Channeling Bad Bunny as a DBT Skill: Validation, Belonging, and Representation

It’s almost Super Bowl time, and I have been counting down the days! We know who the teams are now, but we’ve known about the TRUE meaning of the Super Bowl for months… If you do not know me, I’m Shaelene, and I am the proud owner of DBT of South Jersey. I am also Puerto Rican, and a huge fan of this year’s headliner, Bad Bunny!

Fun Fact: Bad Bunny performed at Superbowl in 2020 with J-Lo and Shakira, but not as a headliner.

Unpacking Bad Bunny’s Music: Stories and Emotion

About a year ago, Bad Bunny’s latest album, “Debir Tirar Mas Fotos” (translation: I should’ve taken more photos) was released, and though I was excited to hear new music, I really had no idea what I was in for. I happened to be on a work trip, and started consuming the album on the flight, in the hotel room, and during workouts on the trip. I found myself being pulled in by the music, the life of it, and the lyrics…the stories they held. I started watching interviews where he spoke about the album, and suddenly it became more emotional.

I found myself sending songs to family members, “make sure Grandma listens to this one!” and friends of mine, “Oh my GOD, but have you heard this one yet?” I was tearful listening to some songs, while with others, it seemed I could not physically stay still while listening.

One of those friends was Jonathan Martinez, another therapist here at DBT of South Jersey. Jonathan is one of the few people I know (outside of my family) who is also Puerto Rican and was a fan of Bad Bunny. We texted GIFs to each other as we processed various songs. I specifically remember getting one that looked like this one:

Political Validation in Spanish: A Voice for the Marginalized

That sentiment carried throughout last year, me talking to anyone who would listen about Bad Bunny’s music. I heard the freestyle, never officially released track Compositor Del AÑO, and was beyond impressed at his ability to rap politically, in Spanish, in a way that felt so validating to hear. To see someone in the spotlight rapping about the rights of Immigrants, Black Lives Matter, and so many other crucial topics that are directly related to the safety and mental health of not just people in America, but people all over the world. When people’s identities are politicized, their nervous systems pay the price through chronic vigilance, fear, and grief. It felt brave, courageous, and validating for me to hear.

The Power of Representation: Bad Bunny’s Halftime Moment

When the announcement of him being the halftime headliner came, I cried. I wasn’t expecting that. While I’m a big fan, it still felt surprising to be so filled with emotion over it, but in reflection, it makes sense. I’ve lived a big part of my life trying to fit in with a certain standard when it comes to professionalism in the workplace, and much of that canceled out who I really am at my core. Being loud and excitable, speaking up when something is not ok-and most of all, anything associated with being Puerto Rican or Hispanic. While I have gotten better at resting in the safety of being myself as a business owner, I also have parts of me that still struggle with it.

This is all on top of what is happening to Hispanics, immigrants in America. I’ve had conversations with family members about my own safety despite having been born a US citizen- solely because I’m a brown girl. When I saw that Bad Bunny was headlining, the emotion came from the representation. Representation validates and affirms the existence of people who need it. In this scenario, Bad Bunny isn’t just being seen and celebrated as a Puerto Rican; he’s celebrating Hispanics and their culture on a global level. It’s really beautiful when you think about it.

How Bad Bunny’s Music is a DBT Skill

In DBT, we teach validation as an essential skill for being in relationship with others. Validation (being seen, understood, and reflected back accurately) is not a bonus, but a core part of emotional regulation. For myself and so many others, Bad Bunny’s music functions as a DBT skill: it offers cultural validation , belonging, and nervous system regulation all at once.

Beyond the Music: Records, Tours, and Philanthropy

Did you know that Bad Bunny was the most-streamed musician on Spotify in the world for four years? He also has several record-breaking stats, including the first Spanish album to be on the Billboard 100. Think about that: in the history of music, this was only done in English! He has also taken home a few Grammys, with his album Un Verano Sin ti (translation: a summer without you-meant to be listened to as a playlist for a day at the beach, according to Benito!)-being the first Spanish-language album to be nominated for a general (not Spanish-specific) category.

He is currently on a highly successful world tour, skipping the United States in efforts to protect his attendees from ICE raids. He hosted a month-long residency of shows in Puerto Rico, giving it an economic boost it desperately needed. He also has a foundation called Good Bunny, which supports youth in Puerto Rico in sports, arts, and music.

Though, of course, not everyone is embracing a Spanish-speaking headliner, Bad Bunny’s intention for the 8th of February is that the world will dance (el mundo bailará).

I really hope that when watching the Super Bowl, you do just that.

-Shaelene

Super Bowl Prep: Shaelene and Jonathan’s Bad Bunny Song Picks

PS: Looking to do some “prep” work before the show? Here are suggested songs from Shaelene and Jonathan:

Shaelene’s picks:

NUEVAYol: A song that samples an original PR favorite from legendary salseros El Gran Combo and describes a summer day in NY back in the day. The video is another political statement representing a moment in history where Puerto Rican nationalists put the flag on the Statue of Liberty to protest the colonialism of Puerto Rico.
Cafe Con Ron: Celebrates some of what Puerto Rico is known for: coffee and rum! A party song that invites everyone to join in-It also gets my 92-year-old grandmother up and dancing, so who can say no to that?
Neverita: A summery vibes song that hits about wanting the summer love to last and return, only to have your heart put in a little fridge! It’s a bop.
Tití Me Preguntó: Probably the song that most people have been trying to learn in preparation for the Super Bowl on the internet, which has been giving me a lot of joy! You know that family member (in this case, his Tití-his aunt) is always in your business, asking when you’re getting married? This song is his response.
Turista: A beautiful song about a relationship that felt like a tourist who only saw the good parts of him during a relationship. Likely too chill for the superbowl but I’m here for a surprise!
Efecto: Another bop that describes a relationship as a drug, hitting so hard that it messes everything up in his life, and yet it feels perfect.

Jonathan’s picks:

Ojitos lindos: Expresses love for a special person, rhythmic and slow (biased as it’s my wedding song)
El Apagon: Strong amounts of pride for culture/heritage without feeling sorry for it
Debi Tirar Mas Fotos: Captures the sentiment of life being fleeting, and we should spend it as much as possible creating love and memories with those who matter
Baile Inolvidable: Again love song expressing longing for the partner who was unforgettable. Incorporates salsa, evoking a mixture of sadness and longing blended with a call to flow across a dance floor
Otro Atardecer: Evokes the capturing of a beautiful, fleeting moment like a sunset. Dreamy sounds. (Also likely Shaelene’s favorite song, reminding her of the moment where the weather is perfect and your hand is out of the passenger seat window, riding the waves of the breeze).

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Other Services Offered at DBT of South Jersey

At DBT of South Jersey, we offer a wide range of therapeutic services to support your mental health journey. Specializing in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), we help individuals manage intense emotions, build healthy relationships, and develop effective coping strategies. In addition to supporting you with DBT, we provide individual counseling, therapy for teens and children, trauma therapy, therapy for OCD and anxiety, therapy for anxiety, sadness, and self-doubt, as well as couples and family therapy. We are also proud to offer LGBTQIA+ affirmative therapy, veterans services, holistic healing, Reiki, and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) to help clients heal from trauma and emotional distress. Whether you’re navigating personal challenges or looking to enhance your well-being, our compassionate team of expert therapists is here to help you create the life you deserve.

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