0
Share on bsky
I recently said to myself, “It seems what the world needs in these trying times is yet one more take on Bad Bunny and the Super Bowl.”
I don’t know any Bad Bunny songs. All I know is that during the NBA playoffs, he often sat courtside with other celebrities, and I watched “Happy Gilmore 2” with my sons last year.
I could have looked up or played a Bad Bunny song over the last several weeks, but I didn’t. I’m sure a lot of the loud naysayers didn’t either.
I do not believe the NFL picked Bad Bunny simply because he is one of the most streamed artists in the world (Spotify’s top global artist four different years), and it would seem, neither do the loud objectors. I suppose we can all agree he was picked for reasons beyond being one of the most important artists of our time—which in and of itself is worth noting.
What if Bad Bunny was picked for the halftime performance because the powers that be know how to predictably set off constant little cultural wars, on a loop, over and over?
They have a system, a formula to keep us engaged, clicking, angry, and riled up. The more we engage, comment on posts, get mad at each other—the larger their profits. Shallow, meaningless cultural discord seems to be what sells these days.
This time around, we even get an alternative halftime performance for more fat cats, PACs, special interest groups, and a bunch of other rich people that want to exploit us. Well played, NFL and Turning Point USA.
The angrier we get, the bigger their gluttonous yachts and more heinous their efforts to divide us.
Most people seem to look to the Prince halftime show back in 2007 as the pinnacle of Super Bowl halftime shows. Even Fox News called it “epic” at the time.
Prince was an artist who also stood on the Grammy’s stage and inserted political commentary, stating “Black lives still matter.” He was a boundary pusher. He wore dresses (and if I dare say, wore them well). He wore ass-less pants to the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards.
Prince also loved Minneapolis, and Minneapolis loved, and still loves, Prince. Do you suppose Prince, or the artist formerly known as, if alive today, would be silent about what’s going on in his beloved community? I doubt it.
When Prince was announced as the halftime performer in 2007, coming off the scandalous Janet Jackson/Justin Timberlake wardrobe malfunction, do you suppose there were people who thought it should be someone else? Perhaps a country singer? Someone who didn’t wear dresses? Someone whiter? Someone not known for their political opinions or social commentary?
I’m going to say, predictably, yes. Prince was, inherently, a risk. That’s who he was.
Do we remember the anti-Prince Super Bowl crowd? Those voices and objectors? Those who thought Prince should stay silent on cultural or political issues, who didn’t like his ass showing on stage, or didn’t like that he was gender fluid? No. What we remember is that man, standing on that stage, with millions all over the world watching as he belted out “Purple Rain” live with the rain falling on him. It was iconic.
Prince is beyond a debate. He is an American icon. And what we remember, collectively—as Americans, as lovers of this tradition, of the Super Bowl and who we are—is his talent, his beauty, his creativity, and his bravery. And that epic shared moment in time.
We don’t think about those factions, the objectors or pearl-clutchers. In the face of old, grouchy, curmudgeon muppet hecklers in the balcony, it’s the artists who stand out and take risks. The lives that will be remembered are of those who dared to drown out the noise and authentically evolve over decades and share with us their talent and emotions.
Look, I still have Kid Rock songs on my playlist. I saw him in concert twice, also epic, huge experiences. Once in the front row on a hot summer night in my early 20s with an American flag bandana on my head in a skimpy halter top, and years later in my 40s as a VIP on New Year’s Eve. Those are fantastic memories.
But in 2026, are there honestly Kid Rock fans who are engaged with him as an artist because of his new albums or musical craft? Except for his two big songs (admittedly classics) and maybe the Sheryl Crow duet (a great karaoke song), Kid Rock is now much more of a political statement than he is an artist or relevant musician. I think we can all agree on this. MAGA is his identity, which is fine. But his persona is not about his art or contributions to a greater body of rock music.
He is who he is—a voice and a focal point for MAGA.
It is objectively ironic to tune out an actively creating artist (like him or not) for being too woke, too political, too Spanish-speaking, and instead watch one who defines himself almost entirely by politics. What a cerebral jump—but one that no doubt has been masterminded by the profiteers who are laughing all the way to the bank. It’s raw exploitation.
We are like puppets and they are our puppeteers. It’s not about music or the Super Bowl halftime show. It’s about egos, engagement, division, and profit.
My favorite halftime show was in 2022, when Snoop Dog, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar performed. When 50 Cent unexpectedly popped up on stage, I literally screamed. My girlfriends were all texting each other. We talked about it for weeks.
I thought it was wonderful. A lot of people didn’t like that choice. But that’s how it works—the beauty of music, of art, of America is that we’re not one homogeneous boring script. I have no idea if I’ll like the Bad Bunny halftime show, but I know Bad Bunny will be remembered far, far beyond those who are enraged that he exists.
And I know that because most of our greatest artists—be it in music, film, painting, or literature—were boundary pushers who lived much bigger lives and brought us more joy and hope than the constant noise of their critics. Particularly the critics who never even bothered to listen.
~
Read 2 comments and reply