Sunday, Feb. 8, families across the nation tuned in to watch the highly anticipated Super Bowl with the New England Patriots versus the Seattle Seahawks. Though the intensity of competition was at an all time high between the opposing teams and fans, a shared excitement united viewers as they awaited the halftime show featuring Bad Bunny.

The show kicked off with Bad Bunny’s “Titi Me Pregunto,” with a walk through showcasing aspects of Latin culture and foods, from classic card games played among older generations to drinking piraguaras. I may not be from the same culture, but I definitely appreciated seeing some parallels in my own traditions like watching my family play late night Carrom or relating to the child sleeping on chairs as a makeshift bed during family events. Throughout the performance, I loved how the camera angles were phenomenally placed to incorporate a balance of Bad Bunny under the spotlight and his entourage. However, one of my favorite moments was shortly after, when he transitioned to “Yo Perreo Sola” by a sudden drop through the stage floor to keep the momentum of the performance elevated. I was not expecting this stunt, but nothing surprised me more than seeing the infamous Lady Gaga making an appearance with her 2025 Billboard Hot 100 #1 song, “Die with a Smile.” I found the song choice questionable since Bad Bunny was not featured in it, so I would have preferred a collaboration song such as the throwback “I Like It” with Cardi B since she was among the celebrities brought out for the show. But, I realized the connection when Gaga incorporated Latin details of salsa rhythms and instruments to blend with the energy of Bad Bunny’s setlist. When “BAILE INoLVIDABLE” played, or “Unforgettable Dance” in English, I appreciated the way they encapsulated the true message of the song through Bad Bunny and his vibrant set of synchronized dancers, all uniquely dressed to emphasize that community and craft are timeless. I truly felt chills when Bad Bunny listed all of the countries in North and South America and honored their countries with flags rushing the field for everyone to see. The representation reminded me that when cultural heritage is bold and unfiltered, it is much more powerful. I thought the details in his dramatic walk aligning with a display behind him reading “The Only Thing More Powerful Than Hate is Love,” contributed to an overall message of unity, especially given the present social climate. I knew he received backlash for being chosen to perform, so for him to respond with such a powerful message, he shut them down by “killing with kindness.” Of the entire show, the closing song “DtMF” was hands down my favorite part. From Bad Bunny and the dancers being immersed in the moment, to the song capturing a nostalgic atomsphere, I was officially obsessed and ready to replay the entire album all week.

It may not have been a typical halftime show with the songs being in Spanish, but I believe you don’t need to understand the words when the passion, atmosphere, and energy of the performance speak louder than language. America may have tuned in for the game, but Bad Bunny delivered the main event.

To read a contrasting opinion on Bad Bunny’s halftime show, click here.