Amid Political Tensions, Bad Bunny Provides a Much-Needed Performance

Bad Bunny Performs at the Halftime Show

Credit: https://music.apple.com/us/new

Just a week ago, Puerto Rican Artist, Bad Bunny, received the Grammy for the ‘Best Musíca Urbana Album’ and called attention to a political reality that cannot be ignored. “ICE Out,” said Bunny on the 68th Grammy Stage. Tonight, he performed on the Super Bowl halftime show and provided a much-needed message for America. 

ICE, a part of the Department of Homeland Security, is seeing rising criticism with reports of protests emerging in multiple major cities. The reason for the increased vocalizing stems from the department’s ways of enforcing immigration laws; deporting legal immigrants, detaining them in inhumane conditions, and being filmed shooting innocent citizens of Minneapolis, Renee Good and Alex Prett. 

While the head of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, fails to report proper context on the ICE-caused deaths, Bad Bunny gives a voice to the thousands of marginalized immigrants who have been silenced by an oppressive system. Despite President Trump commenting that Bad Bunny was a “terrible choice” for the halftime show to the New York Post, the singer and rapper’s all-Spanish performance gladly welcomes Trump’s concerns. 

The 13-minute performance featured beautiful homages to Hispanic culture that had seemed to be dimmed by the Trump administration. It features communal dancing, traditional Spanish music, the displays of Hispanic flags, and most importantly, laughter and joy. But beyond the showcase of cultural beauty contrasting the Presidential administration’s portrayal of cultural diversity as negative, the performance was filled with symbolism. 

The standouts included the starting scenery of field-crops and extras dressed as farmers, to extras working as electricians in streetlights. It serves as a reminder that immigrants are the backbone of America, and have been since the arrival of the Mayflower in the 17th century. Immigrants are what created the birth of America, and Bad Bunny reminds us of this virtue. 

Moreover, Lady Gaga’s appearance in the halftime show featured her song, “Die With a Smile,” with a different instrumental arrangement than usual. The difference? A flavor of Latin music with maracas, guitar, and a bossonova tempo. Including scenes of Gaga dancing alongside Bad Bunny and people from all different cultures, the message is clear: we are all human, and the immigrants are not dangerous, just because of their culture. Children were seen playing, a wedding was inaugurated, and culture was mingled.

Where media and politics have only shared stories of fear and violence, the performance served a much-needed refreshment and reminder of the hope that humanity can have. When we use our differences as an advantage, rather than a threat, we are able to learn that humans, regardless of where they come from, are no different from each other. Not only does music bring us together, but the sharing and experiencing of various cultures is a beauty of life that should not be weaponized into political hatred. Bad Bunny is intentional in his actions and voice, and is able to shine a light in a world that is so used to seeing darkness. And, as political tensions continue to pass, Bad Bunny gives hope and a reminder of America’s values that have so recently been diluted.