For weeks, I’ve been irritating my coworkers at Euronews Travel towers by singing and humming snippets of the viral “Puerto Rico song”.
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I’ve never been, but the earworm has shot the Caribbean archipelago to the top of my to-visit list, and I’m sure it’s the same for many.
I, too, want to be immediately enchanted, even if people clap when the plane lands. How could I say no to leaving the tourist hot spots behind in favour of a visit to Caguas, with its slot machines in the bus station? I hear it’s a wild place to vacation…
Hundreds of thousands of social media users have used the viral sound on clips from their vacations (whether in Puerto Rico or not), but now the song has an official music video – and a singalong karaoke version.
Discover Puerto Rico invited the song’s creator Bill Stiteler, aka Saxboy Billy, to shoot the video at iconic spots around Puerto Rico.
“I created the song because Puerto Rico is one of those places that leaves a lasting impression on people,” Stiteler said.
“I never imagined it would resonate with so many people online, let alone lead to an opportunity to film an official music video across the island. It's been incredible to see how people have embraced it.”
The karaoke version features a coquí frog, a symbol of Puerto Rico, who guides singers through the lyrics by hopping from word to word.
While the song has taken over the internet, not everyone is a fan.
Stiteler wrote the lyrics, recorded himself singing them, then fed them into Suno, an AI music generator. Artists like On Company Time and Straight No Chaser have recorded their own 100% human versions, both of which have racked up hundreds of thousands of views as the backlash against AI grows among netizens.
The music video from Stiteler and Discover Puerto Rico uses the original AI-generated song.
Filming locations from the music video include San Juan highlights such as the fortress El Morro, entertainment complex Distrito T-Mobile and Toro Verde Urban Park; downtown Caguas; Luquillo hot spots like beach destination Balneario La Monserrate plus foodie spots Terruño and the Kioskos de Luquillo; and Las Croabas in Fajardo.
The song mentions the traditional dish mofongo, made from fried green plantains, and the malt beverage Malta – and both make an appearance in the clip.
Discover Puerto Rico has released the song just in time for the start of the summer season, a great time to visit the island, with Piña Colada Month in July and Rum Month in August.
See you there.