Bad Bunny‘s Super Bowl LX halftime show was not only a fast-paced concert, but it also had other layers. Some might have recognized the pacing, and some might have recognized the music. The show also had other layers that were symbolic. Every moment was significant, and it related to actual people, actual politics, and actual Americanism.
5. The Wedding Was Real
The best performance that evening was not symbolic at all. The actual wedding was happening in real time and in real life. Bad Bunny did not hire actors for this role. The actual wedding happened. This was a performance that was based on excess and illusion. The fact that it was an actual and permanent commitment to another person changed the entire meaning of the halftime show based on actual people and actual experiences, like love, but not symbolism. This was reality.
4. The Electrical Pole
Bad Bunny climbed on top of the electrical pole during his performance of “El Apagón.” This was also symbolic. The image directly referenced Puerto Rico’s ongoing power outages caused by an outdated electrical grid and repeated natural disasters. This turned a local crisis into a national message about neglect, infrastructure, and accountability.
3. Flags as Belonging, Not Borders
The flags that were shown during the closing scenes were not meant to represent any nationalistic ideals. Instead, they were meant to represent the idea of belonging to a certain group or having a certain identity. It had nothing to do with superiority or hierarchy. America was no longer represented by the borders that divided it. Instead, it was represented by the people who had different languages, different historical backgrounds, and different cultures to bring to the table.
2. The Grammy Handoff
The handing of a Grammy to a kid on stage by Bad Bunny had nothing to do with historical events or incidents that had occurred in the last year or so. Many people linked the moment to Liam Conejo Ramos’s recent case, though the child was not Liam; the message that was conveyed was quite clear. The Grammys are no longer meant for a certain generation or a certain period of time. It’s meant for the next generation. It’s meant for the future, and the future is watching.
1. “Together We Are America”
The football prop had everything to do with bringing the message home to the viewer. It had everything to do with the message that Bad Bunny wanted to convey to the viewers at home. America is a pluralistic society. America is shaped like immigrants. America is a shared society. Although the message that was conveyed was not subtle, it did not have to be. It was conveyed to the largest platform that America has to offer: that unity can be found through differences.
