I Wanted to Know What He Was Saying

      Bad Bunny seemed an interesting—talented, purposeful, estimable—fellow. I was told his inclinations are progressive, and there were hints of that in the performance.

I am pleased Puerto Rican culture, Latin American culture, was given that moment in the spotlight. I am pleased there is always a Spanish language feed of the Super Bowl, on Telemundo.  And, for the record, I hate Trump and his administration and their xenophobia and racism as much as the rest of us do.

      But lyrics are a big part of popular music, maybe even a bigger part of rap music. And, for the record, I’m a lyrics guy.

      Why was I—along with the rest of the 86 percent or so of the Super Bowl audience who do not understand much Spanish—denied any information on what Mr. Bad Bunny was saying last night in those presumably interesting songs? Would one want to listen to Bob Dylan or Kendrick Lamar without understanding almost all of what they were saying?

      When I watch a film by Luis Bunuel or Pedro Almodóvar in Spanish, I am gifted with subtitles. Translation is not normally considered condescension. Even the opera, which is supposed to be all about the music, has supertitles.

      I am told subtitles for Bad Bunny were available through something called Apple Music Sing. I was not made aware of that last night.

      My appreciation of the performance would have been considerably greater last night if I knew what he was saying.