Bad Bunny at Half Time - Part 2

From the opening scene, I was transfixed. We start in the sugar cane fields of Puerto Rico, where workers joyfully gather the stalks. A powerfully choreographed camera takes us for a walk through Latin culture, the joyful dance and celebration of life envelopes us in an irresistible Latin beat. A relatively new technique in filming is the “long take.” This show mastered it, requiring incredible precision and timing. It’s the essence of great storytelling and holds our interest from start to finish.

Rather than rehearse the entire show, there were several highlights that will live long in my memory. The sugar cane fields remind us of the contribution field workers make to our lives; the shaved ice and coconut street vendors, the Puerto Rican Christian home, the Latin beat, the dominoes, and the boxers all take us to Bad Bunny’s home. Rather than make direct political statements, he chose to celebrate joy.

He picks up a little jewelry box from a vendor, inspecting a ring, then hands it to a young man who immediately drops to a knee to make his proposal to a beautiful young woman. Later, their wedding ceremony takes place (for real) right there on the Super Bowl stage as we all celebrate, joining in to a jubilant reception.

Then a young boy watches an old-school tube television as Bad Bunny acknowledges his Grammy on screen. Bunny steps into the living room, shocking the little boy, and hands him the Grammy Trophy, and then tells him, “Always believe in yourself.”

Four electrical power polls stood at the end of the scene with workers repairing a failed connection. Bunny climbs the poll, joining the technicians, and the transformers blow, sending sparks into the air, a reminder of the long power-outs in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria that caused such havoc. Then, standing on a roof, Bunny falls backward into the arms of his friends - the classic “trust experiment” that illustrates the beauty of community and mutual care.

At the end, for the first time in English, he shouts, “God Bless America!” For those thirteen minutes, we were given a picture of America that is indeed a contrast to TPUSA’s version. We are a country that embraces cultures from all over the world. We celebrate our plurality with mutual respect, laughter, and joy. Bunny went on - God bless Venezuela, Cuba, El Salvador, Colombia, Costa Rica… and on!

Then he showed us his football: “Together - We Are America!”

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Our Super Bowl party hosts speak Spanish. They did some translating. But it wasn’t necessary. I didn’t understand much from the lyrics, but I got the message.

As the image faded and the music ended, I got emotional. I was moved.

“That was hands down the best half-time show ever!” I told our hosts.

Not minutes later, my friend read from the President’s post on his phone. “Absolutely terrible, a slap in the face to the country, the dancing was disgusting,” and “nobody understands a word this guy is saying.”

That Truth Social post hit me about the same as his terrible post following the murder of Rob Reiner.

It’s his default comment for anyone who dares question his antics. “You are a terrible person!” “You have no talent!” “Your ratings are in the tank!” “Your career is finished!”

And this man got elected President of the United States.

Plenty of MAGA devotees jumped on the Trump bandwagon, echoing his condemnation of Bad Bunny and his performance.

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Just out of curiosity, I called up the TPUSA YouTube Channel and scrubbed my way through the alternative Half Time Show. It was not what I expected. Betraying my age, I expected something like the Gaithers or Sandy Patti. Instead, I found a darkened stage set to mimic the energy and tempo of the Super Bowl, with flashing lights and smoke and guys with lots of tattoos. I don’t know much about Kid Rock, except that he’s a seasoned white guy who is not much of a kid who delivers his lyrics in a tepid white guy version of rap. The grand finale featured a recorded sermon by the late Charlie Kirk congratulating his listeners as courageous culture warriors ready to do battle for truth, justice, and the American Way.

One thing is clear. The President wasn’t watching. He tuned in to Bad Bunny. I doubt he watched TPUSA at all.

A friend of ours posted an on-the-mark comment: “People who watch the TPUSA Half Time Show are the same people who say they should have separate drinking fountains.”

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So Bad Bunny had an audience of 130 million. Kid Rock - 6 million.

Bad Bunny has taken his tour all over the world. But he doesn’t perform in the United States - with this one exception: Super Bowl LX. Why? Because, here in the U.S., he knows I.C.E. will be there at the entrance, carting off his fans.

The mighty contradiction is there for all to see. This administration has taken its bigotry and prejudice way too far. We are a diverse nation. We celebrate the beauty of rich cultures. The half-time show put family values on captivating display. If we weren’t dancing in our living rooms, we were tapping our feet. We couldn’t stop if we tried.

Bad Bunny’s words were declared from the JumboTron at the Stadium. They captured the impact of the thirteen-minute show. “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.”

And the greatest of these is love.

That was the message of the half-time show.

You didn’t need to know Spanish to get it.

Read Part 1