When Bad Bunny was announced as this year’s Super Bowl halftime show headliner, the world had a lot to say. His performance was the only necessary response; filled with political protests and homages to the country we both call home, Puerto Rico.
Bad Bunny opened his Super Bowl LX halftime performance with his hit single “Titi Me Pregunto” from Un Verano Sin Ti, as he walked through the traditional sugar cane fields of the countryside, surrounded by jibaros wearing their key symbol, la pava (straw hat). Which paved the way for a SHOW.
The famous casita from his residency and current tour was filled with life and perreo! He continued with his old classics, following with “Yo Perreo Sola,” where you could spot some familiar faces, including Dominican baddie Cardi B and Chilean actor Pedro Pascal.
One of the most shocking guest appearances was Lady Gaga, playing a salsa version of “Die with a Smile,” but my goodness, it was beautiful. She carried those moving hips through “Baile Inolvidable.”
The scenery represented Puerto Rico and the diaspora in a way that many may have missed. One being a New York corner for his song “NuevaYol,” paying homage to the New-yoricans, and Puerto Ricans no longer on the island. That wasn’t the only message he hid within his performance. Ricky Martin, another fellow Puerto Rican, made an appearance to sing an acoustic rendition of “Lo Que Le Paso A Hawaii,” a song about the effects of gentrification and colonialism.
His fight continued with “El Apagon,” where powerlines begin to spark, and the dancers fall from them. This made me emotional. Hurricane Maria was one of the most devastating natural disasters to hit the island. Locals were left without power for over 120 days. Not even then, apagones, or blackouts, are a common occurrence that affects the island regularly, with no help from the government on either the island or the United States. It was a message that had so much power and so much emotion.
My personal favorite song, “Cafe Con Ron,” was played alongside Los Pleneros de la Cresta and was adorned with flags from multiple countries, representing unity in times of division. He closed the performance out with “Debi Tirar Mas Fotos,” which translates to “I Should’ve Taken More Photos”, a song about love, and living in the moment because one day something or someone could be gone. As he exited the stadium, he held up a football that read “Together, We Are America.”
This was a peaceful protest. A retaliation to the horrors dividing the country. To the hatred the Latino community is facing regularly. A more terrifying thought when you learn that Bad Bunny wore a bulletproof vest as he accepted his Grammy for Album of the Year, which was highlighted in his performance.
Tonight I wear my flag high. I am proud to be Puerto Rican, and his performance was a love letter to his country, and a message to the world, approved by Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio.
