Problema 2 · Inglés PAU Baleares Ordinaria 2026

Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance redefined what it means to be an American patriot

In just over 13 minutes’ worth of music, stars and symbolism, Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny rewrote what it means to be American in a time of strife. For months, conservatives — including the president and other top leaders — have painted him as anti-American. Last night, Bad Bunny asked: “What if I’m the real American?” Bad Bunny — who introduced himself with his real full name, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio — brought the iconography of Puerto Rican culture to his Super Bowl halftime show performance, a joyous and high-energy affair that celebrated the island where he was born and its place in the American story.

The artist did not shy away from overt political symbolism, ending the authentic and confident performance on a note of unity. This emphasis on unity and identity extends beyond his performances. The Puerto Rican rapper recently made history at the Grammys, winning Album of the Year — the first fully Spanish-language record to achieve the Recording Academy’s top honour. During his speech, he said, “We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans”. While the US often uses the word “America” to refer to itself as a single country, many of its neighbours use it for the whole continent. Bad Bunny highlighted this when he spiked a football that read “Together we are America”, before launching into his nostalgic anthem “DtMF,” an acronym for his song “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” (“I Should Have Taken More Photos”). The message was clear: Bad Bunny declared himself an American patriot in the broadest sense, and he does not think this view should be left to chance or unclear definitions.

After playing some of his biggest hits, Bad Bunny stared down the camera and spoke in English for the only time during the performance to say, “God Bless America”. He continued with a list of more than 20 countries in North, Central and South America while dancers trailed him displaying the flags of many of those nations, with the US and Puerto Rican flags most visible directly behind him. The show called back continuously to Puerto Rican culture and also featured many famous ‘backup dancers’, including Jessica Alba, Karol G, Cardi B and Pedro Pascal, and a surprise performance from Ricky Martin, who sang “Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawaii”, a warning about the cost of gentrification.

Bad Bunny made good on his promise that viewers did not need to learn Spanish in order to enjoy his halftime show. It was a dance party with a message, one that was blasted on a screen at Levi’s Stadium as he closed out his set: “The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love”.

Adapted from an article by Alli Rosenbloom, CNN, 09 February 2026.

2. In your own words and based on the ideas from the text, answer TWO of the following three questions (a, b, or c). NO marks are given for personal opinions or responses copied directly from the text. (2 points)

a)

What historic achievement did Bad Bunny accomplish at the Grammy Awards?

b)

How does Bad Bunny interpret the idea of being “American”?

c)

How does the final message displayed on the stadium screen connect to the theme of unity?