Bad Bunny graced the Super Bowl LX, or should I say “Benito Bowl,” with the most culturally rich and impactful performances of the year so far. With so much going on in the country, this halftime performance felt like a breath of fresh air, a moment of escape to remind us all what America was born from — unity and the desire for freedom.
To say this performance was the highlight of the night would be an understatement. With how brutal the game truly was, Bad Bunny really made it worthwhile to watch. There is so much to unpack about this performance; from its tasteful political message to the heartwarming glimpses into rich culture, but I’ll start by saying how beautiful it was to hear Spanish take center stage.
The performance included 14 songs with some from his recent Grammy award-winning album “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” opening with “Tití Me Preguntó” which immediately set the positive and energetic energy for the rest of the night. Bad Bunny’s vocals were strong throughout his performance, and his energy never wavered.
I thought this was the perfect introduction to the show’s central theme of bringing Puerto Rican culture onto the field, as Bad Bunny walked through lush greenery, greeting people at a coconut stand, a piragua stand and a jewelry stand that led to a couple’s engagement. I loved the reference to Vega Baja, Bad Bunny’s hometown, through the greenery and dancers dressed as sugar canes — it was a meaningful nod to his heritage and deep Puerto Rican pride.
With his song “El Apagón,” which translates to “the blackout,” Bad Bunny leaned into the track’s themes about the frequent blackouts in Puerto Rico, which I thought was a powerful move and certainly a strong way to bring awareness to the ongoing issues of the power grid outages.
It really felt like Bad Bunny poured his whole soul into this 13-minute performance, and every part of it felt so lively and just full of pure happiness. Even having a couple get married for real on the field was special and that wedding party segment was so fun.
It was so exciting to see all of the iconic celebrity cameos on stage during the “La Casita” segment of the show such as Pedro Pascal, Cardi B, Karol G, Jessica Alba and Young Miko. I loved this segment, I thought the theme of a house party was perfect for the energy of Bad Bunny’s music.
While Lady Gaga’s cameo felt a bit surprising, she is undeniably magnetic as a performer. Her salsa rendition of “Die With a Smile” felt tasteful and respectful, and I don’t think it stole any shine from Bad Bunny’s performance. Instead, it came across as a genuine nod of appreciation, especially with her wearing a Flor de Maga, Puerto Rico’s national flower.
If anything, it felt like a beautiful moment of friendship between the two musicians, with Gaga supporting Bad Bunny and clearly having the time of her life, exactly the joy I think Bad Bunny wanted to convey. Watching them salsa together was incredibly sweet.
To follow was the one and only Ricky Martin, performing Bad Bunny’s “Lo Que Pasó a Hawaii.” As he sat in the lawn chairs representing the album cover for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” his vocals were powerful and deeply moving, making it a truly beautiful moment and without a doubt, the best cameo of the performance. Both Martin and Gaga being icons in the LBTQ+ community is also a testament to the wonderful message of unity that spread throughout this performance.
I think my favorite moment of the performance was watching Bad Bunny pass his Grammy torch on to a little kid who was watching his acceptance speech on TV. It was a beautiful and heartfelt moment that highlighted just how important representation is for younger generations.
Another standout moment was watching Bad Bunny do a trust fall with his dancers, which to me felt like a powerful symbol of broader Latin pride, underscoring the show’s celebration of community and the need to lift each other up during difficult times.
Everything about this performance felt important and wonderful, from the simplicity of his white jersey to the talented background dancers and the seamless set changes. It only makes me hope that anyone who chose to tune into the Turning Point USA alternative halftime show seriously regrets missing what was, sadly for them, the most important performance in Super Bowl history.
There were so many hidden symbols of Bad Bunny’s culture and identity — from Concho the frog to him holding the Puerto Rican independence flag — along with the beautiful message, “The only thing more powerful than hate is love” displayed on the big screen and his spiking of the football inscribed with “Together, We Are America.” It was a pure celebration of life and happiness, which is exactly what our country needs the most right now.
