Bad Bunny is set to make history as the first Latin artist to headline a Super Bowl halftime show when he takes the stage in New York on Sunday. Fresh off his historic win at the Grammys for his love letter to Puerto Rico, "Debí Tirar Más Fotos," Bad Bunny will surprise audiences with a performance that is gearing up to be a landmark moment for Latino culture.
The 13-minute set will feature a mix of traditional Puerto Rican music and contemporary styles like reggaeton, trap, and pop. Apple Music's Zane Lowe mentioned that Bad Bunny's performance is expected to include his single "Baile Inolvidable" ("Unforgettable Dance"), which features students from the Escuela Libre de Música San Juan. The song is a modern salsa track that marries folkloric tradition in local Borinquen genres like bomba, plena, salsa and música jíbara with contemporary styles.
Bad Bunny's set will also feature a number of Puerto Rican symbols, including flags, traditional instruments, and cultural expressions. A minute-and-a-half long trailer posted last month showed the singer approaching a Flamboyan tree - more on that below - and pressing play on his single "Baile Inolvidable." The song is performed with students from the Escuela Libre de Música San Juan, showcasing the international appeal of Bad Bunny.
Will Bad Bunny perform entirely in Spanish? All of his music is recorded in Spanish, so it seems likely. Were he to include English into his set, it would likely appear in a spoken interjection - or featured in text. In October, Bad Bunny hosted "Saturday Night Live" and said a few sentences in Spanish during his opening monologue.
Some educated guesses about symbols that can be expected on stage include Puerto Rican flags, expressions like "Wepa!" and phrases like "Acho, PR es otra cosa," which translates to "Damn, PR is something else." There may also be casitas (little houses) and pavas (straw hats) worn by jíbaros, or Puerto Rican rural farmers. The Flamboyan tree will also make an appearance.
Traditional instruments that might appear on stage include a cuatro, güiro/güira, palitos, cencerro, maracas, barriel (a barrel) and pandereta (tambourine).
As for special guests during the halftime show, it's impossible to predict, but it wouldn't be surprising if Bad Bunny wasn't joined by other performers - particularly other giants of Latin music.
Finally, there is historical precedent for a political performance at the Super Bowl, as seen in past performances where artists have used their platform to address social and cultural issues.
Bad Bunny has never steered clear of political messaging, having criticized President Donald Trump on everything from his hurricane response in Puerto Rico to his treatment of immigrants. His latest tour skipped the continental U.S., with an interview suggesting it was at least partially inspired by concerns that his fans could be targeted by immigration agents.
As for Trump's plans to attend this year's game, he has said he doesn't plan to, unlike last year.
The 13-minute set will feature a mix of traditional Puerto Rican music and contemporary styles like reggaeton, trap, and pop. Apple Music's Zane Lowe mentioned that Bad Bunny's performance is expected to include his single "Baile Inolvidable" ("Unforgettable Dance"), which features students from the Escuela Libre de Música San Juan. The song is a modern salsa track that marries folkloric tradition in local Borinquen genres like bomba, plena, salsa and música jíbara with contemporary styles.
Bad Bunny's set will also feature a number of Puerto Rican symbols, including flags, traditional instruments, and cultural expressions. A minute-and-a-half long trailer posted last month showed the singer approaching a Flamboyan tree - more on that below - and pressing play on his single "Baile Inolvidable." The song is performed with students from the Escuela Libre de Música San Juan, showcasing the international appeal of Bad Bunny.
Will Bad Bunny perform entirely in Spanish? All of his music is recorded in Spanish, so it seems likely. Were he to include English into his set, it would likely appear in a spoken interjection - or featured in text. In October, Bad Bunny hosted "Saturday Night Live" and said a few sentences in Spanish during his opening monologue.
Some educated guesses about symbols that can be expected on stage include Puerto Rican flags, expressions like "Wepa!" and phrases like "Acho, PR es otra cosa," which translates to "Damn, PR is something else." There may also be casitas (little houses) and pavas (straw hats) worn by jíbaros, or Puerto Rican rural farmers. The Flamboyan tree will also make an appearance.
Traditional instruments that might appear on stage include a cuatro, güiro/güira, palitos, cencerro, maracas, barriel (a barrel) and pandereta (tambourine).
As for special guests during the halftime show, it's impossible to predict, but it wouldn't be surprising if Bad Bunny wasn't joined by other performers - particularly other giants of Latin music.
Finally, there is historical precedent for a political performance at the Super Bowl, as seen in past performances where artists have used their platform to address social and cultural issues.
Bad Bunny has never steered clear of political messaging, having criticized President Donald Trump on everything from his hurricane response in Puerto Rico to his treatment of immigrants. His latest tour skipped the continental U.S., with an interview suggesting it was at least partially inspired by concerns that his fans could be targeted by immigration agents.
As for Trump's plans to attend this year's game, he has said he doesn't plan to, unlike last year.
! He's got an amazing track record of fusion music that blends traditional Puerto Rican styles with modern genres like reggaeton and pop... but I'm worried about how it's all gonna come together on stage 
. I mean, with so many cultural symbols and references, it's gotta be a lot to handle – don't want anyone getting lost in the production or losing their way in the message 
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. And as for special guests, who knows? Maybe some other big names from Latin music will join the party 
! It's gonna be epic either way 
I mean, Super Bowl halftime shows are a big deal, but now they're openin' up to more diverse acts. It's like the music industry is finally catchin' on and sayin', "Hey, we've got some awesome Latin vibes over here!" And with Bad Bunny at the helm, it's gonna be lit! 
I'm lovin' the idea of seein' some traditional Puerto Rican instruments up on that stage, too. It's a great way to keep our cultural heritage alive and bring it to a whole new audience. Now, if only they'd play some old-school salsa tunes... 
. and btw, who needs to include english in his set when the lyrics are all about puerto rican culture already? 
'baile inolvidable' will probs get everyone dancing 
. I'm curious if he'll perform "Baile Inolvidable" with the students from the Escuela Libre de Música San Juan, that would be an amazing moment 
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. It's clear that he's not just a talented artist but also someone who cares about social justice and representation 
. And can you imagine if other Latin artists joined him on stage, like J Balvin or Rosalía? That would be a dream come true 
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. But even if he doesn't, I'm sure the energy and passion of his performance will still be infectious 
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. The fact that he'll be blending traditional sounds with modern styles will definitely make for an unforgettable performance 
. Can't wait to see how he incorporates those Puerto Rican symbols and expressions into the show 
. I'm loving that he's gonna mix traditional Puerto Rican music with modern styles - it's gonna be so lit 
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. Those traditional instruments are gonna look so cool on stage, and the Flamboyan tree is already giving me major cultural vibes 
. Can't wait to see what Bad Bunny has in store for us on Sunday! 
! Bad Bunny is gonna make history as the first latin artist 2 headline a super bowl halftime show & it's literally gonna be EPIC!!! 
i'm curious if he'll perform entirely in spanish tho, like all his music is recorded in español 
. Can't wait to see what other surprises Bad Bunny has up his sleeve 
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I'm hoping he'll perform some tracks entirely in Spanish, it'll be so cool to see him connect with his fans on that level! 
. He's gonna make a bunch of Puerto Rican symbols appear on stage just to give a nod to his culture and sell more merch 
. And don't even get me started on how he's gonna try to incorporate politics into his performance...I mean, come on, it's not like anyone wants to hear him talk about Trump again 
. I'm sure the crowd will be all "oh look, a Puerto Rican flag! How cultural!" Meanwhile, Bad Bunny is just trying to get his name out there and make some cash 
. Can't say I blame him though...it's not like he's gonna change the world with one Super Bowl performance 
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