The Super Bowl is the biggest sports event for American footballs, and it is one of the most-watched sports events of the year. Known for the unique ads and, most of all, the halftime show. The world’s biggest artists come to perform at halftime, with previous stars including Rihanna, The Weeknd, Shakira, Eminem and Beyoncé. The halftime show brings music and sports together, and connects people and signifies unity. Bad Bunny used the show as a platform to represent his values. However, this year, the halftime show received a lot of hate and backlash. Yet instead of unity, it showed disunion and feud in society.
Performer Bad Bunny was the main spotlight of the halftime show with the support of Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin. Bad Bunny is a Puerto Rican American artist who focuses on reggaeton and Spanish-rap. During the Halftime show, Bad Bunny performed a story through his performance. The show was a homage to his Spanish and Puerto Rican background. He sang the songs “Tití Me Preguntó,” “Yo Perreo Sola,” “Safaera,” “Party,” “Dtmf” and “Baile Inolvidable.” Some special mentions being “El Apagón.” The song is about Hurricane Maria which impacted his home state, Puerto Rico and “Die With A Smile,” which Lady Gaga sang with a Latin twist.
Furthermore, the show had hidden gems which reflected a story of his background. The background dancers dressed up as sugarcane farmers, with the straw hats known as jibaros, linens and earthy-toned clothing. It was part of what he saw when he grew up in a rural area, and he honored farmers, their hard work through the bad labor conditions and exploitation. There were also street-cart vendors, construction workers and old timers who played dominos. It might seem like a small thing, but it embeds culture and nostalgia.. The use of simple silhouettes, no logos or branding was another choice made. These small nuances may not feel important to many, but they bring nostalgia and honor what Bad Bunny and many other Puerto Rican and Latino people feel.
“It was really cool to see the artistry and the different elements of Latin culture. The story elements of adding the sugar cane fields and street vendors. The salsa dancing and reggaeton music.” Shalise Scardena, a Spanish teacher at OHS said.
To end the show Bad Bunny named all the countries in both North America and South America and his slogan “Together, We Are America.”. He redefined the definition of America being together as a whole. The whole show was based on community and connection. Bad Bunny expressed himself on such a big stage and celebrated the journey that helped him grow into such a large-scale artist.
“I loved this message and the unification, the message that love it stronger than hate” Scardena said.
However, a group of viewers expressed their disappointment and hatred towards this half time show even before the show took place. Many write it is too progressive, Spanish dominant or it ruined America’s greatness. With tensions of immigration and I.C.E the show received major criticism from large political influences and news companies. President Trump called the show afferent and one of the worst of the worst in a recent social media post. In support of left-dominant companies for example Fox 28, who released articles and news segments that showed discontent with the show. They made claims saying there should have been an American artist who performed instead.
Though the show was the exact opposite of what was expected by haters. It was anything but Un-American. It celebrates Puerto Rican culture and Bad Bunny’s journey to fame. The show brought America together as a whole and unified what America stands for, opportunity, freedom and diversity.
