SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Bad Bunny transformed Super Bowl 60’s halftime show into a vibrant, 13-minute celebration of Puerto Rican culture, performing entirely in Spanish before a global audience estimated at over 130 million viewers. The performance, held Sunday at Levi’s Stadium, featured a blend of reggaetón hits, visual storytelling and surprise appearances from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin.
The show opened with Bad Bunny performing amidst a recreation of Puerto Rico’s sugarcane fields, a visual reference to the island’s economic history. According to Eduardo Galeano’s 1971 book, “Open Veins of Latin America,” sugarcane has long been a dominant force in Latin American economies, and the imagery served as a stark reminder of the island’s colonial past. He transitioned into performances of popular songs like “Yo Perreo Sola,” “Safaera,” and “Voy a Llevarte pa’ PR,” often performing within a “casita” – a tiny house that has become a signature element of his recent tour.
The halftime show wasn’t solely a musical performance; it was a cultural statement. Bad Bunny brought out a series of prominent figures, including Cardi B, Jessica Alba, and Pedro Pascal, to join the celebration. Lady Gaga appeared during a staged wedding, performing a salsa-infused rendition of “Die with a Smile” before joining Bad Bunny for “Baile Inolvidable.” Ricky Martin, a pioneer in bringing Latin music to a wider audience, performed “Lo que le pasó a Hawáii,” a song that critiques Puerto Rico’s colonial status.
Bad Bunny subtly acknowledged brand partnerships, wearing a collared shirt and tie with the number 64 designed by Zara and debuting a new custom Adidas sneaker, the BadBo 1.0 in white. Though, the focus remained firmly on Puerto Rican identity and heritage. He repeatedly emphasized the island’s resilience and cultural contributions, culminating in a recitation of the names of nations across the Americas, ending with the declaration, “Mi Patria Puerto Rico, seguimos aquí” – “My homeland Puerto Rico, we are still here.”
The performance too touched upon contemporary issues facing Puerto Rico, including the ongoing energy crisis and the effects of Americanization. Bad Bunny performed in front of light poles during “El Apagón” (The Blackout), a song addressing the island’s unreliable power grid.
The artist’s appearance, adorned with an ensemble in light blue – a color associated with Puerto Rican independence – and a red flor de maga, the island’s national flower, served as a visual bridge between Puerto Rican and American cultures. He also paid homage to New York City’s vibrant Puerto Rican community, performing “NuevaYol” amidst scenes of bodegas, barbershops, and community spaces, including a representation of Toñitas, a historic Puerto Rican Social Club. This followed a recent political statement at the Grammys, where he declared “ICE out” and handed his Grammy for Album of the Year to a young fan.
The show concluded with a parade of flags representing every country in the Americas, accompanied by the local plena group Pleneros de la Cresta. This imagery served as both an affirmation of Puerto Rican culture and a point of recognition for broader Latin American audiences, offering an educational entry point for those unfamiliar with the island’s history.
