I'm going to be the first person here to pan the halftime show.

[JohnnyRingo]

It's not because he sang in Spanish, or because he's Hispanic. Some of my best albums are Santana. (LOL) I don't pay attention to lyrics anyway. I listen for a hook that catches my ear, and I didn't hear one.

Bad Bunny is simply not something I'd listen to as I drove down the road. Indeed, if that nerve wracking hip hop machine gun rap came on the radio, I'd change the station for something a little more relaxing... like Metallica. Other than that, I saw the usual twerking, dancing, and jumping on automobiles (Who started that and why?). It was nice to see Gaga, though I didn't know that was her at the time. Maybe I just anticipated too much and felt it was underdelivered.

I liked Green Day, but it was the same setlist they played when Dick Clark still hosted New Years Eve. For me it was the worst Super Bowl show I've seen since The Who phoned it in back in 2010. There were 200 million people watching and he couldn't smash an off the rack Les Paul?

I know there are people besides me and my friends who didn't like it but are uneasy about coming out with it. I'm not going to see many hearts for this one, and no, you can't have them back. haha

[orangecrush]

1. To each their own.

[murielm99]

2. I am recommending this

because you should be able to speak your mind.

[Scrivener7]

3. I liked it. But enjoying his music is not strictly necessary.

Can you appreciate the fact that it was a joyful act of resistance? Because, though music tastes vary, it definitely was that.

(And for the record, I hate Metallica.)

[Coventina]

41. I also hate Metallica.

I enjoyed Bad Bunny, even if he wasn't my favorite.

My top 3 are:

1. Madonna (screw the haters)
2. Prince
3. U2

Honorable mention: Lady Gaga

[beaglelover]

72. I'd reverse 2 and 1 and def put Gaga at number 3.

[Coventina]

80. Prince probably deserves to be #1. His performance was epic.

I just have a personal LOVE of Madonna.

[MontanaMama]

53. It was, in fact,

a spectacular act of storytelling and resistance. I believe it could be appreciated for those reasons only. That said, I enjoyed the heck out of it.

I must say I was worried for Bad Bunny’s safety. People don’t wear bullet proof vests for no reason and this is, after all, America.

[thought crime]

69. It took a lot of courage to do what he did.

It was a very physical performance and in several places he was just inches away from the edge of big fall. And all the while he was at risk from some nut in the crowd. The show and the music were truly wonderful but even on re-watch I feel a bit of relief at the end.

[travelingthrulife]

4. I liked the story it told. I was actually teary at the last bit when he said the names of all the countries

in the Americas and they carried their flags. It was a beautiful moment at a time when we need to know that other people count. The music is not my favorite but it was well choreographed.
I watched it twice. Didn't watch the Super Bowl though.

[JohnnyRingo]

6. Choreography was indeed good, but that's expected.

I didn't hear a story. And rappers can stop jumping on cars. It sets a bad example for the children. haha

[Srkdqltr]

5. I really think they should get someone to put on show tunes from Broadway.

From Oklahoma, Mame, like that. Good pure music. Everyone sing along.
A lot have mentioned Elvis or Prince or Michael Jackson. They are dead.
Metallica is old. The Beatles are dead too. Most of them anyway.

Everyone will never be pleased. And those of you who were bummed because you couldn't understand the lyrics. Seriously?

[JohnnyRingo]

10. I didn't say I cared about it being in Spanish.

Seriously. I barely listen to music for any deep messages. I like the music.
Ask me what The Beatles mean when they sing "Here come old flat-top, he come groovin' up slowly. He got ju-ju eyeball, he one holy roller. He got hair down to his knee. Got to be a joker, he just do what he please" ....and I'll shrug my shoulders. I don't know what Bunny was saying either.

[Srkdqltr]

13. But he was joyous, upbeat, happy. Singing and dancing. I was chair dancing along.

We can't have that. Everything has to be somber.

[Brainstormy]

20. in all fairness

you picked a VERY atypical Beatles song. The vast majority of Beatles tunes have clear, poignant lyrics. Indeed, in some cases it's actually the words that make the song so beloved.

[JohnnyRingo]

95. I posted a video in GD well before the show.

I posted it on the anniversary of "The Day The Music Died", the plane crash that killed, among others, Richie Valens.
Check it out:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220997468

That post garnered very little attention, and before today, I didn't think anyone even read my posts.

[Jack Valentino]

86. Trump and MAGA hated on him in advance---- that's good enough

for me!!!!!


And in the midst of Trump's ICE meltdown deportations mostly against Spanish-speaking people,
the fact that the prime halftime Superbowl Artist performed almost entirely in Spanish
makes me proclaim "kudos" for that message to all the people who were
responsible for making it happen!



(Personally, I'd have preferred SELENA Quintanilla,
but she unfortunately died in 1994---
just prior to the release of her first partly-English album!)

[CrispyQ]

51. Right? We sang the wrong lyrics to songs for years! -nt

[ColoringFool]

89. Two Of A Quartet Dead Do Not Equal "Most." FWIW, I LOVE Spanish-

Language songs, and cannot speak the language beyond high school level.

I think Ricky Martin's best songs are his Spanish ones and wish I had seen him in concert before the many post-1999 ones I attended.

Yet while I liked the "Latin" party atmosphere of Bad Bunny's half-time show, I thought the musical element was lacking.

BTW, one could do worse than great Broadway tunes!

[Clouds Passing]

7. His show was brilliant 💛

[Nittersing]

8. I enjoyed a production video about the show more than the show

I wandered into a thread that included a lot of folks who have worked on various shows and they were all incredibly impressed with all the different factors that came together to make it work.

I also saw a video from the stands... and it seems like the show wasn't really for the fans in the stands. Unless they watched it all on the jumbotron I guess.

[JohnnyRingo]

14. Wow! That's harsh.

You seem to take it a bit personal that someone doesn't like your favorite artist. Are you related to him?
And yes, it would be nice if the NFL asked me for next year, but then you'd hate the halftime show. See how opinions differ?

[SocialDemocrat61]

17. Never said he was my favorite artist

So no need to put words in my mouth. I was just asking a question since you decided to publicly bash the guy for no other reason than your personal taste.

[JohnnyRingo]

26. Isn't that what a review is?

I saw him, I heard him, and I didn't care for it.

There are dozens of posts here praising his show. Isn't that a matter of personal taste? I hope so because I hate to imagine that people loved him just because he was a stick in the eye of the Oval Office. People should love him for his style and talent, and he has talent, it's the other part I disagree with.

[SocialDemocrat61]

37. Actually reviews should be objective

But no forced you to write one. You chose to do so.

Why does it bother you that other people liked it?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

52. Good reviews are written by people who understand the material. Why would I read a book review by someone who doesn't

understand fiction, or the topic of the book they're reviewing? Just saying "I didn't like it, it didn't do anything for me" isn't useful as a review if you don't understand the source material. It's simply an opinion, and everybody's got one.

[sop]

11. I haven't really enjoyed a televised SB halftime show for as long as I can remember.

Bruno Mars' and Tom Petty's performances stand out in my mind, but most of these spectacles are far too gaudy, overproduced and chaotic for my taste. But, then, I'm old, and not the target audience.

I think most people are celebrating the cultural and political significance of this year's show more than anything. And if it makes Trump crazy, all the better.

[JohnnyRingo]

16. Bruno Mars is a musical genius.

I love when artists branch out into new music, and you never know what he's going to do next. Maybe it's only new to me, but I've never heard anything like him.

[PatSeg]

23. "far too gaudy, overproduced and chaotic"

Yeah, that rather sums it up for me with a lot of musical performances today. Too much attention paid to the visual spectacle and less to actual music. It feels like they are in competition to see who can be the most gaudy.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

12. It's okay to have something not be your taste, and to say so. But to think there isn't any symbolism or care put into

the production just because you didn't understand it is a mistake.

For me it was the worst Super Bowl show I've seen since The Who phoned it in back in 2010. There were 200 million people watching and he couldn't smash an off the rack Les Paul?

You were disappointed with the Who because they didn't play like the Who. But to be disappointed by Bad Bunny because you already know his music isn't your thing just sounds like complaining.

[JohnnyRingo]

24. I don't like what Bad calls music.

He has the #1 album in the world so he's on to something, but I don't think it came down to my "understanding" what he did.
I don't care for his style and won't be buying his album. It's not because I'm too stupid.

I couldn't be disappointed, because I've never heard him before. I had no preconceived expectations.
I guess you assumed the love of Bad Bunny is universal. I didn't like him.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

25. .

I don't care for his style and won't be buying his album....I guess you assumed the love of Bad Bunny is universal. I didn't like him.

Not at all. Plenty of people don't like trap or hiphop. But "panning" it generally means you had a prior understand/expectation that wasn't met. You simply don't like his music. It happens, big deal.

[Bobstandard]

81. As a 70 year old retiree, it's understandable the OP doesn't get it

He was a teen in a more melodic, simple lyric time. Moving on is hard. Staying current is not only difficult, but not required. That’s why we have recordings.

[Sympthsical]

15. And that's perfectly ok

I really enjoyed it. My partner was meh about it. A friend really hated it. All of us are Democrats.

I would never listen to Bad Bunny's music - it's just not my wheelhouse. But I enjoyed the spectacle, the production design, the choreography, and the narrative structure. It was joyful, unifying, and celebratory.

But the music itself? That's all down to a matter of personal preference.

That said, there have been plenty of Super Bowls where the artist isn't my bag musically, but they still put on a great show. Then there are artists I enjoy musically whose performance was just meh (I recently rewatched Madonna's 2012 one, and man it felt tired).

[DenaliDemocrat]

88. I thought it kinda sucked

The music was non-existent. It reminded me of a boring poetry reading. I was told I was racist. lol (even though I speak Italian and Spanish).

Meh, I’ll never do do another Cirque de Sole show either. I hate them. They are full of Eastern European acrobats.

I think Kurtz’s art is stupid too..,

I like what I like. Nationality doesn’t impact it.

[Alice B.]

98. 200% this!""

The music isn’t something I’d purchase or put on the playlists I listen to while walking or driving but I appreciated the show, the stagecraft and the feeling that I came away with, even if the music wasn’t my thing.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

18. Thank you for your valuable feedback.

[JohnnyRingo]

29. You're devious.

haha That's the most succinct put down I got until someone says "bless your heart".

[Wiz Imp]

62. Bless your heart

[MineralMan]

19. OK.

As it was playing out, I was thinking about some of the songs from "West Side Story" that were also about Puerto Rico. And that made me think of Trump throwing rolls of paper towels to a crowd in PR.

https://s3.r29static.com/bin/entry/038/x,80/1863217/image.jpg

The halftime show was about something. I like that.

[jmbar2]

45. I had exactly the same thoughts about West Side Story

Loved the production, the visual storytelling and the resistance/unifying message.

The music was unmemorable (melody-wise), but in that genre, I suppose it is secondary anyway.

I hated the twerking. Trashy-looking. It bothers me to see young women adopting porndog elements considering that porn is so overwhelming misogynistic.

[Thunder Chicken]

27. Fucked up take dude

What the actual fuck? This is a fucked up take and you should apologize to op for the thinly veiled racism accusation simply because op didn’t care for the halftime show.

[leftstreet]

31. I don't think so

I know there are people besides me and my friends who didn't like it but are uneasy about coming out with it.

The OP's words are right there.

[Thunder Chicken]

43. I can read their word

They are not uneasy about speaking their mind because they are racists. They are uneasy because they know there will be morons that call them racist (or make thinly veiled accusations for that matter).

[leftstreet]

47. Exactly!

And that's what Trump has done to us. The OP (and friends) are hesitant to say "that show was shitty" because of the fear of being perceived as racist.

My point was - it's comforting to know there are decent people out there who still worry about it

If you think my post violates any DU terms of service, alert on it.

But hurry. Hides take time to go away and I need to enter primary season with no demerits

[Thunder Chicken]

49. I will never report any post

Ever.

[JohnnyRingo]

94. I'm not a racist, not even close.

There was no indication in my OP that I didn't like Bad Bunny because he was Hispanic. I even made light of those Trumpers who knew ahead of the show that they weren't going to like it with the sarcastic "...some of my best albums are Santana". I added "haha" after the sentence so no one would take that seriously. Except you.

I thought I best summed it up by saying it was nothing I would drive down the road listening to. I didn't like it. Perhaps you feel the same way about Devo, one of my favorite bands.

[AloeVera]

46. Sorry, no.

Just no.

[Happy Hoosier]

58. What's even remotely racist about that? NT

[leftstreet]

65. sigh

[EdmondDantes_]

22. You may not find his music good, and I don't enjoy it,

But given he's one of the most popular artists in the world, his music works for a lot of people. Just because something isn't for me doesn't make it bad.

[Prairie Gates]

28. Oh for God's sake

[JohnnyRingo]

33. Let's not bring Him into this.

It's just a slightly less than pleased review, not a commandment. LOl

[samplegirl]

84. At least it wasn't Kid Rock

Now is not the time to be singing about underage sex!

[dutch777]

30. I loved it for tweaking Trump's nose. Viewers SB 1/2 time -- 100 mil+; Kid Rock -- 10 million. Cool!

I also read that the VIP booth they had reserved for Trump, they gave to Bad Bunny's entourage. Love it!

[ITAL]

32. Wasn't a fan either

But I can't really remember the last time I enjoyed one - lol (Paul McCartney maybe?). The thing is they'll never be able to satisfy everyone, so no biggie. Hell, I'd probably prefer one of the standout college marching bands most of the time (Ohio State's always does amazing shows).

Halftime is usually when my wife and I do the dishes from all the food we just ate anyway.

[Kaleva]

38. Your last sentence is interesting

Halftime is when your wife does the dishes!

[ITAL]

50. Left off the "I"

I said "wife and" without including me...oh well. Fixed now. If there's just a few I typically wash and dry, if it's a lot I wash and she dries.

[Kaleva]

64. I figured you left it out

Gave me a small chuckle.

[milestogo]

34. I don't care for crotch grabbing during a musical performance.

Doesn't matter if its Bad Bunny or Michael Jackson. That is my opinion.

[Demsrule86]

35. Bad Bunny is someone I and others would listen too...you know if you don't like something than turn it off...

Live and let live I say.

[JohnnyRingo]

75. I will turn it off. I mentioned that above.

If you don't like my opinion, don't read it.
My title was a clue.

[Kaleva]

36. I haven't been interested in any Super Bowl halftime show. Ever

It’s just not my thing and it’s been years, decades probably ,since I last saw one

[Croney]

39. I was recently judged quite harshly in a group

when I said I don't like jazz. 🙂

I liked the eye candy, even though I'm old. I speak Spanish fairly well but couldn't keep up at all; I googled the words later. My Zumba class currently uses two of his songs so I knew them.

That was a real wedding that took place! And the dancing bushes (sugar cane fields?) were spectacular.

The best thing was the message. Unity, strength, love.

[róisín_dubh]

87. Yes, they were sugar cane fields.

It’s meant to represent the economic exploitation of Puerto Rico in its history.

[Mysterian]

40. I never even watch the halftime shows

I'm walking the dog or fixing some snacks. I'm not brainwashed into thinking it's some kind of important culture thing that I can't miss. I'm watching the football game.

[snowybirdie]

42. So much

Strum n drang over 13 minutes in the middle of the biggest sporting event in America! On to March Madness!

[Ocelot II]

44. It wasn't intended for people to listen to while driving down the road.

It was a show, not a concert. I didn't care much for the music as music either, but I enjoyed the show, the performance. It was fun, engaging, positive and even joyful. I doubt I will ever listen to Bad Bunny on the radio or stream any of his songs but I will watch that show again because it was fun.

[Sneederbunk]

56. Agreed. It was a statement, not entertainment.

[ProfessorGAC]

73. Agreed

Actually I thought the music became more interesting starting at the Gaga introduction.
It had a fun Caribbean flavor with Latin rhythms (salsa, samba, meringue) that I found far more fun than the robo-music of the first couple minutes.
I was close to changing channels when they shifted gears. Was glad I didn't.

[Keepthesoulalive]

48. It ain't about a bunch of old boomers

It’s about pride in a young and old Hispanic culture. I’m sorry if shaking your booty offends but ethnic folks have been doing it and enjoying it forever.

[OnionPatch]

85. This old boomer loved it!

The music and the message.

[Tetrachloride]

54. No Bowl, No Cry

[Iggo]

55. If the metric is "something I'd listen to", then no Super Bowl halftime show was any good.

Last edited Tue Feb 10, 2026, 11:59 AM - Edit history (1)

Almost every show is filled with music I’ve never heard before and will never hear again.

But so what? Thats not how i judge a 15 minute speed run of a free show in the middle of a football game.

Was it fun for a minute? Yes? Good show, then, and Thanks for the effort.

[Happy Hoosier]

57. . Tastes differ

Not my cup of tea either. But as I turn 60 today, i realize it’s not for me.

[MIButterfly]

78. Happy Birthday, Happy Hoosier!

Many happy returns of the day!!!!!

🎂 🎁 🎈 🎉 🥳 🍾

[Happy Hoosier]

83. Thank you very much! NT

[BannonsLiver]

59. I doubt anyone really cares.

[Alpeduez21]

60. I'm not saying anything one way or another but

“It's not because he sang in Spanish, or because he's Hispanic. Some of my best albums are Santana.” Sounds a lot like‘I can’t be racist; I have a black friend. I repeat not saying anything one way or another, the logic behind your statement has been used many times. I would not have phrased this in this manner

[Iggo]

71. I know. I was all, "Wait. Is this satire?"

[JohnnyRingo]

77. The Santana reference was supposed to sound racist.

Because it was meant to parody people who say "my best friends..."
You left off the part right after when I said, and I quote, "haha".

[betsuni]

61. I turned into Khrushchev on the set of the movie "Can-Can": "The face of humanity is prettier than its backside."

[Wiz Imp]

63. You were not close to the first person here to "pan" the halftime show.

Get over yourself.

[Cirsium]

66. Not a fan

I am not interested much in any type of popular or commercial music. But who cares about my musical tastes?

I thought the show made a powerful social, political and cultural statement and I was deeply moved by that. It was a celebration, a recognition, an acknowledgment.

Stealing from the film Casa Blanca...

I'm no good at being noble, but it doesn't take much to see that my taste in music doesn't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world.

[Duncan Grant]

67. I'll go further; I'd like to pan the NFL.

Bread and circuses, my friends. Bread and circuses…

[MorbidButterflyTat]

68. I am SO RELIEVED

you broke your silence on this matter.

I can sleep tonight.

[beaglelover]

70. I would guess you are not in the age group that was the target market for this halftime show.

Nothing wrong with that. I'm not either. But the days of us truly enjoying a SB halftime show are sadly over. It's the next generations time to shine.

[dpibel]

74. "the first person"?

Apparently you don't spend much time on DU.

[aeromanKC]

79. Not my preferred music either, BUT

Knowing it was putting MAGAt's panties all in a bunch made me enjoy listening to it. AND I also took satisfaction seeing everybody involved enjoying themselves. I also liked the message of inclusion and love not hate.
But yes, the music was meh for me.

[JohnnyRingo]

82. I agree with every word you said.

As I said, watching the halftime show is not going to sell his album to me. I can't differ with the message, and I never did in the OP..
I've read Rolling Stone Magazine since I was in high school in the '60s so I'd heard of him, I just never heard him. Now Ihave.


And I didn't think people read my posts.

[DFW]

90. I feel like I must be living on some far off South Pacific Island with no internet.

Was there some big sports event back there in the States that I should have known about?

[Scrivener7]

91. On Sunday, I had the temerity to ask, "Oh, shoot, is that today?" And the room went silent.

At least I don't ask, "The Superbowl - that's football, right?" anymore.

[Emile]

92. I liked it because it pissed off Trump.

[Justice]

93. It reminded me of Lin Manuel Miranda's broadway play

In The Heights

Excellent.

[obamanut2012]

96. Yes! My wife and I said the same thing

Carnivale!

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

97. Not a big Bad Bunny fan, but if it annoys Trump, I'm all for it.

I thought Ricky Martin was great. I'm partial to singers who actually sing.

[PatSeg]

99. I agree

I like "singing" and melody - not crazy about rap.