In bars, outdoor spaces, cinemas, and homes, Puerto Rico came to a standstill this Sunday to follow with passion and pride the show of their compatriot Bad Bunny during the Super Bowl halftime, which was filled with references to Puerto Rican culture. "As a Puerto Rican, I feel extremely proud," Miranda, an executive at an air conditioning company, told EFE regarding the presence of both the player and the singer at the important Super Bowl event. Many establishments on the island organized 'viewing parties' for Bad Bunny fans to gather and watch the 'Benito Bowl' — as the show was called in Puerto Rico, alluding to the artist's real name — on giant screens. "He broke the mold at the Super Bowl by doing something historic and unique and putting Puerto Rico on high," Roselyn Quiñones, who enjoyed the event at T-Mobile District, told EFE. Bad Bunny made history by being the first Latino artist to perform solo at the Super Bowl halftime, several days after becoming the first artist to win the Grammy Award for Album of the Year — entirely in Spanish — for 'Debí tirar más fotos'. The music he chose also captivated the audience, which included reggaetón, with parts of songs by legends Tego Calderón and Daddy Yankee, as well as plena and salsa, with Lady Gaga in the lead. The constant references to Puerto Rico during the show caused great excitement: 'la casita' (little house), palm trees, peasants, men playing dominoes, boxing, the Puerto Rican flag, and utility poles, which with the song 'El apagón' (The Blackout) denounced the critical state of the island's power grid. No one wanted to miss 'Bad Bunny's concert,' as many people joked, alluding to the fact that their interest was in the singer's performance and not so much in the game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Locals, as well as numerous homes where friends and family gathered, had decorations, plates, and glasses with images related to Bad Bunny and Puerto Rican culture, such as the pava (straw hat) and the coquí frog. In the latter place, attendees danced salsa and perreó to the rhythm of 'Tití me preguntó,' 'Baile inolvidable,' or 'Lo que le pasó a Hawai,' which was also performed by Puerto Rican Ricky Martin, seated on the iconic white plastic chairs that appear on the cover of the album 'Debí tirar más fotos.' In Vega Baja, the singer's hometown, the gathering took place in the main square, while in San Juan, some of the most crowded events were held at El Escambrón, by the sea, and at T-Mobile District. Although some, like sports fan and Bad Bunny enthusiast Carlos Miranda, did pay attention to the game and highlighted Puerto Rican representation in the game itself: Federico Maranges of the Seattle Seahawks. The choice of Bad Bunny generated controversy among US conservatives because the artist sings in Spanish and has on numerous occasions criticized the immigration policy of US President Donald Trump. Expectations were high, and he did not disappoint. "It was super brutal."
Puerto Rico Comes to a Halt for Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show
All of Puerto Rico watched the historic performance of their compatriot Bad Bunny during the Super Bowl halftime. The artist, the first Latino solo performer at the show, filled it with references to Puerto Rican culture, sparking a wave of national pride. For many, the singer's concert was the main event, overshadowing the game itself.
