On February 8, the highly-anticipated Bad Bunny Halftime show at the Super Bowl had finally come, and the show had reactions flooding in almost immediately. Users on various social media platforms had very strong opinions and were very split on the quality and the message behind the performance. The arguments often debated about how powerful and energetic it was, while others said it was quite the opposite and was pretty underwhelming compared to past performances. In my opinion, the show was great, and it deserves so much more appreciation than it is getting right now.
One of the biggest reasons that this show stood out was because of how different it felt. Instead of just a bunch of the artists’ hit songs back to back with flashy effects, Bad Bunny focused on telling a story and making it an experience, rather than just a quick, flashy performance. The visuals, costumes, choreography, and storytelling were all chosen for a reason, and they all had a meaning behind them, which is what made it more meaningful instead of just a quick show in the middle of a football game. It showed the true culture, personality, and intentions, which made it seem so memorable.
Many people who didn’t enjoy the show wanted something more “traditional,” as that is probably what they are used to. The hit songs and flashy costumes of a “normal” halftime show were not seen in this performance. Although this is a fair expectation to have for such an event as the Super Bowl, this mindset that the people had caused them to take in a new perspective and see what made this performance special.
Another reason I enjoyed the show was due to the representation and the message that it brought, considering our government situation at this moment. Seeing a Latino artist make it onto a huge stage and perform for a sport that is a proud “American” sport made this such a big moment. He felt bold and proud of his culture. Especially the set which was performed in a field, which represented work, growth, and how the communities around us sustain us and make us the community that we are. It honors the journey of immigrants and how they are the primary people who make America a great place (even though that is not what it seems like right now). For many fans such as myself, it was exciting to see a global stage with a different culture and sound being presented. Even though some could not understand the songs since they were in a different language, the energy and visuals were still so engaging and exciting to view.
Of course, with this situation, not everyone agreed. Some people said that it lacked the big surprises that they expected from Bad Bunny’s performance, and it didn’t feel like it was a representation of his full potential. What some people don’t understand is that not every performance needs to be packed with huge surprises and constant intensity for it to be considered a good performance. It can be focused on the artists’ performance, but still leave a strong impact on the audience. Just because it was different from others, it doesn’t mean that it was bad.
Lastly, one thing that I believe both sides can agree on is the ending of the show. The ending, where Bad Bunny chants out all of the flags from around the world, was so heartwarming to see. This message about love over hate is hugely presented in this performance, and that is something that I believe is so special and impactful about it.
In the end of this all, the mixed reactions say a lot more about the expectations that people had rather than that actual performance itself. When an artist this big, such as Bad Bunny, plays at the Super Bowl, many people slowly start to open themselves up more to future performances and eliminate the specific idea of what a Super Bowl performance is supposed to be like. Just by looking at this performance, it shows how creative and unique it was. It was actually really well done, showcasing a moment that felt proud and intimate, making it so enjoyable to watch.
