You Don't Have to Speak Spanish to Enjoy Bad Bunny

Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure knowing Spanish helps. When you know what someone is saying, you feel more connected with them. I’ve always assumed when folks talk a different language around me, they’re doing two things. First, they’re doing what’s naturally comfortable to them. Secondly, they’re keeping everyone around them that doesn’t know their language out of their shit. Everyone deserves privacy unless you’re in the Epstein files.

But, I get it. You don’t feel like part of the club. It’s okay to not be part of the club. If it bothers you enough, you’ll get a tutor.

All of that said, Bad Bunny is performing the Super Bowl Halftime Show. He’s not the first artist who performs in something other than English. We’ve had Gloria Estefan and Shakira out there. But, he is the first who performs nearly exclusively in something other than English.

He’s also the most popular artist in the world in terms of streaming numbers. So, there’s obviously something universal about him. Rhythm is certainly universal. If you can count a beat, you can enjoy a rhythm. Soul is also universal. Listen to any Bad Bunny song and you’ll know the vibe of the track. “Chambea” is about fucking someone up. “Me Porto Bonito” is about being attracted to someone. You can feel it in those tracks. You know the feeling that’s being portrayed.

I’m not the biggest Bad Bunny fan, but I got into him a little because of his appearances with professional wrestling. I’ll say this about him, when he cares about something, he puts his all into it. He showed up for those wrestling performances. I also got to see just how important he is to Puerto Rico when he was a part of WWE Backlash in San Juan. To this day, I’ve never seen a pop (or audience reaction) like the one Bunny got. His opponent that night was Damien Priest, who is also of Puerto Rican descent, yet Priest had to be the loneliest man in the room because that entire building seemed to be behind Bunny.

This led me to at least checking out his work and paying attention when I’d see him perform on TV. I dig him. Despite not really knowing what’s being said, I feel him. According to the lyrics website Genius, “the day after DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS took home the Grammy for Album of the Year, views of the English-language song page for “DTMF” increased 467%”. People want to know what’s being said. I admit I feel the same way, not just because of Bunny, but because I think it would be helpful in general.

Look, I get why some people are uncomfortable with the halftime show being in Spanish. You’re sitting there not understanding the words, and that feels weird. But here’s the thing - I didn’t understand the words at Backlash in San Juan either, and I still got it. The feeling translated just fine. That’s kind of the point I’m making here. Yeah, knowing Spanish would enhance the experience. But not knowing it doesn’t mean you can’t be part of the moment. The discomfort is just that - discomfort. It’s temporary, and honestly, it’s probably good for you. This country’s getting more diverse whether anyone likes it or not, and moments like this Super Bowl are just showing us what’s already happening. You can either lean into it and find out what you’ve been missing, or you can sit in that discomfort and be mad about it. But the world’s moving on either way.