I Blame Bad Bunny
He ruined me. And he'll ruin you too if you're not careful.
I’ve been trying to write a serious newsletter and I keep failing.
It’s all Bad Bunny’s fault.
Until two weeks ago, I was a normal person.
But then I started to pre-game for the Super Bowl by listening to Bad Bunny.
And soon those fun songs we danced to at my son’s wedding became familiar tunes. I sang along in my bad Spanish. Danced a little in my living room. Looked up the lyrics in English. (A mixed bag! Some lyrics are touching and some are about touching. Be careful out there!)
Then the Super Bowl arrived and together with my lesbian witch wife, we watched the Devil’s Half-Time Show. (Oh sorry, I was channeling Erika Kirk again. My wife is not a witch.)
But what happened next was not natural.
My small appreciation of Puerto Rican culture became an obsession. I had to stop what I was doing and learn all about the symbolism in the Bad Bunny show.
I started to listen to even more Bad Bunny — and other Latino singers! (Although I already did love me some Rosalia.) I even had to admire Ricky Martin (again) — and then crush out on Pedro Pascal because that man can truly make anybody smile, even those of us who wear the plaid cloth of Familia Lesbiana.
And that’s how this devilishly fun Bad Bunny ruined me.
He reminded me of what life can be like (fun! dancing! drinking!) and what life could be like (unity! appreciation of many cultures! way less bullshit!) — as opposed to whatever this unappetizing meal is that’s currently being served to us in the United States.
And now I want more community.
More fun. More smiles. More love!
Less fighting. Less hate. Less cruelty.
No wonder MAGA wants to stop Bad Bunny. Investigate him. Fine the NFL for showcasing him.
Bad Bunny is clearly dangerous, like love is dangerous. Like joy is contagious. Like community is insidious.
Once the people experience this kind of life that feels so good, they’ll want even more of it.
And then what are we going to do on social media? Be nice to each other? And how is anyone going to make scads of money off hate merch?
Ay. “Mientras uno está vivo/Uno debe ama lo más que pueda.”
Bonus read:
Bonus watch: Around the world, people danced …
