What to anticipate from Dangerous Bunny’s Tremendous Bowl halftime present? Dancing, tradition and a facet of politics

[ad_1] It’s 4 days till Puerto Rican celebrity Dangerous Bunny takes to one of many greatest levels in music — the NFL Tremendous Bowl halftime present.

Dangerous Bunny, the "King of Latin Lure" and one of many greatest music artists on the planet, stayed tight-lipped on Thursday about what followers may be capable of count on throughout the upcoming efficiency, dodging a query about whether or not or not he may deliver out any musical company.

However he did promise a superb time.

"I do know that the world goes to be comfortable this Sunday. And they'll have enjoyable, and they'll dance," stated the 31-year-old singer, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio.

He urged viewers at a pre-Tremendous Bowl information convention to not fear about something besides practising their dance strikes forward of the large day.

"I do not wish to give any spoilers. It will be enjoyable," he stated.

However past the music and the dancing, tradition battle commentary has swirled across the determination to provide Dangerous Bunny the halftime present for the reason that announcement was made in September.

That rhetoric has stepped up since final weekend’s Grammy Awards, the place the singer used the platform to criticize the Trump administration's immigration crackdown within the U.S., led partly by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

WATCH | Dangerous Bunny sounds off on Trump's immigration coverage at Grammys: Dangerous Bunny sounds off on Trump’s immigration coverage at Grammys

Puerto Rican musician Dangerous Bunny was an enormous winner at this yr’s Grammy Awards and used the chance to talk out in opposition to U.S. President Donald Trump’s immigration insurance policies. After accepting the Grammy for finest música urbana album on Sunday for DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS — which later made historical past as the primary Spanish-language album to win album of the yr — Dangerous Bunny began his speech with the phrases: "Earlier than I say due to God, I’m gonna say ICE out."

After rousing applause, the singer added: "We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We're people and we're Individuals."

Elevated immigration enforcement within the U.S. resulted within the deaths of two U.S. residents — Renee Good and Alex Pretti — in Minnesota final month.

Whereas different stars together with Billie Eilish and Olivia Dean additionally used their stage time to both criticize the immigration crackdown or defend immigrants, Dangerous Bunny’s feedback had been a number of the most direct.

When requested about the opportunity of politics taking part in a task at halftime on Sunday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell stated he anticipated Dangerous Bunny would use the large platform to deliver the nation collectively.

"Dangerous Bunny … is among the nice artists on the planet and that’s one of many causes we selected him. However the different motive is he understood the platform he was on, and that this platform is used to unite folks," Goodell stated at a Monday information convention.

"I feel Dangerous Bunny understands that and I feel he’ll have a fantastic efficiency."

<img loading="lazy" alt="a man in a black tuxedo poses with a straight face on a red carpet" srcset="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/4dfccecf-7d95-436c-9405-a1481efea9df,1770311444392/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C4089%2C2640%29%3BResize%3D796 796w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/4dfccecf-7d95-436c-9405-a1481efea9df,1770311444392/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C4089%2C2640%29%3BResize%3D1083 1083w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/4dfccecf-7d95-436c-9405-a1481efea9df,1770311444392/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C4089%2C2640%29%3BResize%3D1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 762px) calc(100vw - 32px),730px" src="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/4dfccecf-7d95-436c-9405-a1481efea9df,1770311444392/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C4089%2C2640%29%3B" style="aspect-ratio:1.5488636363636363" data-cy="image-img"/> Dangerous Bunny on the pink carpet on the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday. (Mario Anzuoni/Reuters) Benjamin Tausig, a professor at Stony Brook College who research protest music, says he expects any political statements on the large sport to be extra delicate than these on the Grammys.

He says the open-ended acceptance speech format of the awards present, the place celebrities have a couple of minutes to say no matter they like in entrance of an viewers of their friends, naturally attracts extra political statements.

The NFL tightly scripts and manages halftime present performances with a view to stop probably polarizing commentary, Tausig stated.

"On the Tremendous Bowl, [artists] cannot be specific, however they are often implicit," he stated. "And I wager that Dangerous Bunny will discover some methods to do this."

Final yr’s efficiency by Kendrick Lamar is an ideal instance, he says. The Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper was "delicate and intelligent" in his commentary about how the U.S. treats its Black residents, Tausig stated, which allowed him to drag it off.

<img loading="lazy" alt="a man in a letterman jacket raps into a microphone on a stage, while dancers in white, red and blue outfits stand around him in a formation made to look like an american flag" srcset="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/5d6b7716-0775-4672-b1be-d9c26d34a0b7,1770321820922/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C6000%2C4000%29%3BResize%3D796 796w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/5d6b7716-0775-4672-b1be-d9c26d34a0b7,1770321820922/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C6000%2C4000%29%3BResize%3D1083 1083w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/5d6b7716-0775-4672-b1be-d9c26d34a0b7,1770321820922/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C6000%2C4000%29%3BResize%3D1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 762px) calc(100vw - 32px),730px" src="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/5d6b7716-0775-4672-b1be-d9c26d34a0b7,1770321820922/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C6000%2C4000%29%3B" style="aspect-ratio:1.5" data-cy="image-img"/> Kendrick Lamar performs ultimately yr's Tremendous Bowl halftime present. One commentator says Lamar's implicit political message within the efficiency labored as a result of it was subtly and artfully finished. (Brian Snyder/Reuters) Politics already in play No matter occurs this weekend, Dangerous Bunny's efficiency has already taken on a political dimension.

These on the political proper panned the selection to have Dangerous Bunny carry out, with some going after his lack of English songs. Others stated he was a "large Trump hater" and "anti-ICE activist," whereas the U.S. president himself stated the selection was "completely ridiculous."

Dangerous Bunny beforehand criticized Trump’s response to Hurricane Maria, which devastated Puerto Rico, and seemingly took pictures on the president within the music video for his music NUEVAYoL, through which a Trump-esque voice may be heard on a radio apologizing to immigrants.

That is Dangerous Bunny.He was simply introduced because the 2026 Tremendous Bowl halftime present.- Huge Trump hater- Anti-ICE activist- No songs in EnglishHe even canceled his whole U.S. tour for that reason: “F***ing ICE could possibly be exterior my live performance. And it’s one thing that we had been… pic.twitter.com/11KvuSWnEH

—bennyjohnson The artist additionally opted for a 30-show residency in Puerto Rico reasonably than a tour of the U.S. mainland, partly as a result of fears that "ICE could possibly be exterior" his concert events trying to detain followers.

Since Dangerous Bunny accepted the gig on the Tremendous Bowl, which is being held at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., U.S. secretary of Homeland Safety Kristi Noem informed right-wing podcaster Benny Johnson that ICE can be on the sport participating in legislation enforcement.

NFL officers stated this week that ICE wouldn't, the truth is, be one of many federal companies answerable for safety on sport day, however native residents reportedly aren’t satisfied and stay involved.

LISTEN | What does the top of Dangerous Bunny's residency imply for Puerto Rico?: Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud 24:59 What does the top of Dangerous Bunny's residency imply for Puerto Rico? And a brand new Fela Kuti graphic novel

In protest, the right-wing advocacy group Turning Level USA is internet hosting its personal "All-American Half-time Present" on Sunday. Headlined by Child Rock and that includes performances from a handful of nation artists, the present is being billed as a celebration of "religion, household and freedom."

"[Bad Bunny] stated he is having a dance celebration, sporting a gown, and singing in Spanish? Cool. We plan to play nice songs for people who love America," Child Rock stated.

'Every thing he does' is political: music critic Past the tradition battle fray, freelance music critic Reanna Cruz says Dangerous Bunny taking the Tremendous Bowl stage sends a message due to what the artist means to the Latino group.

<img loading="lazy" alt="a man with dark hair smiles at the camera and holds up tshirts on hangers with designs of the puerto rican star on one, and the number 10 and the singer's name on the other" srcset="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/8673e4da-6620-4879-9798-47ade7737099,1770308770211/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C4303%2C2869%29%3BResize%3D796 796w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/8673e4da-6620-4879-9798-47ade7737099,1770308770211/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C4303%2C2869%29%3BResize%3D1083 1083w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/8673e4da-6620-4879-9798-47ade7737099,1770308770211/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C4303%2C2869%29%3BResize%3D1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 762px) calc(100vw - 32px),730px" src="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/8673e4da-6620-4879-9798-47ade7737099,1770308770211/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C4303%2C2869%29%3B" style="aspect-ratio:1.4998257232485186" data-cy="image-img"/> A vendor promoting Dangerous Bunny-themed T-shirts exterior a live performance by the singer on the Atanasio Girardot Stadium in Medellin, Colombia, on Jan. 23. (Juan David Duque/Reuters) The celebrity is about to make historical past if he performs the set totally in Spanish, as anticipated. He’s sung solely in Spanish (spare just a few English phrases or phrases right here and there) throughout all six of his studio albums — a uncommon feat, Cruz says, as many different Spanish-language artists have switched to English with a view to attraction to a wider, mainstream viewers.

(If you wish to brush up in your Spanish earlier than Sunday, Duolingo has decoded a number of the star’s hits with "Dangerous Bunny 101.")

Dangerous Bunny additionally incorporates sounds from lesser recognized Puerto Rican folks genres and sings about points plaguing his house island, which has made him a logo for the Latino group, and made his music inherently political, Cruz argues.

"All of this — who he's as an individual and the ethos that he has round movie star and supporting his group — make all the pieces he does political," Cruz stated. "The truth that he has that platform within the first place is decidedly essential and a message in its personal proper."