiences ('Lo malo pasó' - The bad thing passed) will eventually be mended with the passage of time.
• 'Shot de amor' (Shot of love): This phrase cleverly plays on the idea of taking a shot of alcohol, but replaces the liquor with love. It symbolizes a conscious choice to spread love and positivity as a form of celebration and social bonding.
• Rainy Days and Sunshine: The song uses weather as a classic symbol for emotional states. The line 'los día' lluvioso' a vece' son lo' más bonito'' ('the rainy days are sometimes the most beautiful') challenges the conventional negative association with rain, suggesting that even sad or difficult times have their own value and beauty. The subsequent emergence of the sun ('Pero hoy salió el sol y me siento mejor') symbolizes a return to happiness and optimism.

"ANTES QUE SE ACABE" features several recurring phrases and motifs that are central to its structure and meaning.

• 'Antes que se acabe to' esto' (Before all this ends): This is the most significant recurring phrase, appearing in the title and as the opening line of the anthemic chorus. Its repetition underscores the song's core theme of urgency and the ephemeral nature of life. It serves as a constant reminder to the listener to seize the moment and live without regret.
• 'Voy a vivir mi vida, si me muero e' contento' (I'm going to live my life, if I die I'm happy): This phrase, which directly follows the title line in the chorus, is the song's central mantra. It encapsulates the 'carpe diem' philosophy and the desire for a life lived so fully that death is not to be feared. Its repetition transforms the song into a personal and collective declaration of intent.
• 'Pa' darte problema' mejor te doy un beso' (To give you problems, I'd rather give you a kiss): This line, repeated at the end of each chorus, acts as a moral compass for the song's hedonistic leanings. While the song celebrates 'alcohol y sexo en exceso', this recurring phrase pivots back to the ultimate importance of love, affection, and positive human connection over conflict.
• The Motif of Duality (Good/Bad, Smiles/Tears, Rain/Sun): Throughout the song, there is a recurring motif of life's inherent dualities. Phrases like 'Un día bien, al otro mal' (One day good, the other bad) and the juxtaposition of crying to smile and rainy days to sunshine emphasize a message of acceptance and resilience. This motif reinforces the idea that embracing all of life's experiences, both positive and negative, is key to living fully.