A gesture that speaks more than controversies
In the middle of his world tour, Bad Bunny took a break. It wasn’t for an encore or a change of outfit. It was to remember Willie Colón, the salsa legend who died on Saturday at age 75.
The moment, captured on video and already circulating everywhere, occurred in Brazil. In front of a full stadium, the reggaeton artist dedicated a few words to ‘Bad Guy from the Bronx’.
“Today a great legend left who contributed to this beautiful and legendary genre. To tell him on behalf of myself and the nephews, we wish Willie Colón to rest in peace, much strength to his family,”
Bunny said as the audience applauded.
The interesting thing here is the context. Because this is not just a protocol greeting between colleagues. In recent months, Willie Colón had been quite critical of Bad Bunny. I had questioned him on everything from how he manages his numbers on digital platforms to his role as a cultural representative.
Still, Benito was there, publicly recognizing the influence of the trombonist and composer on the new generations.
“As long as it continues to exist, artists like these who are here will keep music and salsa and all the rhythms alive”,
he added before inviting the Brazilian audience to dance.
It’s a gesture that transcends the temporary quarrels of the music business. It speaks of respect for history, for the pillars on which what we hear today is built. Bad Bunny could have completely ignored the issue and no one would have complained to him about anything in the middle of his concert.
But he chose to do it. And in times where everything is content for the algorithm and disputes are aired on social networks without a filter, a gesture like this has more weight than it seems.
In the end, music always ends up uniting what opinions separate. Or at least, that’s what you want to believe when you see a current reggaeton icon paying tribute to a titan of classic salsa.
