Bad Bunny’s halftime show performance during Super Bowl LX featured countless symbols and stories of Latin American culture. From the beginning of his set, it was clear his show would be interesting. It started with Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, walking through a sugarcane field, which symbolized the economies of many Caribbean countries and the colonization and exploitation of migrant workers in the United States and beyond. His all-white outfit represented the workers in these conditions. While walking through the fields, Bad Bunny walked past and ordered from various street vendors, all of which are real businesses that serve authentic Latin American food.
Bad Bunny performed his song “Yo Perreo Sola” while dancing on top of a roof inspired by houses found in Puerto Rico. During the song, he fell into the house, revealing many famous faces, including singer and songwriter Karol G, rapper Cardi B – with whom Bad Bunny has collaborated in the past – and actors Pedro Pascal and Jessica Alba. He performed his song “El Apagón” atop electricity towers, symbolizing the constant electrical problems that occur on the island and the risks it brings for potential natural disasters.
One of the most memorable moments of his show came from two special guests: a couple getting married. This wedding, which many believed was staged for the performance, was a real wedding set up by Bad Bunny’s team. The bride and groom had invited the artist to their wedding, and instead of RSVPing, Bad Bunny decided to make them a part of his halftime show. This simple gesture not only gave the newlyweds an unforgettable wedding night, but also emphasized the show’s overall message: love.
Two other artists performed in the halftime show along Bad Bunny. The first was Lady Gaga, who appeared as a surprise wedding singer, performing her and Bruno Mars’ song, “Die with a Smile.” Her performance had some Latin influence since the band located behind her played chords commonly found in Salsa music. Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin also made an appearance singing Bad Bunny’s song, “Lo Que Le Paso a Hawaii.” His set replicated the album cover of Bad Bunny’s newest album, “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS,” which earned him three Grammy Awards this year, including Album of the Year.
Another unforgettable moment was when Bad Bunny interacted with a young boy on stage. During one of his songs, the camera cuts to a family watching Bad Bunny’s recent Album of the Year acceptance speech at the Grammy Awards. Bad Bunny walked over to the family and handed a Grammy Award to the boy. This gesture is very simple, but it holds a lot of meaning. The boy represented a younger Bad Bunny, and the scene gave younger generations with the same background as Bad Bunny the inspiration to become as successful as he is.
The show ended with a bang. While singing his hit song, “DtMF,” Bad Bunny closed by saying, “God Bless America, o sea …” and naming every country in North, South and Central America while all their flags waved behind him. During this moment, the camera pans to a billboard, which read: “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.” This moment emphasized what America truly is: a collection of different languages, cultures, countries and identities coming together.
Overall, Bad Bunny’s halftime performance felt more like an art piece than a concert. With all the dancing, singing and visual staging, it was an intricately detailed show with tons of nuance and Latin American cultures and traditions. In today’s environment, his performance is a reminder of how important celebrating our culture and the cultures of others is, reminding us of what America really stands for and reigniting the country’s sense of unity. Bad Bunny celebrated different Latino cultures and backgrounds and made history as the Super Bowl’s first Spanish-speaking Latino artist to perform.
