Super Bowl 60 featured an epic rematch between two historic teams, the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, in a game of hard-nose running and gritty defense.
Beyond the field of play, Americans tuned in at halftime to watch two different performances: the Super Bowl’s halftime show featuring Bad Bunny, and the All-American Halftime Show featuring Kid Rock. One represented vibrant Puerto Rican culture, and the other American patriotism and pride.
Bad Bunny kicked off his show against the backdrop of a sugarcane field, with background dancers representing farmers working behind him. Starting with a bang, he struck up his hit song, “Tití Me Preguntó,” and began singing entirely in Spanish.
“It was diverse. It differed from every halftime show before it because no one ever speaks in Spanish. So that was really cool,” sophomore Dexter Walker said.
The scene served as a flashback to Puerto Rico’s sugarcane plantations, which served the US when it first became an American territory in the early 1900s. The scenery then transitioned to a Latina household, where a real wedding took place, courtesy of Bad Bunny himself, who had offered the young couple the opportunity to take part.
Then, in a surprise appearance, Lady Gaga took center stage to perform her 2024 hit, ”Die With a Smile,” as party guests danced all around her. Bad Bunny joined in the celebration as well, dancing with the party guests and even doing a salsa duet with Gaga after her song.
Moving on, the scene changed once again to a colorful Puerto Rican neighborhood where Bad Bunny began singing another one of his best songs, ”NUEVAYoL.” Villagers danced with one another to display the beautiful aspects of dance and music that exemplify Latina culture.
A truly heartwarming part of the performance came when Bad Bunny handed his Grammy to a small boy on the side, a sign that he was passing on his legacy to future generations.
“When he handed his Grammy down to the kid, it gave a good message that you can do anything if you put your mind to it,” Walker said.
The scene changed one last time to a set of telephone poles, where he and other dancers swung around to the music of ”El Apagon,” or “The Blackout.” The unique performance was a nod to the failing infrastructure and government neglect the nation is experiencing, as well as a cry for change.
Finally, Bad Bunny exited the stage into a tunnel, with flags of all the American countries carried behind him, before showing a football to the camera that read ”Together we are America.” The message was clear: America isn’t just one belief system or a few states, it’s all cultures and nations from sea to shining sea.
For one of the first times ever, not all Americans were glued to NBC; many switched platforms before the start of the third quarter to watch Turning Point USA’s All-American Halftime Show, seeking an alternative to Bad Bunny’s cultural performance.
“Other halftime shows have shown other cultures, but this one was American, and it influenced my experience because I felt very patriotic,” sophomore Tommy Ruffing said.
The show began with a stirring electric guitar solo of the Star Spangled Banner, before country-rock star Brantley Gilbert rolled into his hit song, ”Real American.” The song served as a reminder of America’s values and freedom.
Gilbert was followed by Gabby Barrett, who sang her two most popular songs, “I Hope” and “The Good Ones.” Next came Lee Brice, who performed ”Country Nowadays,” a representation of America’s dirt-road roots and small-town foundation.
The combination of Barrett’s emotional lyrics and Brice’s down-to-earth music served as an all-around representation of American culture.
“The Kid Rock Halftime Show had multiple different artists singing different kinds of music genres, which represented a lot of what music people in America love,” sophomore rock-lover Grant Waltz said.
The grand finale became clear as Kid Rock himself took center stage and began covering Cody Johnson’s hit, “Til You Can’t.” The song called out to Americans everywhere, telling them to take advantage of the freedom the US offers and chase their dreams, an incredible way to cap off the night.
No matter which performance Americans tuned into for Super Bowl 60, they all experienced a display of culture unparalleled anywhere else. The halftime show is more than just a battle for the Lombardi Trophy; it is a representation of world culture and how those cultures blend together in America’s Game.
