After a record-breaking heatwave swept through London, Bad Bunny cranked the temperature up even higher with history-making headline shows at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
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From headlining the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show to becoming the first Latin artist to win Album of the Year at the Grammys with ‘Debí Tirar Más Fotos’, Bad Bunny truly is the man of the moment. The Puerto Rican further etched his name in the history books over the weekend in London as he became the first Latin artist to headline a stadium concert in the United Kingdom.
Even before you stepped into the stadium, the vibe was set by the thirty-minute walk down Seven Sisters Road to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It felt as though the entire Latin population of London had come out to celebrate, with many draped in Colombian, Puerto Rican, Venezuelan and various other flags, while Bad Bunny blasted from pubs and bars along the route.
When Bad Bunny made his entrance in front of 50,000 people, there was a deafening reception, with chants of “Benito!” ringing out across the stadium. He took his time and savoured the rapturous applause before kicking off the party with ‘LA MuDANZA’ and ‘Callaíta’, which shined a spotlight on traditional Puerto Rican music on one of the biggest stages in the UK.
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During his memorable Super Bowl performance, Bad Bunny said: “The only thing stronger than hate is love.” This philosophy seeps into every aspect of his artistry, including live performances. People were salsa dancing to ‘BAILE INoLVIDABLE’ in the aisles and embracing each other as Bad Bunny created a feeling of unity from the moment he stepped onto the stage.
One of the early highlights was ‘NUEVAYoL’, as it encapsulated the infectious energy of the opening section. This all emanated from Bad Bunny’s showmanship as he glided effortlessly across the stage with a swagger and aura that showed he was made for the biggest stages. The cherry on top was the live band, who elevated the track with a deeper level of authenticity and brought the salsa sound to the forefront with congas and trumpets. All the while, the natural rhythms and energy of the song had everyone on their feet dancing as fireworks and pyrotechnics erupted around the stadium.
Despite being held in one of the biggest stadiums in the UK, Bad Bunny was able to create an intimate setting with his secondary stage, ‘La Casita’, a reproduction of a traditional Puerto Rican house. It felt as though the artist was hosting a huge house party, and everyone in the stadium was invited.
The energy was cranked up as Bad Bunny performed reggaeton and Latin trap songs such as ‘Tití Me Preguntó’ and ‘VOY A LLeVARTE PA PR’.
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As the genres switched, so did the energy in the crowd. From dancing together, fans were now jumping and vibing to hits such as ‘MONACO’ and ‘Me Porto Bonito’, while strobe lights turned Tottenham Hotspur Stadium into a huge nightclub.
Despite how tiring it must have been to dance and jump around non-stop for two hours in the humidity, the London crowd gave it their all for the final two songs – ‘DtMF’, a huge hit for the Puerto Rican with over 1.91 billion streams on Spotify alone – and ‘EoO’.
‘DtMF’ is a moving song that pays homage to the rich culture and traditions of Puerto Rican music. It ended with a heartwarming moment as Bad Bunny embraced his band in a huddle while fireworks lit up the sky.
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Words: Adam Davidson
Photography: Chloe Newman
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