|
 Latin artists Bad Bunny and J Balvin, in addition to Lopez's
11-year-old daughter, appeared as surprise guests in an
extravaganza that signaled its Latin American influences from
the onset, when Shakira greeted the stadium audience in Spanish
with "Hola, Miami."
The performance also made a subtle nod to the current political
climate in the United States. One sequence in the show featured
children in illuminated pods that looked like cages. It was an
apparent reference to U.S. immigration enforcement under
President Donald Trump that put mostly Latin American boys and
girls in holding cells, a practice that caused public outcry.
Dressed in a sequined, ruby-red outfit with matching boots,
Shakira led her team of dancers through snippets of hits such as
"Whenever, Wherever" and "Hips Don't Lie." She was joined on
stage by Puerto Rico's Bad Bunny before giving way to J. Lo.
Lopez made her entrance in black leather and studs on a stage
set resembling the top of the Empire State Building, as "Jenny
from the Block" proudly announced she was from the Bronx, New
York.
The 12-minute halftime show, along with commercials, has become
a popular feature of the Super Bowl spectacle on par with the
game, which draws some 100 million television viewers in the
United States.
In Miami, a majority Latino city, where the Kansas City Chiefs
defeated the San Francisco 49ers for the National Football
League championship, the backgrounds of the two headliners were
both women and Latina, two of the demographics the National
Football League wants to attract.
J. Lo, a Bronx-born child of Puerto Rican parents, rose from
humble roots to become an international star of Hollywood movies
and popular music with her own fashion and fragrance lines.
As her set progressed, she changed in a wink into a lacy body
suit that highlighted a fit, youthful appearance belying the
singer's 50 years.
Sharing stage with Colombia's J Balvin, J. Lo strutted to hits
such as "On the Floor," and showed off the pole-dancing skills
she honed for the 2019 movie "Hustlers."
The camera then panned the "children in cages" motif that
blended into an appearance of a choir led by Emme Maribel Muņiz,
Lopez's daughter with her ex-husband, singer Marc Anthony.
[to top of second column] |
Next came a mash-up of the Lopez hit "Let's Get Loud" with Bruce
Springsteen's "Born in the USA," during which Lopez unfurled a
rectangular boa with the U.S. flag on one side and the Puerto Rican
flag on the other.
It was a reminder that Puerto Ricans - hit by a Category 5 hurricane
in 2017 and more recently set back by a series of earthquakes - are
Americans, too.
Shakira, 43, who is from Barranquilla, Colombia, had let it be known
in the build up to the show that she sympathized with Latinos in the
United States, where anti-immigration rhetoric has become more open
in recent years.
"Latinos are going through a difficult time in the U.S. right now,
and I think it's very important for us to convey a message of
unity," Shakira told reporters on Thursday.
This year's Super Bowl broke ground for women in high places,
including in the ownership of both teams (Denise York of the 49ers
and Norma Hunt of the Chiefs), and on the sidelines, where San
Francisco's offensive assistant Katie Sowers became the first woman
to coach in a Super Bowl. [nL8N2A10GS]
The Super Bowl halftime once featured university marching bands but
has evolved into a showcase for A-list talent, including Michael
Jackson, the Rolling Stones, Madonna and Lady Gaga.
One of the more notable performances came in 2004 when Justin
Timberlake tugged on Janet Jackson's top, briefly exposing a breast
adorned with a nipple shield. The U.S. Federal Communications
Commission sought to fine broadcaster CBS $550,000 for indecency
over the incident, which Timberlake famously dubbed a "wardrobe
malfunction," but the fine was overturned in the courts.
(Reporting by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Frank McGurty and Leslie
Adler)
[Š 2020 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2020 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|
