New Delhi, June 12, 2026 — If you have spent any time scrolling through social media recently, you have undoubtedly run into the unavoidable earworm of the summer. It begins with the simple, bright lyric: “First time in San Juan, mi hijo / Capital of Puerto Rico.” Backed by an upbeat, bouncy rhythm that evokes the feel-good nostalgia of a 1980s television sitcom theme song, “The Puerto Rico Song” has captured the internet’s imagination. Millions of views, thousands of TikTok lip-syncs from major celebrities, and endless vacation highlight reels have pushed the track into global virality.
However, the track carries a major twist that has sparked massive conversation across the music industry: it was generated using artificial intelligence. Created by William Stiteler, a Pittsburgh comedian and content creator known online as @saxboybilly18, the song’s lyrics were written by hand, but the music itself was generated through the AI music platform Suno. As the track transitions from a casual internet meme into a genuine pop-culture phenomenon, a fascinating question has emerged: What do Puerto Ricans actually think of this viral, AI-generated anthem about their homeland?
A Tourism Boom and an Official Invitation
For many residents and cultural institutions on the island, the initial reaction to the track has been one of embrace. Puerto Rico boasts one of the most vibrant, fiercely protected musical identities in the world—as the birthplace of heavyweights like Bad Bunny, Daddy Yankee, and Ricky Martin, the island’s standards for its soundtrack are incredibly high. Yet, the sheer joy and simplicity of Stiteler’s viral track have broken through.
Instead of pushing back against an AI-generated tune written by an outsider, the official tourism board of Puerto Rico chose to lean completely into the phenomenon. Recognizing the massive, free marketing boost the island was receiving on a global scale, the tourism board reached out to Stiteler directly. In an unexpected turn of events, they are flying the comedian down to the island to shoot an official, four-day promotional music video using the track.
For everyday Puerto Ricans working in hospitality, food service, and local businesses, the song represents a welcome economic driver. Local content creators have used the audio to showcase the vibrant, colorful streets of Old San Juan, the pristine beaches of Condado, and local culinary staples. The track has acted as a digital postcard, driving a fresh wave of wanderlust among travelers planning their summer vacations.
The Deep Ties to a Pittsburgh Legend
Part of why the song has resonated so deeply with Puerto Ricans is the genuine respect and connection baked into its origin story. Stiteler did not create the song as a cynical attempt to exploit a trend. Instead, the track was born from his personal sobriety journey. After committing to following the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team to every single away game, Stiteler began traveling across the Americas, writing comedic travel songs to document his experiences.
When his travels brought him to Puerto Rico, his primary goal was to pay homage to a shared piece of history between Pittsburgh and the island: the legendary baseball Hall of Famer, Roberto Clemente. Known to fans as “The Great One,” Clemente is an immortal cultural figure in Puerto Rico, celebrated not just for his athletic genius but for his profound humanitarian work.
While visiting the island, Stiteler took a local bus out to Caguas, a municipality south of San Juan, specifically to see where Clemente played baseball when he was just 19 years old. The lyrics of the song reflect these specific local references, mentioning not just the typical tourist spots of San Juan, but shouting out Caguas as well. For local Puerto Ricans, hearing a visitor reference Caguas and show genuine reverence for Clemente’s roots signaled that the creator actually took the time to engage with the island’s authentic culture, rather than just scratching the surface.
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The AI Debate: Nostalgia vs. Cultural Authenticity
While the song has brought plenty of smiles, it has also sparked a deeper, more critical dialogue among Puerto Rican musicians, historians, and cultural purists. The island’s rich musical tapestry is built on highly complex, human rhythms like bomba, plena, and salsa—genres rooted in Afro-Caribbean history, live instrumentation, and deeply felt human struggles.
The fact that the summer’s biggest viral hit about Puerto Rico is a pentatonic, AI-generated track that mimics Motown progressions and American sitcom themes has left some local artists feeling conflicted. Critics point out that the song lacks the organic percussion and syncopated beats native to traditional Puerto Rican music. Some argue that the viral success of AI music threatens the livelihoods of local musicians who spend decades mastering traditional instruments and music theory.
Even Stiteler himself is quick to agree with his critics, openly stating in interviews that he does not view himself as a musician and considers the project a comedy video rather than serious musical art. He initially resisted putting the track on streaming platforms like Spotify because of his deep respect for traditional musicianship, though he eventually relented after global demand became overwhelming.
The Verdict: A Harmless Anthem of Joy
Ultimately, the consensus among the majority of Puerto Ricans online leans heavily toward lighthearted fun. In a digital landscape often dominated by stressful news, a simple, campy, and unpretentious song celebrating the beauty and friendliness of the island feels like a harmless win. Locals are proud to see icons like country star Luke Combs and comedian Brian Jordan Alvarez singing along to lyrics about San Juan.
Whether “The Puerto Rico Song” will stand the test of time or fade away as a fleeting internet trend remains to be seen. But for now, as the island prepares to welcome its creator for an official tourism campaign, the track serves as a fascinating example of how modern technology, sports history, and a piece of pure, unadulterated catchiness can bring people together across borders. It may have been built by a computer algorithm, but the joy it is bringing to travelers and proud locals alike is entirely real.