As flags that represented all North and South American countries waved across the field at the end of this year’s halftime show, the meaning of the performance itself expanded beyond just the United States. The hit Puerto Rican artist, Bad Bunny, starred in this year’s halftime show for Super Bowl LX. Bad Bunny specializes in Latin music, so most of the performance was in Spanish. Although the performance sparked a lot of controversy, this was one of my favorite haltime shows yet.
Earlier this month, Bad Bunny received a Grammy for Album of the Year for his album “Debí Tirar Más Fotos.” Although his music is in Spanish, his work is not limited to Spanish speakers and he encourages everyone to listen to it.
Despite Puerto Rico being an American territory and Spanish being the second most common language in the U.S., Bad Bunny’s performance at the Super Bowl was more controversial now than any other halftime performance.
At least 13 non-American artists have previously performed at the halftime show and have never received as much criticism as Bad Bunny. With the Super Bowl being the biggest U.S. sporting event of the year, it is understandable to want an American artist. However, the hate that Bad Bunny is receiving as an American citizen is incomparable to that of any other non-American performer who has been selected for the halftime show in the past.
The performance itself was great, featuring a unique set and a diverse group of dancers. During the show, a legal wedding took place on stage, showcasing the couple’s story with a proposal early in the set and a ceremony towards the end.
Halfway through the show, American singer Lady Gaga was introduced and performed a salsa-inspired version of her hit pop song, “Die With a Smile.” By featuring a known song in English during the halftime show, audiences who did not know Spanish could still understand part of the act.
The set was very lively and highlighted the pride in Latin heritage, particularly referring to his Puerto Rican culture. With a design inspired by the island’s landscape, the set featured a piragua stand, a barbershop and sugar cane fields.
As spectacular as Bad Bunny was, some Americans could not bring themselves to watch a performance in Spanish. A second rival halftime show, titled the “All-American Halftime Show,” was aired on Turning Point USA, competing with the official Apple Music Halftime Show. However, Bad Bunny set a record for the most watched halftime show of all time, beating last year’s record and drawing at least 135 million viewers.
This alternative Halftime show was orchestrated by conservative members associated with the “Make America Great Again” movement. The act featured country artists, as it is perceived to be a more “American” genre. Hosting a second halftime show is not only extremely disrespectful to Bad Bunny, but a serious offense to all Latin Americans.
To close out the show, the JumboTron featured a sign reading “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.” Despite the controversy, Bad Bunny’s performance is seen as a win for Latin American representation in the U.S., and was a beautiful representation of the blend of cultures that our country is built on.
