Say what you will about Bad Bunny but, that man knows how to perform. Taking the viewers into the sugar fields, streets of Puerto Rico or New York, Bad Bunny was able to transport those watching into a variety of settings that had significance to him as well as Puerto Rican culture.
Bad Bunny entered the stage singing “Tití Me Preguntó” and continued his performances with many of his hits to follow such as “Yo Perreo Sola”, “EoO”, “BAILE INoLVIDABLE”, “NUEVAYoL”, “El Apagón” and ending with a few lines of “DtMF” or “DeBí Tirar MáS FOToS”.
Each song he performed blended well into the next, creating a mashup of his discography and taking viewers through different eras of his music.
He also brought out Lady Gaga to sing a remixed version of “Die with a Smile” and Ricky Martin to sing “Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawaii.” Both guests were seemingly unexpected, and both songs were strong moments during the performance.
There were also numerous moments of symbolism throughout the performance such as singing his song “El Apagón” which specifically discusses power grid failures due to storms on Puerto Rican islands and a general lack of upkeep.
There was also a scene of a family watching Bad Bunny’s recent Grammy acceptance speech, where he discussed the power love holds, before symbolically giving his Grammy to child actor Lincoln Fox.
I believe this moment perfectly encapsulates what his entire halftime show was about, putting aside all hatred.
In multiple interviews before Bad Bunny’s performance, he emphasized the idea that even if individuals may not understand what he is saying, the importance of his performance was to come together as one and dance with one another.
I believe he achieved this with the content of his performance. Specifically, the moment when a couple got married on the stage during the performance. According to multiple sources online, the wedding was real. Having an actual wedding during the show, the message of love, coming together, and time spent with who matters was clearly hammered into the performance.
Towards the end of the performance, Bad Bunny said the phrase “God Bless America” while listing all the different countries in North and South America while individuals held the flags for those countries behind him. He ended the performance by spiking a football that said “Together, We Are America” in front of a billboard saying, “The Only Thing More Powerful Than Hate is Love”.
Personally, I was a huge fan of the performance. I loved every moment I was watching. As someone who doesn’t really speak Spanish, I was introduced to Bad Bunny by my AP Spanish teacher in high school and was immediately encapsulated by the messages and themes within his music.
His messages about the love of his culture and his appreciation for community are things that inspire me.
Being able to watch this performance as a fan was something I was greatly looking forward to. I loved every second, especially the camera work during the performance. I enjoyed the different sets featured during the show as well as the consistency of the sugar fields in the background.
My favorite part was his performance of “Nuevayol.” It is one of my favorite Bad Bunny songs, but the performance also felt like a huge block party.
I also enjoyed the presence of La Casita, a set design during many of Bad Bunny’s recent concerts where emphasis is placed on traditional Puerto Rican homes as well as the feeling of family and community. During his concerts, Bad Bunny will have celebrities, influencers, family members, and friends who come and dance in La Casita for a few songs.
During the Superbowl Performance, he brought out many different celebrities including Pedro Pascal, Cardi B, Jessica Alba and Karol G. However, I realized that iconic moment may have gotten lost as some people didn’t realize the significance of having this set piece.
With that aside, I believe this performance was fantastic and can be placed alongside recent Halftime performances, like Kendrick Lamar and Rihanna, that have all solidified themselves as iconic and groundbreaking Halftime shows.
