I didn’t watch the Super Bowl last Sunday night. My team, the Philadelphia Eagles, was not it, so my interest in the game was non-existent. I did watch the Halftime show, however; more out of curiosity about the controversy Bad Bunny’s (Benito Antonio MartĂnez Ocasio) performance seemed to have erupted.
The only language I speak and understand is English, but, I do understand the language of the arts and that is what I saw on display during Halftime. I had no idea what the literal translation of Bad Bunny’s songs were, but I did understand the theatrics surrounding his performance and his love for his home territory of Puerto Rico.
This year’s Halftime performance really wasn’t any different than if I attended an opera, which is often sung in a language other than English, or went to a ballet in which there are no words. That is what is great about the arts, it allows the audience to interpret the music and feel the power of how the music is presented. Your interpretation may be different than mine, but it allows one to think for themselves and really appreciate the art form.
My take away from Bad Bunny’s performance is that he is proud of his roots, advocates for peace and love, is extremely creative, and can belt out a song. I don’t see why that is controversial. We could all learn from this performance in which he represented drive, talent, and speaking up for the under-served. Isn’t that the American Way?
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Previously Published on substack
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Reading It’s Halftime! on The Good Men Project was a heartening reminder of how art, expression, and perspective connect us beyond boundaries and expectations; the way Rhonda Chiger reflects on the Super Bowl halftime performance not through language barriers but through the shared language of creativity, pride, and emotional power opened a space for curiosity, empathy, and deeper appreciation, encouraging us to see beyond controversy and to celebrate individuality, courage, and the beauty of interpreting life through the arts in our own unique ways.