How Disco Explains The Bad Bunny Controversy
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show caused outcry, but did you know that this isn’t a new phenomenon? Taking a look back at the backlash against disco music and Disco Demolition Night in 1979, we can see a pattern of dance music becoming the sight of political controversy. From jazz to disco to reggaeton, we can see a blueprint for what’s happening today.
Featuring Katelina “La Gata” Eccleston: Reggaeton Historian & Founder, Perreo 101 https://www.reggaetonconlagata.com/
Welcome to our guest host Lucia Sarmiento!
https://www.youtube.com/@UC3mi834W_00venU2ZuEeVGw
If you are interested in learning more about disco history, check out our 4-on-the-Floor episode!
https://youtu.be/JtnXaIz0bSc
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We like music. You like music. Let’s break it down. Sound Field is a PBS Digital Studios web series produced by Twin Cities PBS. #SoundFieldPBS
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@Simonjose7258
March 8, 2026 at 11:45 pm
This should have more views
@Directorkey718
March 8, 2026 at 11:45 pm
I am Panamanian and I want to THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING PANAMA! People usually love to leave us out of the reggaeton origin and journey.
@laexploradoraaaXD
March 8, 2026 at 11:45 pm
Love hearing La Gata talk about reggaeton!
@Luvenia-p8l
March 8, 2026 at 11:45 pm
IT'S NOT SUCH A RECORD BREAKING DEAL WHEN YOU FACTOR IN THE NEWLY GRAPHIC FORMATION AND PROMOTIONAL REACH. AND IT CERTAINLY NOT THE BEST IN ANY WAY. NOR WAS 2025 WITH KENDRICK LAMAR'S "40 ACRES AND A MULE IGNORANCE OF SELF DEMEANING…. THE "N-WORD JOKE"… HAVING NO SENSE OF DECENCY. AND SENERA WILLIAMS PROVEDC" SYMBOLIC RICHNESS DOES NOT DETERMINE THE PERSON'S WORTH.
@jjs95II
March 8, 2026 at 11:45 pm
Of all dance music, reggaeton isn’t underground, it’s one of the most mainstream trends in popular dance music for several years now
@just_zuri
March 8, 2026 at 11:45 pm
Background-wise, I'm Afroantillano, meaning I'm a Black Panamanian of West Indian descent (gracias y EPD abuela), and I think it's nice that you mentioned that our Jamaican bredden help make the genre. Usually people just jump to Playero & say Boricuas made it, instead of help popularizing and globalizing it.
@whitesky38
March 8, 2026 at 11:45 pm
Sound Field never misses! Love to PBS for bringing it back! Love to all those posting hate in the comments!
@TbagYourGranny
March 8, 2026 at 11:45 pm
Michael Jackson has the most viewed Superbowl not bad bunny! Get your facts straight
@TdT2211
March 8, 2026 at 11:45 pm
So…I guess I just can't relate or something. Because if you want to listen to rock, you should listen to it. I know that rock and roll radio doesn't exist anymore but we have more access to music than ever before. And believe me, people are still rocking. Yet if all of the angry people had put their resources together with a positive attitude and a little bit of hard work, they could've STILL had a strong rock n roll scene. Radio stations, shows, whatever! The same goes for today. And where were all the women at during that? At the disco? Smh…
@TocGan
March 8, 2026 at 11:45 pm
Bad Bunny music is garbage… pure $#¡7!!!…
@alejandrofigueroa7262
March 8, 2026 at 11:45 pm
But the majority of disco artists were talented musicians, BB barely can speak in spanish
@Gian-dg4rz
March 8, 2026 at 11:45 pm
It’s so ironic how the white people that hated disco preferred rock when they are both genres that were created and perfected by POCs… people also didn’t like rock when it was first introduced until white artists started making rock music. A huge example is Hound Dog by Elvis (a cover of a rock song by a black woman (Big Mama Thornton))
@boopboopbeep-f5i
March 8, 2026 at 11:45 pm
I understand that some people who know they can't dance, can get so self-conscious that they'd rather invert that shame and project it onto the dancing masses, thumbing their nose at it like they're above it all.
@laurisaarinen1126
March 8, 2026 at 11:45 pm
I never really understood the hate towards dance music among rock fans. I'm a rock fan, and i absolutely love funk and reggae. Some of my favorite bands play funk rock, which is groovy and dancy but still rooted in rock sounds and song structures. Rock and dance music can go very well together if you're not totally close minded. In fact, the genre's origins are in rock n roll which was considered dance music in the 50s.
@daltongrowley5280
March 8, 2026 at 11:45 pm
great video
@csmcrckrs
March 8, 2026 at 11:45 pm
The Disco Demolition Derby seems to be one of the most overinterpreted events in music history.
@Thedownrockrecords
March 8, 2026 at 11:45 pm
People who can't dance tend to hate dance music.
@somethingfunny9341
March 8, 2026 at 11:45 pm
I love the salty conservatives in the comments. Great video!
@esmeraldarosario7243
March 8, 2026 at 11:45 pm
Great video!! I learned so much today!!
@andersonic
March 8, 2026 at 11:45 pm
In the late 80's I wanted to riot and burn records whenever a gloopy Peter Cetera song played.
@captainmaay
March 8, 2026 at 11:45 pm
Great stuff, learned a bunch. Thank you ❤
@myselftheelfpartdos9848
March 8, 2026 at 11:45 pm
"Everyone" 🧐😁
@andersonic
March 8, 2026 at 11:45 pm
And yet there have never been riots against Christian Rock no matter how many times Christmas Shoes assaults our ears.
@ВиталийДмитриевичБутерин
March 8, 2026 at 11:45 pm
Gotta have HOUSE MU-ZICK to set me freeee!
@lusarmientomusic
March 8, 2026 at 11:45 pm
Learnt so much filming this.
Thanks Soundfield! 🫶🏽
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