The 60th Super Bowl premiered just a few weeks ago and this year’s halftime show was groundbreaking for music and culture, to say the least. Super Bowl LX featured Latin artist Bad Bunny, performing alongside artists Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin. It marks the first time that the Super Bowl premiered a primarily non-English artist, with controversy sprouting from it. Bad Bunny went all out on the stage, playing older songs of his such as, “Tití Me Preguntó,” a salsa remix of “Die with a Smile,” “Gasolina,” and “MONACO.” The main attraction, and what I want to get into, was his newest album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS.
Bad Bunny released the album in the beginning of 2025, and it is an achingly beautiful blend of Puerto Rican plena, bomba, and reggaeton. The instruments, especially the drums and the trumpets, played a song of Puerto Rico, filled with chants of love, regret, party, and maturity. The title literally translates to “I should have taken more photos,” and you feel that in every track. It is meant to let the listener experience what Bad Bunny feels as he grows older, his melancholic realization of the time passing him by. The emotional weight was recognized too, later winning a Grammy for Album of the Year, a first for a primarily non-English album.
One of the other things I love about this album is that it is not afraid to talk about Puerto Rico (PR) for what it is either. Bad Bunny repeatedly mentions the issues plaguing PR, such as the gentrification and displacement of its people, the impacts the tourism industry has on the island, its colonization, and more. During his show, he references Hurricane Maria and its effects on PR as well as the USA’s unhelpful response to requests for help. It feels like a direct protest to those who exploit PR, a political statement against previous inaction and ignorance of the issues going on, and one that hit harder on that stage than it ever could on a streaming platform.
Though many found themselves lost at certain points, Bad Bunny gave a spectacular visual performance, with stories of immigrants and nostalgia woven throughout the show. The grasses, shops, colorful houses, and choreography were all incredible. It was obvious meticulous planning went into it, with every small detail adding so much authenticity. Although personally, I felt that the time given was lacking, Bad Bunny did an unbelievable job with what he was given, giving a high-energy, inspiring performance of culture, nostalgia, and feeling. The vibe conveyed what lyrics could not to non-Spanish speakers, with the final celebration breaking language barriers. It was one of the greater halftime performances I have seen, and I cannot wait to see what comes next!
