For three hours last summer, Wilfredo José Burgos-Matos felt like he didn’t have to leave Puerto Rico again after moving away from the island 11 years ago.
Bad Bunny’s residency in San Juan last August hit Burgos-Matos like a wave of nostalgia, from the plena-style rhythm mixed with reggaeton and salsa filling "El Choli" coliseum to the pink casita and mountains built for the stage, bringing him back to his hometown of Aibonito, Puerto Rico.
“It just very honestly made me kind of realize, or even dream a little bit, about staying and not having to live again and go through this diaspora mourning, or this grief of always being in constant movement outside of the island,” the 33-year-old said. “It’s some sort of a gift that that Bad Bunny gave to Puerto Ricans.”
Now, Bad Bunny is bringing that same energy to one of the biggest global stages this weekend: the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show. Bad Bunny has repeatedly centered Puerto Rico in his music and his career, including his latest album, “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” and his recent 31-date “No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí” residency in San Juan that generated millions into the island’s local economy.
Bad Bunny, whose name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has hinted his performance will be about unity during the trailer for the halftime show, where he danced with people from various ages and from diverse backgrounds, cultures and ethnicities.
