Dangerous Bunny infused his Tremendous Bowl halftime present with nuanced nods to Puerto Rico’s tradition and historical past, making a strong assertion on one of many nation’s most-watched platforms.
The efficiency kicked off with a vibrant show of Latino heritage as Dangerous Bunny reworked Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara right into a scene paying homage to agricultural land.
He took to the stage amid a pretend sugar cane area whereas performing his in style observe “Tití Me Preguntó,” paying tribute to his roots and homeland.
As Dr. Allison Wiltz highlighted on X, “The historical past of sugar slavery is deeply embedded within the Southern states, the Caribbean, and South America. His efficiency was not solely beautiful but additionally intellectually partaking and assuredly delivered.”
The set design additional featured photographs of energy grids erupting, symbolizing the frequent and prolonged energy outages that plague Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico’s electrical infrastructure is infamous for its vulnerability to blackouts, a theme Dangerous Bunny has explored in his music.
In 2022, he launched a mini documentary titled El Apagón – or the ‘Energy Outage’ in English – centered on the island’s ongoing electrical energy issues.
The outages are likely to worsen after hurricanes, that are frequent within the Caribbean.
Hurricane Maria in 2017 knocked out the territory’s energy grid for months; and 2022’s Hurricane Fiona disabled 100% of the grid for weeks.
Puerto Rican rapper Dangerous Bunny held up a soccer with the message ‘Collectively we’re America’ throughout his Tremendous Bowl halftime present
The Puerto Rican singer, actual title Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, started his efficiency surrounded by prop sugar canes
Dangerous Bunny, who performs in Spanish, is the most-streamed artist on the earth, based on Spotify.
He was born in Puerto Rico, which is a US territory. His Tremendous Bowl LX efficiency gave a nod to his roots.
The Latino rapper waved the Puerto Rican flag because the halftime efficiency performed out.
He seemed to be holding a flag with a lighter blue shade, a coloration usually related to Puerto Rico’s professional–independence motion.
Dangerous Bunny has alluded to the flag earlier than in his track La Mudanza, the place he sings that he ‘brings it in all places I would like now.’
The lyric factors to Puerto Rico’s former gag regulation, which made it unlawful to personal the island’s flag from 1948 till 1957.
The artist has beforehand featured different professional–independence imagery into his music movies and has backed candidates who assist Puerto Rico separating from the US.
A medley of performers got here out on the finish of the efficiency waving the flags of each North, South and Latin American nation
Dangerous Bunny waved the Puerto Rican flag throughout his efficiency on Sunday. His observe listing included hits like Tití Me Preguntó and Yo Perreo Sola
At one level, he launched himself to the group together with his full title in Spanish – Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio.
Dangerous Bunny spoke completely in his mom tongue as he instructed the group to ‘imagine in your self.’
At one level, the obvious phrases ‘The one factor extra highly effective than hate is love’ flashed throughout the video display behind him.
‘God Bless America!’ the singer declared.
He then shouted out nations throughout North, South and Latin America as performers rushed onto the sector carrying these nations’ flags.
He listed a lot of the nations in Spanish earlier than switching to English towards the top of the sequence.
The ultimate nations named had been the US and Canada, earlier than he closed with a tribute to his dwelling territory.
‘And my motherland, Puerto Rico,’ Dangerous Bunny stated.
He then held a soccer to the digital camera with the phrases, ‘Collectively we’re America.’
Dangerous Bunny didn’t instantly point out ICE throughout his efficiency after denouncing the federal company through the Grammys
Dangerous Bunny seemed to be waving a lighter blue model of the Puerto Rican flag, which has been related to pro-independence actions
The Puerto Rican singer’s halftime efficiency on Sunday included Ricky Martin, who can also be Puerto Rican.
Martin was tapped to carry out the hit observe Lo que le pasó a Hawaii, which interprets to ‘What occurred to Hawaii’ in English.
In that observe, Dangerous Bunny sings: ‘I don’t need them to do to you what they did to Hawaii.’
The lyrics have been interpreted as talking out towards America’s rule of Hawaii, in addition to providing ideas on supposed gentrification in Puerto Rico and the island’s doable statehood.
Nonetheless, Dangerous Bunny prevented mentioning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) instantly throughout his set.
This got here after he forcefully spoke out towards the federal company when he gained three Grammys on February 1.
‘Earlier than I say due to God, I’m going to say: ICE Out,’ the Puerto Rican star stated whereas receiving his first award.
Ricky Martin was featured in Dangerous Bunny’s efficiency through the track Lo que le pasó a Hawaii, whose lyrics converse out towards supposed gentrification in Puerto Rico
Throughout the halftime present, Dangerous Bunny provided one in all his Grammy Awards to a younger boy watching tv.
Some followers erroneously believed the little child was Liam Conejo Ramos, the 5–12 months–previous detained in Minnesota by ICE brokers final month and later launched.
Dangerous Bunny’s efficiency was slammed by President Donald Trump, who known as it ‘completely horrible’ and ‘one of many worst, EVER!’
‘It is mindless, is an affront to the Greatness of America, and doesn’t characterize our requirements of Success, Creativity, or Excellence,’ Trump stated on Reality Social.
He added: ‘No person understands a phrase this man is saying, and the dancing is disgusting, particularly for younger kids which might be watching from all through the usA., and all around the World.’
Tens of millions of NFL followers as a substitute selected to observe Turning Level USA’s ‘All–American’ Tremendous Bowl halftime present on Sunday night time.
The present began with the host claiming ‘this one’s for you Charlie’, honoring Turning Level USA’s late founder Charlie Kirk, who was murdered in September.
Child Rock headlined the choice MAGA efficiency, with Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice and Gabby Barrett additionally tapped for the spectacle.
Greater than 5 million viewers had been watching the TPUSA present at its highest level.
