Huddled on the couches in the fourth-floor lounge of Greiner Hall, 20 other students and I watched as Bad Bunny took the Levi’s Stadium stage in Santa Clara, California by storm.
Before halftime, not many of us were paying attention to the actual game, but all chatter stopped and the TV volume went up as soon as “Tití Me Preguntó” started playing.
In late September, when the NFL announced that Bad Bunny, formally known as Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, would be headlining the Super Bowl, I wasn’t particularly over the moon — I wasn’t very familiar with his music and hoped the Lady Gaga headline rumors were true.
Now, just over 4 months later, I can say that I wouldn’t have wanted anyone else to perform. Not only did he surprisingly bring Lady Gaga out for a salsa rendition of her hit “Die With a Smile,” but he told a beautiful story showcasing Latin culture and unity between all North and South American countries and that love is stronger than hate.
Throughout the hundreds of people dressed as sugar cane stalks, numerous scenes were set: farmers chopping sugar cane, women getting their nails done, older men playing dominoes, a piragua cart and a jewelry stand, where Benito is given a diamond ring that he quickly gives to a young couple, while further walking through. Considering this was the first part we saw during the show, I was immediately drawn in and curious about the set and what it showcased.
Immediately after exiting the sugar cane field, the audience was met with the faces of numerous celebrities and public figures, including Cardi B, Pedro Pascal, Jessica Alba, and Alix Earle in front of the “La Casita” set. During this part of the show, I was experiencing a mixed bag of emotions; the first being shock, as I was not expecting to see Alix Earle there, given her lack of advocacy for immigration and rumored political views. However, I was relieved to see Cardi B, as I, along with my 20 peers, had been expecting her and Benito to perform their hit song, “I Like It.”
Despite never getting the live performance of the critically acclaimed song, we were shown the theme of unity, yet again, as a real-life wedding took place, which quickly dispersed, and revealed, to my joy, Lady Gaga, who began singing a salsa-inspired version of her love song “Die With a Smile.” She was joined by Benito as the entire wedding party, including the two performers, broke out into dance.
Throughout the entirety of his 13-minute performance, Bad Bunny showed unity, love and hope in a multitude of ways. Moments after the wedding party scene, the camera moved to a young family watching Benito’s recent Grammy speech, where he famously said, “The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love.” As a young boy, presumably a young Bad Bunny looked at the TV, Benito handed him his Grammy, representing his dreams coming true.
Although I loved the whole show, I feel my favorite part of his performance was the last minute and a half. As Benito and several performers holding flags from different nations walked through his set, he declared “God bless America,” and listed every country in North, South and Central America. Behind him, a large screen lit up stating, “the only thing that is more powerful than hate is love,” which was referenced earlier in his performance. As he concluded his listing of nations, Benito held up a football to the camera, with the words “Together, We are America,” written on it. He spiked the ball and danced off the field to “Debí Tirar Más Fotos”. Soon after, most of my 20-something peers, who crowded around the couch to watch this historic performance, left, feeling proud and in awe of Bad Bunny.
Writing this, hours after the conclusion of Super Bowl LX, I, too, am in awe of his performance. The show called for unity and love during a turbulent period in US history, while also representing Puerto Rican and Latin cultures in various ways. Bad Bunny’s performance not only gave me a sense of hope but also taught me more about Puerto Rico’s history and the significance of Latin American culture in the US through the numerous symbols the show conveyed. Although I previously and regrettably did not love his selection as the halftime show performer, I now think he was the perfect choice.
The arts desk can be reached at arts@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
