Bad Bunny’s Ode to America

You’d have to be living under a rock to not have heard about Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio’s (Bad Bunny) performance at the 2026 Superbowl, this past Sunday. Why did I refer to his full name instead of his stage name? Well, not only did he sign the performance production by his birth name, but his performance was an echo of his cultural identity rather than simply as a performer. 

Benito was born in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, and that is no secret if you were one of the 128.2 million people who made sure to turn on the TV to the ‘Benito Bowl’. While some criticized the performance as it was catered more towards the viewers at home rather than those in the stands, Benito knows his audience. Most of the people in the stands are there with companies who bought tickets or in general are not regular fans buying tickets. Not to mention, if you are going to spend a big, whopping six grand on superbowl tickets, it’s safe to assume you're there for the football and not the fifteen minute halftime performance. So no, there was not much dancing from the crowd but they were at the superbowl and we were at the Benito Bowl. 

Benito knew that his performance would be a message for the voices that make a difference. 

So for the rest of us who were wondering why there were a few football players at the Bad Bunny concert, we were invited into Benito’s life and culture. Benito walked us through a miniature village. The first line of the production was “How rich it is to be Latino” (translated from Spanish). And Benito shows us just how rich it is, walking us through the foundations of so many cities being the Hispanic and Latino shop-owners, from the Coco Frio, Villas Tacos, piraguas (displaying different Hispanic flags including Spain) to the Jewelry shop. Benito walked past simple pleasures in life shared by the community such as the nail girls and the men playing dominos. 

Benito’s walkthrough showed the world that the foundation of Latino culture is the community, and how it is not a transaction but a familial relationship that brings people from all backgrounds together.

He then walks through the women's building with cement and the two men boxing, a show of strength and respect for both Latin women and men. The women are the foundation of the culture and what helps us stand upright, along with the men being fighters and we are nowhere near giving up. And Benito was ready to fight those stereotypes about Latinos. Despite the scenery being quite calm, His reggaeton was definitely a contrast despite having softer songs. But Latinos proved to not be one thing, they have mastered both the art of being still and passionate. 

And what better way to show that then the classic Latin wedding with a child asleep on a chair. It was a moment that connected all of us to a single bittersweet experience. That so many cultures, not just Latin share, as they bring their kids along from a young age to witness and partake in community. The classic white plastic chairs that held your grandparents, your parents, and your children, generations of families, meant it was time to gather. 

And these generations are what Benito was speaking to during his performance. With the Latino family watching Bad Bunny’s Grammy acceptance speech, Benito hands a little boy, who is dressed similarly to a young Benito, his Grammy trophy. A symbol of opening doors, hard work, and patience for all, not just Latinos, who chase their dream. 

Benito points at the camera, whose camera-work made us feel as if we were in the performance along with Benito, and reminds us to believe in ourselves. He is speaking to the person sitting at home whose power is their voice. And Ricky Martin’s voice, which was a guest performance, was powerful as he sat on those beloved white chairs. As he sang about not letting one’s flag go no matter what others attempt to take from one’s culture. 

At first glance this is an ode to only the Latino community, and while it especially evokes emotion from the Latino community, Benito presents the Latin community through a universal love for unity. While some pre-performance suspected that this Bad Bunny would cause a divide or ‘attack’ non supporters, or even others were hoping the only English words he sings is 

“This is the new religion/ Bang in Latino gang” in “I Like It” with Cardi B. Benito however chose not to divide or fight back but to remind us “The only thing more powerful than hate is love” as he did in his grammy acceptance speech and the superbowl billboard. 

So as the world is so divided and cultures are stripped, Benito Ocasio reminds us of who he is and how proud he is of his identity, encouraging other Americans to do the same. He concludes by calling out the names of all the countries of America, scoring a touchdown with a football that is labeled “together we are America”. His list included places like Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay etc. This performance was a symbol of love and community between humans not borders, that when one of us scores a touchdown, we all do. 

Written By: Sophia Arceo, @sophiearceo

Edited By: Alex Kelleher @alex_kelleher_