The Unapologetic Anthem: A Full Account of Super Bowl LX

The Halftime Show began not with pyrotechnics, but with a cinematic tribute to the soul of an island. A short film displaying the lush green fields of Puerto Rico transitioned into the massive stage at Levi’s Stadium. The set... a sea of vegetation inspired by a Puerto Rican barrio... immediately established that this would be an unapologetic celebration of Latin culture on the world’s biggest stage, with no watered-down, English-friendly compromises.

The Sugarcane Opening

The show opened with workers in traditional pavas (straw hats) chopping sugarcane, representing the history of labor, the island's economic backbone, and the legacy of agricultural workers (jíbaros). The field was filled with people in grass and bush costumes alongside workers wearing traditional pava straw hats, a direct homage to the jíbaros, the 19th-century agricultural workers who worked Puerto Rico's sugarcane fields.

Bad Bunny (Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) emerged holding a football, which would reappear at the show’s conclusion with powerful symbolism. He wore a custom white leather football jersey designed by Zara, the Spanish fashion brand, and styled by his frequent collaborators Storm Pablo and Marvin Douglas Linares. The back of the jersey featured “Ocasio”... his maternal surname... a deliberate choice honoring his mother’s lineage over his father’s surname, Martínez.

 
 

ACT I: The Reggaeton Foundation

The show opened with "Tití Me Preguntó," immediately establishing the night’s reggaeton foundation. Benito emerged through a sea of vegetation on the stage’s Puerto-Rico inspired set, which mimicked a typical barrio in the country. From the first beat, this was unapologetically Latin music on the world’s biggest stage.

Full Lyrics: Tití Me Preguntó (Auntie Asked Me)

[Intro]
Auntie asked me if I have a lot of girlfriends
A lot of girlfriends
Today I have one, tomorrow I'll have another
Hey, but there's no wedding
Auntie asked me if I have a lot of girlfriends
A lot of girlfriends
Today I have one, tomorrow I'll have another

[Verse 1]
I'm going to bring them all to a VIP party
Be careful, your heart might get kidnapped
I’ve got a Colombian who writes to me every day
And a Mexican I didn't even know about
Another one in San Antonio who still loves me
And the ones from Puerto Rico who are all mine
A Dominican who is a fresh hottie
The one from Barcelona who came by plane
Wait, I have a taste for them all
I'm like a jeweler, I've got all the gems
One who is a doctor, another who is a lawyer
Another who is a teacher, and I’m the student
I don't fall in love, I'm a traveler
I'm like a pirate, I go through all the seas

[Chorus]
Auntie asked me if I have a lot of girlfriends
A lot of girlfriends
Today I have one, tomorrow I'll have another
Hey, but there's no wedding
Auntie asked me if I have a lot of girlfriends
A lot of girlfriends
Today I have one, tomorrow I'll have another
Hey, but there's no wedding

[Verse 2]
Look, I'm a wild one, but I've got a good heart
I'll take you to the moon without a rocket
If you want to dance, let's go to the floor
If you want to drink, I've got the bottle
I don't promise anything I can't do
I don't say "I love you" if I don't feel it
Life is short and I'm going to live it my way
With a lot of girlfriends or with none at all
I’m like a bird, I don’t like the cage
I’m like the wind, I’m always on the move
Don’t try to change me, don’t try to fix me
I am who I am, and that’s how I’m going to stay

[Outro]
(Tití asked me, Tití asked me)
(A lot of girlfriends, a lot of girlfriends)
(Today one, tomorrow another)
(But no wedding, hey, no wedding)

He transitioned into "Yo Perreo Sola," the feminist reggaeton anthem that became a cultural touchstone. The choreography was full-throttle, with dancers embodying the song's message of autonomy and self-expression. Bad Bunny has always championed women's voices in a genre historically dominated by machismo, and bringing this track to the Super Bowl felt like a statement of intent.

Full Lyrics: Yo Perreo Sola (I Twerk Alone)

[Intro]
(Before she was like this, now she’s like that)
(She’s not looking for anyone, she’s just having a good time)

[Chorus]
She twerks alone
She twerks alone
(Hey, hey, hey)
Perverts, don't get near her
The club turns up when she arrives
She is skeptical of love
She’s been single before it was a trend
She hasn't believed in love since "Amorfoda"

[Verse 1]
She doesn't want you to dance with her
She doesn't want you to buy her a drink
She knows she’s the one who controls the floor
If you don't believe me, just look at how she moves
She’s not looking for a boyfriend, she’s looking for a good time
She doesn't need a man to tell her what to do
She’s a queen, she’s a boss, she’s the one in charge
And if you can't handle it, then stay away from her
She doesn't want your comments
She doesn't want your attention
She just wants the music to play
And to dance until the sun comes up

[Verse 2]
If you see her in the club, don't think she’s lonely
She’s with her friends, and they’re all in the zone
She doesn't care about your car, she doesn't care about your watch
She’s got her own vibe, and she’s got her own flow
She’s a woman of the new era, she’s independent
She’s smart, she’s strong, and she’s very present
So respect her space, and respect her choice
Because she twerks alone, and she’s got her own voice

[Outro]
She twerks alone
She twerks alone
(Hey, hey, hey)

"Soltera" kept the energy climbing, celebrating single life with infectious joy. The recent hit had the stadium bouncing, the camera cutting to fans in the stands singing along in Spanish... a visual reminder of how deeply Latin music has penetrated American pop culture.

Full Lyrics: Soltera (Single)

[Chorus]
She’s single, and she does whatever she wants
She doesn't have anyone to tell her anything
She’s the owner of her own life, and she spends it however she prefers
She’s single, and she’s not looking for a boyfriend
She’s looking for a party, she’s looking for a drink

[Verse 1]
She leaves the house and doesn't look back
She’s tired of promises that weren't true
Now she’s free, now she’s flying
She doesn't wait for anyone, she does it her way
The night is young and so is she
Everyone is looking at her, but she only looks at herself in the mirror

[Verse 2]
She doesn't need a man to feel complete
She doesn't need a man to feel beautiful
She’s got her own money, she’s got her own car
And she’s got her own rhythm to dance to
If you see her out, don't think she's waiting for you
She's waiting for the beat to drop so she can lose herself in it

 
 

ACT II: La Casita and the Block Party

The stage transformed into a living, breathing neighborhood (vecindad). At its center was a miniature casita (little house), recreating the iconic set piece from Bad Bunny's "No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí" residency. At the Super Bowl, it became a star-studded block party featuring Pedro Pascal, Cardi B, Jessica Alba, Karol G, Alix Earle, and Young Miko dancing inside and around it... recreating the atmosphere of a “party de marquesina.”

The Block Party Atmosphere: Attention To Detail

  • Piragua stand: Selling shaved ice treats, a street vendor staple.
  • Nail salon: Representing the small businesses that anchor neighborhood life.
  • Sugarcane: Raw stalks on display, honoring the crop that shaped the island's history.
  • Boxing: People boxing on stage, nodding to the island's rich boxing tradition.
  • Platanos: Vendors selling plantains, a dietary staple.
  • Barber shop: A classic neighborhood gathering spot.
  • Domino tables: People playing the social game that brings the community together.
  • A kid sleeping: A child asleep in a chair while the party raged... a universally relatable image from Latin family gatherings.
  • Villa's Tacos: A real Mexican-American business from LA, representing the actual small businesses that make up the Latin community.

The Real Wedding

A couple married on stage during the performance!! The couple had originally invited Bad Bunny to their wedding via TikTok, and he invited them to wed during the Halftime Show instead. Variety confirmed he served as their witness and signed their marriage license. The newlyweds later cut their wedding cake during “BAILE INOLVIDABLE.”

Authentic Sounds: The Instruments

  • Pandero (Pandereta): Hand drums in three sizes: primo (small), segundo (medium), and tercero (large).
  • Cuatro: The 10-string national instrument of Puerto Rico.
  • Güiro: A raspy percussion instrument, likely invented by the Taíno Indigenous people.
  • Maracas, Palitos, and Cencerro (cowbell).
 
 

ACT III: Success and Symbolism

"Monaco" And The Self-Belief Speech

Dozens of violin players emerged to perform "Monaco." As the violins swelled, Bad Bunny delivered a powerful message in Spanish:

"Mi nombre es Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, y si hoy estoy aquí en el Super Bowl 60, es porque nunca, nunca dejé de creer en mí. Tú también deberías de creer en ti. Vales más de lo que piensas. Confía en mí."

Translation: "My name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, and if I'm here today at Super Bowl 60, it's because I never, ever stopped believing in myself. You should also believe in yourself. You're worth more than you think. Trust me."

Full Lyrics: Monaco

[Intro]
Yesterday, I was twenty years old
I caressed time and played with life
As we play with love, and I lived at night

[Verse 1]
Believe me, F1 cars are faster in person
Whatever you do, it doesn't impress me
It's like scoring a goal after Messi and Maradona
You all talking shit, and me and mine in Monaco
Drinking champagne, looking at the sea
You guys are still where I left you
My life is a movie, yours is a trailer
I don't follow rules, I make them
If I’m here, it’s because I deserved it

[Verse 2]
I worked hard, I didn't sleep
I saw the dream and I went for it
And now I'm living it, and you're just watching
You talk about me to feel important
But I don't even know your name
I'm in the fast lane, you're at the stoplight
Enjoy the view while I disappear into the horizon

Lady Gaga’s Latin Transformation

Lady Gaga appeared for "Die With a Smile." The production was reimagined with Latin beats, transforming the ballad into a reggaeton-inflected duet. The icons ended the segment salsa dancing together.

Full Lyrics: Die With a Smile (Latin Remix)

[Chorus]
If the world was ending, I'd wanna be next to you
If the party was over, I’d still be dancing with you
With a smile on my face, because I lived it with you
I don't care about anything else, as long as I’m by your side

[Verse 1]
The sky is falling and the earth is shaking
But I'm not afraid, because I've got you
This love is stronger than any storm
This love is brighter than any sun
And if this is the end, then I'm happy to go
With a smile on my face and you in my arms

[Verse 2]
Let the lights go out, let the music stop
We’ve already seen everything, we’ve already felt everything
This love is apocalyptic, it’s the end of the world, but I’m not afraid if you’re here
We’ll turn the end of the world into a party that never ends

Bad Bunny reclaimed the stage solo for "Baile Inolvidable," a high-energy performance that combined his signature reggaeton with orchestral flourishes.

Full Lyrics: Baile Inolvidable (Unforgettable Dance)

[Chorus]
I thought I'd grow old with you
In another life, in another world, it could be
In this one, all that's left is for me to leave one day
If you see me alone and sad, don't talk to me
Life is a party that one day ends... and you were my unforgettable dance

[Verse 1]
The wedding music is playing, the people are happy
But inside, I’m thinking of everything we were
A memory that doesn't die, a rhythm that doesn't stop
Dance with me one last time, even if it’s just in my mind

[Verse 2]
I see you dancing with someone else
And I wonder if you still think of me
We had something special, something real
But now it's just a ghost in the room
Enjoy your night, enjoy your life
I'll stay here with the memory of our unforgettable dance

"Nueva Yol" followed, a powerful tribute to the Puerto Rican diaspora in New York. Toñita Cay, the legendary owner of Brooklyn’s Caribbean Social Club (aka Toñita’s), made a cameo on stage, serving Benito a drink while he performed.

Full Lyrics: Nueva Yol (New York)

[Chorus]
I’m in Nueva Yol, but my heart is in PR
I’m working hard, but I don’t forget where I came from
The snow is cold, but my blood is hot
I’m a jíbaro in the city, a king in the neighborhood

[Verse 1]
I remember the streets, I remember the sun
Here everything is fast, here everything is noise
But I carry the island in my suitcase
Toñita serves me a drink and I feel like I’m home
From the social club to the world

[Verse 2]
The buildings are tall, but my dreams are taller
I'm fighting for my family, I'm fighting for my land
Every step I take is a step for Puerto Rico
We're everywhere, we're everyone
And we're never going to forget our roots
Nueva Yol is just another neighborhood for us to conquer

 
 

ACT IV: The Protest and Legacy

The Generational Handoff: Ricky Martin

Ricky Martin emerged for "Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawái." Martin, who once had to sing in English to crossover, was finally at the Super Bowl singing fully in Spanish about the displacement of locals.

Full Lyrics: Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawái (What Happened to Hawaii)

[Intro]
I don't want to lose what I have
I don't want to see my people cry
I don't want to see the place I love turn into something I don't recognize

[Chorus]
They want to take my river and my beach too
They want my neighborhood and grandma to leave
No, don't let go of the flag nor forget the lelolai
'Cause I don't want them to do to you what happened to Hawaii

[Verse 1]
Look at the hotels, look at the tall buildings
Look at the people who don't belong here
They think they can buy our history with their money
They think they can erase our identity with their tall walls
But they don't know the strength of the jíbaro
They don't know the love we have for our soil
We were here before them, and we’ll be here after
We’re not going anywhere, this is our home

[Verse 2]
The land is not a business, it's our soul
The beach is not a resort, it's our life
And we're going to fight for it with everything we've got
Because if we lose it, we lose ourselves
So hold on to your roots, and hold on to your pride
Don't let them tell you that you don't belong
Because this is your land, and this is your home
And you're never going to let them take it away

The Power Lines: “El Apagón”

Power line poles stood on stage. During "El Apagón," Bad Bunny climbed them as they exploded, symbolizing the island's failing power grid. He held up a Puerto Rican flag in light blue, associated with the independence movement and the 1948 Gag Law.

Full Lyrics: El Apagón (The Blackout)

[Verse 1]
Damn, another blackout
Let's go to the bleachers to light up a blunt
Ditch the Maldives, I'm staying in Palomino
Here the heat is different, the sun is Taíno
The capital of perreo, now everyone wants to be Latino... but they lack rhythm, drums, and reggaeton

[Verse 2]
They want to take everything, they want to buy it all
But they don't know the heart of this island
We’ve been through the storm, we’ve been through the dark
And we’re still here, standing tall and strong
The power might go out, but the party never stops
The light might fade, but the fire is still burning
Puerto Rico is not for sale, Puerto Rico is for us
And we’re going to fight for every inch of our land

[Bridge]
From San Juan to Mayagüez, from Culebra to Vieques
We are one people, we are one soul
And we’re never going to let them take our calm
We are the descendants of the Taínos
We are the children of the sun and the sea
And no matter what they do, they can’t break us
Because we know how to fight, and we know how to win

[Outro - Gabriela Berlingeri]
I don't want to leave here
Let them go, let them go
What belongs to me, they'll keep it to themselves
This is my beach, this is my sun
This is my land, this is me

The Emotional Ritual: Café Con Ron

The energy shifted for "Café con Ron." Performers flooded the stage with flags from all sovereign Latin countries. Bad Bunny said his only English words: “God bless America,” before naming every Latin country one by one, emphasizing that the Americas are more than just the United States.

Full Lyrics: Café Con Ron (Coffee with Rum)

[Chorus]
Coffee in the morning, rum in the afternoon
We're already out in the streets, come out to your balcony
From Arecibo to Ponce, from Fajardo to Rincón
It's the voice of an entire neighborhood from Almirante to Frontón

[Verse 1]
The sun is rising and the coffee is ready
The day is long and the work is hard
But we've got the music and we've got the heart
And we've got the rum for when the sun goes down
Life is a mix of bitter and sweet, just like coffee and rum
And we take it all in, one sip at a time

[Verse 2]
Slow it down, feel the rhythm
This is how we live, this is how we are
A bitter sip and a sweet one
God bless the land that saw me grow
We're survivors, we're dreamers
And we're going to keep going, no matter what

[Outro]
(Coffee and rum, coffee and rum)
(Puerto Rico in the house)
(Latinos in the house)
(This is our story, this is our song)

 
 

The Emotional Finale

Bad Bunny held up a football inscribed with "Together We Are America" and spiked it. He exited to the nostalgic chorus of "Debí Tirar Más Fotos."

Full Lyrics: Debí Tirar Más Fotos (I Should Have Taken More Photos)

[Intro]
Time goes by so fast and we don't even realize it
We’re so busy living that we forget to capture the moments

[Chorus]
I should have taken more pictures when I had you
I should have given you more kisses and hugs whenever I could
I hope my people never move away... let's enjoy it because you never know how much time we've got left

[Verse 1]
I remember the nights on the beach
I remember the laughter and the songs
I remember the way you looked at me
And I wish I could go back to those days
But now all I have are the memories in my head
And I wish I had more to hold on to
Life is short, and we have to make the most of it

[Verse 2]
Don't wait until it's too late
Don't wait until they're gone
Because once they're gone, all you'll have are the photos you didn't take
And the hugs you didn't give, and the words you didn't say
So live in the moment, and cherish the time
Because it's the only thing that we truly have