DTMF (song)
"DTMF" is a song by Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny. It was released on January 23, 2025, as the fourth single from his sixth solo studio album Debí Tirar Más Fotos. A plena song, with elements of rap and Latin pop or reggaeton, the track sees Bad Bunny singing about how he regrets not having taken more pictures of people he had spent time with. At the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, it was nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
Background and release
On October 13, 2023, Bad Bunny released his fifth solo studio album Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana, which debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, with the addition of reaching the top 10 in five more countries. It was also supported by his fifth concert tour, the Most Wanted Tour, spanning dates from February to June 2024, all of which sold out and broke multiple records. Between December 2024 and January 2025, he began promoting his sixth solo album Debí Tirar Más Fotos, releasing supporting singles, an accompanying short film and revealing its tracklist, where "DTMF" was featured as the 16th track and its title track."DTMF" was released for digital download and streaming on January 5, 2025, through Rimas Entertainment, as part of Debí Tirar Más Fotos. Only a few days after the release of the track, it went viral on TikTok. Based on its lyrics of looking back on memories, the song was used as a dedication to loved ones with pictures that are special to users of the sound, mainly of those who had passed. Bad Bunny later shared his reaction on the trend on the platform, which sees him in tears.
Composition
"DTMF" is a "nostalgic" track that blends "Nintendo-inspired beats", reminiscent of his 2020 album YHLQMDLG, with "lively Plena", a Puerto Rican "folk call-and-response" genre. On a "mellow beat" with occasional choir chants, Bad Bunny displays his emotions and regrets not having taken more pictures of loved ones or people with whom he had spent periods of time.Critical reception
In a ranking of all album tracks for Billboard, editors placed it sixth, saying that the song reminds listeners to value "the meaningful aspects of life" over superficiality. They particularly praised the "lively" interplay of reggaeton as a modern element and "a deep sense of nostalgia". Maya Georgi of Rolling Stone thought the song was the album cover come to life, as the chants sound like they were recorded "in the emerald green backyard displayed".Commercial performance
North America
Despite having only five days of tracking, "DTMF" debuted at number 38 on the US Billboard Hot 100, on the issue dated January 18, 2025, with 11 million official on-demand streams in the country. The week after, it reached a peak of number two on the chart, earning 34.9 million additional streams within its first full tracking week. It became his 15th top-ten song, and his highest-charting solo song, on the chart. On the issue dated February 1, 2025, the song maintained its peak at number two while simultaneously topping the US Streaming Songs for a second consecutive week.After its five days of tracking, "DTMF" initially debuted at number five on the US Hot Latin Songs chart. The week after, it rose up four positions to reach a new peak of number one on the chart, additionally reaching this peak on both Latin Streaming Songs and Latin Digital Song Sales charts. It became his 16th number-one song on the former chart. Additionally, it debuted atop the TikTok Billboard Top 50 chart, on the issue dated January 18, 2025, becoming the fifth song to debut atop the chart since it was launched in 2023. The week after, it reached the top of the US Streaming Songs chart, becoming his second number-one song on the chart, after his 2022 single "Me Porto Bonito".