It has been about 2 weeks since Bad Bunny headlined the NFL’s Super Bowl LX (60), and, in my opinion, it was the most culturally significant performance in recent history. It was one of the most watched Superbowls in history. Although there have been some controversies, I believe it provided Latinx cultures with a moment of visibility. With the help of Bad Bunny, not only was this a piece of entertainment, but it was also a culmination of messages to help shine light on Hispanic cultures, identity, and issues.
Bad Bunny begins his halftime show with “Titi me Pregunto” and walks through vibrant trees with businesses in the background, like a Nail Salon, a Jeweler, and a taco cart, which symbolize the environment you can find in Latin communities and the entrepreneurship of Latinos. Bad Bunny obtains a ring from the Jeweler and, whilst walking to the next part of the sent he gives it to a couple on the set. The man proposes to girlfriend right after. This gesture symbolizes love and highlights important values in Hispanic culture, like love and family. This part helped emulsify the fact that it wasn’t only entertainment.
Bad Bunny then plays notable tracks like “Yo Perreo Sola”, a song which challenged gender norms in reggaeton and supported women’s independence, and “Voy llevarte pa’ PR” before switching to “Monaco”. During Monaco, Bad Bunny delivers a message which translates to “I’m here today at SuperBowl 60, because I never stopped believing in myself…You should also believe in yourself, You’re worth more than you think.” This helps show that if he can do it, anyone can, which is helpful to anyone going through hardships. He has been heavily criticized by the public for this performance because it was mostly in Spanish and “non-American.” Then he sang a line which translates to “Tell me, is this what you wanted?” which attacked and challenged critics by breaking cultural barriers.
One of the most meaningful moments was when we saw the couple from before getting married. After they got officially married, Lady Gaga emerged from the background wearing a light blue dress with a red rose for the Puerto Rico independence flag. then performed “Die With a Smile” with a Latin Urban instrumental. To me, this was unexpected, considering there were guests who seemed like they could play a better part, like Karol G or Cardi B. After her part, Bad Bunny performs “Baile Inolvidable,” which translates to “Unforgettable Dance,” and starts to dance with Lady Gaga.
As he goes on to the next set, he wakes up a little boy sleeping on chairs, which is a relatable reference to many Latinos like me, because celebrations are long, and the kids usually get tired while the adults keep celebrating. He performs “NuevaYol” and in the background, you can see a deli and a barbershop. As a New Yorker, it was heartwarming to see these classic city sites celebrated on such a big stage.
Later on, Bad Bunny gives a Grammy to a child watching him on TV, which, in my opinion, symbolized hope to those who think what is on TV is unrealistic. Then Ricky Martin, singer-songwriter from Puerto Rico, performs a part of “LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii” to emphasize and highlight a political issue, which is US imperialism, and corruption scandals caused by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Essentially, he is saying that he doesn’t want Puerto Rico to lose themselves the same way that Native Hawaiian people did after the US imperialized Hawaii. To me, this highlights the importance of culture and how you should never lose it. Once you do, you’re repeating history.
As the performance concludes, Bad Bunny performs “El Apagón,” which means “The Blackout,” to symbolize the ongoing power outages in Puerto Rico and to attack the U.S. for stripping it of its natural resources. Behind him, you can see lamplighters that bring the light to lamps and show that in tough times, there is always hope and people to “bring the light.” I feel that this collection of messages helps us realize that there is more to what we see, meaning that there is always something that is covered up. Bad Bunny is walking off the field, with people behind him holding flags of countries in the Americas as he lists them aloud, holding a football that reads “Together We Are America” to show how America is multicultural and isn’t only the US, and diversity unifies us. Once he reaches the Touchdown area, he says “seguimos aquí”(we’re here) to show resilience, pride, and perseverance, and slams the ball into the ground. He then walks off to “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” which is a song that expresses nostalgia.
With all this combined, this performance allows the audience to see how Latin music can dominate mainstream culture in America, while having deep messages that unify Latin cultures. The inclusion of guests like Lady Gaga and Cardi B demonstrates how different cultures can blend with one another. The message of resilience, identity, and power during such an energetic performance has made it one of the best Super Bowl performances of all time.
