The Puerto Rican star’s vision of American identity moved beyond colonial tropes to span an entire hemisphere

By now, many of us have a favorite part of Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl half-time performance. It’s a dense, rich set that invites rewatching to take in every thoughtful, exuberant detail – even though it’s barely 14 minutes long.

My most beloved part occurs a little more than nine minutes into the homage, when the cuatro puertorriqueño appears. The stringed instrument has its own moment in the spotlight, shown in the talented hands of the cuatrista José Eduardo Santana just before Ricky Martin performs.

Puerto Rican musician transformed high street fashion into a symbol of cultural power and accessibility

• Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl half-time show review – a thrilling ode to Boricua joy

Of the many cultural flashpoints in Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl half-time performance on Sunday, one that few observers saw coming was his decision to wear two outfits by the Spanish high street brand Zara.

As the most-watched event on US television, the Super Bowl half-time show is a marketing moment as much as a musical one. From Rihanna’s pregnancy reveal to Kendrick Lamar’s show-stealing jeans, the 13-minute showcase has long doubled as a luxury fashion parade.