This Sunday will mark Bad Bunny‘s return to the halftime show stage. (In 2020, he rapped a verse from “I Like It,” which he recorded with Cardi B and J Balvin, and sang a mash-up of his “Callaita” with Shakira’s “Chantaje” during her Super Bowl LIV halftime show.)
But on Feb. 8, when Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio steps onto the most important global stage for any artist for the second time — a week after his album of the year Grammy win, no less — there is certainty that Spanish will be the primary language, political statements will be made and pride will be on full display. Underscoring a global cultural shift happening around Latin music, Bad Bunny’s winning album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos, his most meaningful work to this day, celebrated Puerto Rican and Latino culture as he has done throughout his career. Bunny’s authenticity is precisely what has audiences intrigued about what he’ll bring to the Super Bowl stage.
Predictions are being made on who he will bring on stage, with Drake, Jennifer Lopez, J Balvin, Shakira, Cardi B, Marc Anthony, Daddy Yankee and El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico being the most probable. Others feel that Travis Scott, Dua Lipa, Rosalía or Sofía Vergara could make an appearance.
The songs from his repertoire we predict will be on his setlist are selected based on the size of the hits, past collaborators, what will best represent Puerto Rico globally and observations about how he operates. Within the Latin community, bets for which song will open his show have been placed on “Titi Me Preguntó,” “Baile Inolvidable,” “NUEVAYoL,” “Monaco” and “La Mudanza.”
“Titi Me Preguntó”
A cult favorite among zillennials because it playfully tells a story that’s instantly relatable to almost every Latino kid with a nosy aunt, the song nods to Dominican culture with dembow, bachata and other Caribbean rhythms. “Titi Me Preguntó si tengo muchas novias” means “Aunty asked me if I have a lot of girlfriends,” a question that is inevitably followed by unsolicited relationship advice.
“Me Porto Bonito”
One of Benito’s most iconic lines — “Tu no eres bebecita, tu eres bebesota,” meaning, “you’re not just a babe, you’re a mega babe” — paired with an irresistible rhythm, went viral on social media platforms. The song hit No. 6 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and later displaced “Despacito” as the most-streamed Latin track on Spotify, with over 1.6 billion plays.
“Yo Perreo Sola”
This anthem of female empowerment and the LGBTQ community celebrates a woman’s autonomy on the dance floor, flipping the script on traditional reggaetón and Latin trap tracks that often rely on lyrics many consider degrading towards women. Bad Bunny, who has openly affirmed his support for queer expression and respect for women, could integrate this song into the performance as his way of honoring them.
“Mónaco”
In the song, he describes the lifestyle of a rich man, full of yachts, fast cars and VIPs, while dismissing those who criticize his talent or question how far he has come. “Mónaco” may not be about the country, but rather celebrates Bad Bunny’s rise to the top, showcasing his wealth, influence and status in the music industry, proving that the haters couldn’t stop him.
“Safaera”
The song is one of the artist’s most high-energy tracks, with unpredictable beat shifts and an infamous phrase (“Mami, que tú quieres, aquí llegó tu tiburón,” which means “Mami, what do you want? Your shark is here”) that sparked a massive dance meme, the #Safaerachallenge, on social media during the pandemic. The song’s sampling of early 2000s reggaeton classics made it an instant hit at a time when the artist was beginning to solidify as a highly influential figure in Latin music.
“I Like It”
While performing at the Super Bowl LIV halftime show with Shakira, Bad Bunny delivered his verse from the song, his most famous crossover hit in the U.S, originally recorded with Cardi B and J Balvin. Should he perform “I Like It” at the Super Bowl, fans feel this time he would invite Cardi and Balvin on stage for both Dominican and Colombian representation.
“El Apagón”
Apagón means blackout. The song, which features Puerto Rico’s ongoing power outages, talks about how life on the island can be beautiful yet challenging. It has become an anthem for Puerto Ricans who choose to stay despite the hardships. Performing this would be an act of cultural and political activism. Most importantly, he includes a phrase that the Latino community loves, which translates to: “Now everyone wants to be Latino, but they lack seasoning, flavor and soul.”
“La Mudanza”
Given the urgency of the topic of migration, it makes sense that “La Mudanza,” which translates to “The Move,” would be included in the setlist. The story resonates with the millions of Puerto Ricans who have left their home on the island to seek a better future, yet also foregrounds the resilience of the people who then face gentrification, cultural erasure and displacement. With the ICE raids targeting Latino communities, the song is an anthem that puts a human face to the trials families face while searching for their sense of belonging.
“NUEVAYoL”
The song pays homage to those who did leave and migrated to New York, nodding to the salsa genre born in Spanish Harlem (thanks to the Cuban and Puerto Rican diaspora), and kicking off with a sample of “Un Verano en Nueva York” by the legendary El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, who’s predicted to guest-perform live on that Super Bowl stage.
“Baile Inolvidable”
The Puerto Rican artist could include “Baile Inolvidable,” or “Unforgettable Dance,” which tips the hat to a significant Bad Bunny genre, salsa. The song is also featured in the official Apple Music Super Bowl halftime show trailer with the tagline, “February 8, the world will dance,” raising speculation that it might be the main centerpiece of his performance.
“DTMF”
Short for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” or “I should have taken more photos,” the award-winning “DTMF” is the cornerstone of Bad Bunny’s latest musical evolution. A nostalgic anthem that reminds people to capture the present moment before it slips away, it also serves as a tribute to Puerto Rico, and is laden with his regret for not better documenting the island’s heritage before it faced its current wave of cultural and economic displacement.
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