Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show On a Deeper Level
By Miguel Suzon
Staff Writer
On Sunday, February 8th, Bad Bunny etches his name in Super Bowl history as the first artist to perform fully in Spanish. With an average audience of 128.2 million, Benito takes us through the vibrant aesthetics and culture of Puerto Rico all while spreading messages of identity and unity. But like many people who watched it and were left speechless, you probably asked yourself, What the hell just happened?”. The show held many little easter eggs and cultural references that simply can’t be caught on a first watch, so here’s a little breakdown to show you the broader picture.
The show opens in a field of sugar canes, formed like a maze that is filled with snapshots of Puerto Rico. Jibaros harvesting sugar canes, raw coconut stands, plastic chairs and tables with playing cards; all these elements bring us closer to the normal life Benito knows. A much more down-to-earth approach than any other Halftime show, focusing more on identity and familiarity than extravagance like Katy Perry’s fever dream back in 2015. Following along, we are pulled into “La Casita”, A little cottage that is native to the rural and urban sides of Puerto Rico. We see a dance party with a bunch of celebrities on the porch, such as: Pedro Pascal, Jessica Alba, Cardi B, and others having a good time. It’s not for nothing that Bad Bunny pulls out a little house; in fact, he wants to represent the sense of community and form a cultural symbol of unity from the mundane. Then, the stadium quickly shifts into the streets of New York. After a quick salsa remix of “Die with a smile” performed by Lady Gaga, the camera closes in on a replica of “Toñitas”, a legendary social club in Brooklyn that’s been a gathering spot for Puerto Ricans. A place that brings a slice of home for those who long for it, through music, food and language, further emphasizing the love and beauty of identity. The next segment, however, switches its messaging towards a more political standpoint, showcasing power poles. It starts off with “El Apagón”, one of Bad Bunny’s many songs that focuses on Puerto Rico’s turmoil. It talks about the displacement of native Puerto Ricans due to US colonists upon arriving at the island and other socioeconomic issues such as blackouts, the title of the song. Blackouts are a part of daily life on the island, and through the power poles, Bad Bunny grabs our attention to the problems of privatization of energy and the climate change caused by the US. In the final act of the performance, the big screen on the stadium displays a message: “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.”, and flagbearers representing the many countries of America in its entirety come running across the stadium, joining Bad Bunny on his final speech. “God bless America” and proceeds to shout out every country from the North, South and Central America while holding a football that read “Together, we are America”. A powerful closing message to encapsulate what all of this was really for.
Bad Bunny didn’t just perform for the crowd; he sent out a powerful message of love. In times of political and social divide, the sense of community and identity power through conflict, and that despite the borders, we are all America.