|
|
02/08/26 08:13:00
Printable Page
02/08 20:08 CST Review: Bad Bunny brought Puerto Rico's history and culture to
a revolutionary Super Bowl show
Review: Bad Bunny brought Puerto Rico's history and culture to a revolutionary
Super Bowl show
By MARIA SHERMAN
AP Music Writer
The sun hung low when Bad Bunny emerged in Puerto Rico's sugar cane fields
during his halftime show, surrounded by jbaros in pavas (rural farmers in
traditional straw hats), viejitos playing dominos (an affectionate term for
older men) and a piragua stand (shaved ice) --- undeniable symbols of Puerto
Rico.
From a small Caribbean island with a complicated colonial history, to the
world: The artist born Benito Antonio Martnez Ocasio brought Puerto Rican
culture to the Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, for his 2026 Super
Bowl halftime show in what was always going to be a landmark moment for Latinos.
He started with his huge reggaeton-and-then-some hits, "Tit Me Pregunt"
moving into "Yo Perreo Sola," as he remerged on top of the casita ("little
house") from his Puerto Rican residency --- Cardi B was a guest at his pari de
marquesina ("house party.")
Then he crashed through the roof --- Daddy Yankee's "Gasolina" played for a
moment, clearly an acknowledgement and celebration of the Puerto Rican artists
who laid the path for his career to go global.
"Mi nombre is Benito Antonio Martnez Ocasio," he introduced himself to the
crowd in Spanish. "Y si hoy estoy aqu en el Super Bowl 60, es porque nunca,
nunca dej de creer en m y t tambin deberas de creer en ti, vales ms de lo
que piensas."
In English: "My name is Benito Antonio Martnez Ocasio, and if I'm here today
at Super Bowl 60 it's because I never, ever stopped believing in myself and you
should also believe in yourself, you're worth more than you think."
The strings of his song "Monaco" played --- then, a surprise Lady Gaga emerged
at a wedding scene, singing her portion of "Die with a Smile," her
collaboration with Bruno Mars, joined by a salsa band.
It gave Benito time for a fashion change --- rocking a white suit like a
classic salsero --- for "Baile Inolvidable" and "NuevaYol," with a block party
set where he took a shot with Tonita, owner of one of the last Puerto Rican
social clubs in New York City, Brooklyn's Caribbean Social Club.
Ricky Martin performed "Lo Que Le Pas a Hawaii," ("What Happened to Hawaii"),
a rallying cry for Puerto Rico's cultural autonomy in an era of
neocolonialization.
Behind him, jbaros in pavas climbed power poles that exploded, symbolic of
Puerto Rico's frequent blackouts and failing power grid. It queued up a moving
performance of his 2022 song "El Apagn" ("The Blackout"), in reference to
Hurricane Maria, its aftermath and the continued anger and frustration over
persistent, chronic power outages.
He held a Puerto Rico flag in red, white and baby blue --- reflective of the
Puerto Rican independence movement.
For around 13 minutes during the halftime show sponsored by Apple Music and Roc
Nation, all eyes on the field --- and around the world --- were on Benito
Antonio Martnez Ocasio.
Bad Bunny performed entirely in Spanish --- as all of his music is recorded in
the language, though he has collaborated with English-language artists. The
only English singing came from Gaga. That changed at the end of the set, when
he said, "God Bless America," and then named countries in the Caribbean,
Central and South America. "And my motherland, mi patria, Puerto Rico."
Behind him, a screen read "The only thing more powerful than hate is love" in
English text, a direct reference to one of his recent speeches at the 2026
Grammys.
He ended with "DtMF" as he walked out of the stadium, joined by musicians with
giros (a percussive instrument made of a hollow gourd) and panderetas
(tambourines, a symbol of plena.)
For years, Bad Bunny has been one of the most-streamed artists on the planet.
And on Sunday, he made it clear that his global popularity translates
seamlessly to the biggest stage in the U.S. (Though he is no stranger to it. He
previously appeared during the halftime show at Super Bowl LIV in 2020
alongside Jennifer Lopez and Shakira. He sang in Spanish alongside two artists
whose bilingual hits helped usher in a crossover era for Latin music in the
'00s.)
Consider Bad Bunny's 2026 halftime performance the cherry on top of a huge
moment for the 31-year-old global superstar, who just 10 years ago was working
at an Econo supermarket in Puerto Rico.
Last week, he took home album of the year at the 2026 Grammys for his "Deb
Tirar Ms Fotos," an album that marries folkloric tradition in local Borinquen
genres like bomba, plena, salsa and msica jbara with contemporary styles like
reggaeton, trap and pop. It marked the first time an all-Spanish language album
won the top prize.
Like most headliners, Bad Bunny kept details of his halftime performance under
wraps ahead of time, though many theorized there would be some kind of
political performance. He's been critical of President Donald Trump in the past
and at the Grammys last Sunday, said "ICE out" while accepting a televised
award. Bad Bunny's latest tour skipped the continental U.S.; in an interview he
said it was at least partially inspired by concerns that his fans could be
targeted by immigration agents.
At a press conference on Thursday, Bad Bunny told Apple Music's Zane Lowe and
Ebro Darden viewers could expect a huge party --- and joked that while viewers
didn't need to learn Spanish to enjoy his set; they should learn to dance.
"I want to bring to the stage, of course, a lot of my culture," he said at the
time. "I don't want to give any spoilers. It's going to be fun."
Of course, he delivered on just that --- with a message of hope and a reminder
of Puerto Rico's resiliency.
___
For more on the Super Bowl, visit https://apnews.com/hub/super-bowl
|
