Dangerous Bunny makes historical past as first Latin solo headliner

Dangerous Bunny fever has reached Coachella, and there’s no going again.

The enigmatic Puerto Rican famous person transcended music in a historic two-hour efficiency that stretched from Friday evening into Saturday morning as the primary Latino solo artist headliner within the historical past of the Coachella Valley Arts and Music Competition.

By the live performance’s finish at 1:30 a.m. native time Saturday, Dangerous Bunny had introduced out 4 particular visitors — Put up Malone, Jhayco plus Ñengo Movement and Jowell & Randy for “Safaera.” He performed music from three albums and overcame technical difficulties when Malone’s mic unexpectedly lower out.

In traditional Dangerous Bunny vogue, the Grammy-winning artist, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, led the viewers by a gamut of feelings, dances, ballads about heartbreak and tales of bouncing again from misplaced love. All of the whereas, he made the present private. With set designs, a number of outfits and tune selections centered across the streets of Puerto Rico, the live performance was an allusion to his journey from an austere Puerto Rican neighborhood to the best echelons of California movie star.

Dangerous Bunny speaks on the importance of his Coachella efficiency

He kicked off his set acknowledging the historical past of his efficiency with a narrated intro and video montage that paid homage to earlier competition headliners. In a later montage, he acknowledged Puerto Rican reggaeton stars that got here earlier than him. And, he spoke about breaking boundaries “for the primary time in additional than 20 years” within the Coachella Valley.

“Nunca antes hubo uno como yo,” he stated. In English, the quote interprets to “By no means earlier than has there been somebody like me. Un Benito.”

He opened with 2022 smash hit “Tití Me Preguntó,” and shortly after addressed the viewers in English. “The way you doing tonight, Coachella? What do you like, me speaking in English or hablando Español?”

“Español” was the overwhelming reply from a crowd with a smattering of Puerto Rican flags.

He entered dancing on a suspended stage sporting a colourful puffy jacket, cornrows and a number of chains round his neck.

Dangerous Bunny’s Coachella set fluctuated feelings

The set known as again to the gasoline station rooftop he carried out from throughout an impromptu road live performance in Puerto Rico in December.

A swarm of backup dancers in tracksuits designed to appear like the Puerto Rican flag carried out beneath him.

He deftly switched to a mellower gear with “Moscow Mule,” the primary tune on his 2022 Grammy Album of the Yr nominee “Un Verano Sin Ti.”

And, from there, he teased his hit “Yo Perreo Sola” from his 2020 album YHLQMDLG, however did not play the tune in full till a lot later.

The emotional rollercoaster continued as he jumped from a heartfelt efficiency of ballad “Si Estuviésemos Juntos” to an upbeat remix of “Te Boté.” Like so a lot of his songs, the transition epitomized one in every of Dangerous Bunny’s signature themes — going by tough romantic breakups and bouncing again stronger.

Later, he left the platform to kick off a stretch of hits from 2020 — a 12 months he launched three albums and, for the primary time, grew to become Spotify’s most-streamed artist on this planet.

Dangerous Bunny, Put up Malone expertise mic points mid-concert

Malone popped on stage for shock acoustic guitar renditions of “La Canción” and “Yonaguni.” Malone and Dangerous Bunny haven’t any music collaborations however seemed to be good pals on stage as they carried out Dangerous Bunny’s hits, earlier than Malone’s microphone lower out.

When the tech failed, the gang stepped up. 1000’s of followers stuffed awkward gaps singing a capella, reinforcing that Dangerous Bunny drew a extra various and multilingual group to Coachella than ever earlier than.After that mellow second, the evening resumed with gusto and fireworks. Visitor Jhayco stayed for hit songs “Dákiti,” “No Me Conoce” and “Tarot.”

Dangerous Bunny introduced the gang house with “Callaita” and one other spherical of pyrotechnics as he belted “Después de la Playa,” one of many greatest hits of summer season 2022 — and, now, Coachella 2023.