Bad Bunny brought storytelling and symbolism centerstage for his Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show set on Sunday (Feb. 8), which saw him joined by Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin for surprise performances.
During his performance of “El Apagón,” which translates to “The Blackout,” Bad Bunny and several backup dancers climbed on top of electricity poles as they sparked and smoked. It was a striking moment, but it’s not just an interesting visual, because there’s a meaning behind the imagery too.
The electricity poles were a reference to the unreliable power grid in his home of Puerto Rico, which suffers from frequent blackouts. Experts have agreed that the power grid on the island, which has suffered damage from hurricanes and other extreme weather, needs to be modernized, and the the song reiterates how proud Bad Bunny is of his home despite the infrastructure.
Last year, the Trump Administration canceled $185 million that was to be used to improve Puerto Rico’s power grid. As much as 80 percent of the island’s distribution and transmission lines were wiped out by Hurricane Maria in 2017, while Hurricane Fiona in 2022 also resulted in over 80 percent of the population losing power. A bill in 2022 was passed in Congress to deliver funds intended to help rebuild the energy infrastructure on the island, but as soon as Trump took office again in 2024, most of the funding was vetoed.