Benito Bowl: Super Bowl LX Halftime Show
Photo Credit: Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images
Was anyone else disappointed that there was a football game during Bad Bunny’s concert?
His halftime show was beyond spectacular, the vibrant colors, Latin American flags, props, and choreography. As well as special guests including Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, Cardi B, Jessica Alba, Karol G, Pedro Pascal and more. The performance itself felt comforting and nostalgic, it reminded me of my own family parties; with loud music bumping, everyone drinking and dancing. I mean he actually had a real wedding during his show. Bad Bunny confirmed that the couple originally invited him to attend their wedding, but instead he invited them to get married during his performance. How beautiful is that?
Photo Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Roc Nation
As someone who loves to pay attention to details, Benito’s (Bad Bunny) symbolic references throughout the show takes the cake. The props and stage were made to look like Bad Bunny’s homeland of Puerto Rico (PR), with the tall grass, small businesses in every corner (vendors, and a Social Club), people playing card games, the iconic Casita, and much more. Every single prop shown has cultural significance.
Photo Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Roc Nation
I’ll break down a few of the current and historical references. First, his entrance with the tall grass, showing workers maintaining the crops. This references one of the reasons why PR became a U.S. territory. PR was rich in sugarcane and fruit, and the U.S. depended on Puerto Rican agricultural workers to farm and collect these goods.
Second, due to gentrification and displacement within the island many small businesses struggle to survive, which is why he briefly references some, including a New York social club where the real owner, Toñita, hands him a shot. Third, the electrical poles that he climbed up while singing “El Apagon” is significant because it symbolizes the ongoing injustice Puerto Ricans face, there are still power outages on the island after Hurricane Maria in 2017. Notably the light blue Puerto Rican flag, which is a critique of the U.S. forcing Puerto Ricans to use the “improved” dark blue flag, which matches the U.S. flag.
Pop culture references also play a major role Ricky Martin made an appearance singing “LO QUE LE PASÓ EN HAWAii” which was especially iconic since he was the first male Latin artist to debut an album at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart. Next, Lady Gaga, hello!? I absolutely loved it. She fit her song into a salsa style which shows how American and Hispanic cultures can be intertwined this highlights the power of music to bring people together. I appreciate that Bad Bunny mad a funny cultural reference, the little kid sleeping across three chairs is a shared experience within the Latino community. I still pull this move when the party goes overnight. Lastly, one of the most beautiful moments was when a family is shown watching Bad Bunny win his recent Grammy on TV and Benito gives his award to a little boy, meant to represent his younger self. While there are many more references worth exploring these were the ones that immediately stood out to me.
Photo Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Roc Nation
Overall, Bad Bunny’s halftime show is a memorable artistic statement that embraced diverse communities, and promoted a message of love over hate across the Americas. “Together we are America.” Dare I say it was the best halftime show ever? He even broke the record for the “most-watched Super Bowl halftime performance with 135 million viewers!” What was your favorite moment of Benito’s performance?
Strike Out,
Writer: Gabriella Gomez
Editor: Miranda Cardenas
Los Angeles