So, what did you think of the Super Bowl half time show? For most of the audience, you either loved it or hated it. Personally, I felt nothing. I did not hate it, but I certainly did not like it either. My wife loved it. She was impressed with the showmanship, the choreography, and the celebration of Puerto Rican culture. Sorry, I am not convinced. It is not that I am down on Bad Bunny. I had never heard of him before he was announced as the half time performer. I am just not a fan of rap.
My wife tells me he is an international star. OK, good for him. I am still not impressed. If you like Bad Bunny and/or rap that is your prerogative. I do not. My definition of music has either singing and/or musical instruments. Rap has neither. I do not get it. I do not see the talent in rap. I would like to hear Bad Bunny sing or play an instrument. Can he do either? If he truly can, I sincerely apologize to him for my critique.
I will give credit where credit is due. I liked the cameo appearances by Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin. I wish I could have heard more of them. And there was a beautiful, heart-warming moment when he presented his Grammy to Liam Conejo Ramos, the five-year-old boy who was taken by ICE officials in Minneapolis and nearly deported. Well done Bad Bunny, well done.
But a one-minute cameo appearance and a class act, does not make up for the other 20 minutes. Regardless of my critique, whoever is doing the half-time show, will be facing a tough audience. You simply cannot please all the people. The critics will always voice their displeasure. In many ways it is a losing proposition for the artist. The bar is set incredibly high, and expectations can be unrealistic.
So why would the NFL have an artist perform at the half time show knowing full well there would be a significant segment of its audience that would push back. Simple, one word, money. Let’s recognize the NFL for what it is. It is a multibillion-dollar industry that is a massive money-making machine. It is always looking for ways to grow and penetrate new markets. It is looking to go international. The NFL has announced it will have a record setting eight games next year outside of the US including a game for the first time in France and Australia. Do not be surprised to see an NFL franchise in Mexico City in the next ten years. Every major city in the US has an NFL team so to grow it must look outside its border. By having a half time show in Spanish can certainly appeal to Latin American countries.
By having a Spanish rapper at the half time show appealing to a certain demographic for business purposes, I get. For strictly entertainment value, I don’t get. Is it a generational thing? it probably is. Is it a racist thing? For me, I like to think that it isn’t. I would feel the same way if Eminem did the half-time show. But I am sure there are racist undertones from those that did not like the halt time show.
I know now that I had my moment when The Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney performed. I am not a Prince fan, but he did a fine job too. For me, the best half-time show was U2. It was truly moving when they had all the names of those that perished in 9-11 scrolling in the background. All these artists had something in common. They could sing and play musical instruments. Is that too much to ask for a halt-time show?