Shakira’s hips don’t lie, and neither can we: She and Jennifer Lopez made Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime history. “Let’s show the world what two little Latin girls can do,” J.Lo had captioned a photograph of the two on Instagram earlier in the day, and boy did they ever.
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Both women celebrated their heritage; both sang in Spanish and English and at one point Lopez donned a feathered cape—by Versace, of course—that had the stars and stripes on one side and the Puerto Rican flag on the other. (Lopez was born in the Bronx; her parents are Puerto Rican.)
Earlier, the superstar had kicked off her performance with a paean to New York City. She first appeared clinging to what appeared to be the top of a model Empire State Building. (Her bodysuit had complementary Deco-style detailing.) While reminding us that she’ll always be “Jenny From the Block,” Lopez was supported by backup dancers wearing black leather On the Waterfront–style caps and moto jackets with lingerie-style skirts in Easter-egg colors. My archivist heart started to flutter.... Had Peter Lindbergh’s 1991 “Wild at Heart” Vogue editorial just come to life? Hey, the 1990s are trending. More important is the symbolism of the shoot which, broadly speaking, celebrates strength and difference. Its visual impact comes from unexpected combinations: hard/soft; light/dark; masculine/feminine. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts: That’s America.
