Pretend It’s a Forest

Pretend It’s a Forest – 2/12

Susana Hernández

February 12, 2026

“I thought this was America!” a gentleman yelled at the St. Charles, his irritation and anger radiating with the kind of energy that could only come from one of two valid Super Bowl infractions: a) someone handed him a warm beer, or b) Jadaa’s ran out of wings. But dear readers; the source of his rage wasn’t food or drink. It was the 13-minute halftime performance led by Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga, and the man who not only made me shout, but revealed my age range: Ricky Martin. So what was the issue? The language. A performance largely in Spanish pushed this man (and many others) into full cultural meltdown. Not because it was bad (it was electrifying), but because it didn’t reflect them. It didn’t feel “American enough.” Except—it was. Let’s review: America is a continent. And Puerto Rico, where the lead performer is from, is part of the United States. So technically, if you’re keeping score, this performance checks all the boxes of being American.

Here’s the thing: art (whether it’s a painting, a book, or a halftime show) is not meant to be a mirror. It’s a window. Its role is to nurture the soul, stir the senses, and open new ways of seeing; maybe even make you feel a little uncomfortable. And in the best instances? Enlighten you. That’s the point. What millions witnessed in those 13 minutes wasn’t just a window; it was a wide-open door. One that invited viewers into a world of multilingual storytelling, crafted staging, and a message as clear as it gets: “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.” In plain English. For anyone claiming they “didn’t get it.”

As an individual, I worry about people who have made it this far in life without being exposed to music in another language. As someone with no musical training but endless admiration for the art of sound, I can’t imagine a life where you don’t let music move you; even when you don’t speak the language. So here’s a short list of artists you may never have heard of, but might like, because let’s give everyone the benefit of the doubt and pretend the outrage wasn’t about language, but rather about taste.

Sigur Rós: An experimental post-rock band from Iceland, known for haunting, atmospheric soundscapes. Words need no translation; this is music that translates into pure emotion.

Serge Gainsbourg: The unmistakably French, scandalous, smoky-voiced icon. Can be divisive; mostly if you insist on translation.

Juan Gabriel: A legendary and iconic singer-songwriter from Mexico, whose range goes from powerful ballads and flamboyant performances to rancheras and pop. Literally something for every taste—unless you don’t have any.

Tchaikovsky: A Russian composer with no lyrics to cause irritation; just hopeful doses of dramatic emotion.

Maria Callas: For those unconvinced and needing someone born in the U.S., listen to this Greek-American opera icon born in New York, who mostly sang in Italian. If her voice doesn’t move you, maybe it’s time to get closer to God.

As someone who doesn’t listen to Bad Bunny, and whose presence does not exist in any of my playlist, I can’t deny the level of artistry and effort he brought to that stage. And as much as I would have preferred to hear Ricky Martin perform for 13 full minutes, the world, unfortunately, does not revolve around me. But for now, locals, old-timers, newcomers, tourists, and visitors from other galaxies, let’s pretend that in fact, the only thing more powerful than hate is love; and that this absurd moment in time might somehow guide us into a better timeline… even if these are the very moments that make me sit down and write.

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