Sazón, Batería, y Reggaetón: How Latinos Find Home Through Music

If you are reading this, chances are you were among the 128.2 million live viewers of the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show headlined by Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny. In less than fourteen minutes, Bad Bunny made a historical statement of Latino identity and belonging. But more so, a call for unity.   

As a Venezuelan immigrant, seeing my native language, parts of my culture, and my flag represented at one of the most important spectacles of American culture shook me to my core. However, what I saw off-screen moved me even deeper.  

There is something deeply cathartic about seeing non-Latinos lose themselves in our rhythm. You see, one of the most important values of Latin culture is sharing. You’ll never meet a Venezuelan who won’t offer you a tequeño, or a Puerto Rican who won’t try (patiently) to teach you the basics of salsa. Latinos take so much pride in our culture and roots that we want to share them with the world; we want others to know the joy and passion embedded in our histories. And music is one of the most important aspects of our culture throughout Latin America.  

Although I love non-Latinos showing some well-deserved love to Bad Bunny, there is so much more out there to explore. Latin music is far from a monolith. Every country has its own sound informed by its history. Each is a unique blend of indigenous instruments, the beats of Afro-drums, and the echoes of colonial struggle. 

To help you look beyond, I asked my friends to curate a playlist that reminded them of home and to provide context for why these songs and beats are crucial to their identity and to their grounding as strangers in a foreign land.  

I know that you will leave this article with some amazing new additions to your own playlists. But most importantly, I hope you depart with a deeper understanding that music cannot just be a symbol of identity, but also a means of unity. 

Luis B. - Puerto Rico 

How would you explain this playlist to someone who has never heard something similar?  

This playlist helps you get a pretty good idea of the sounds and vibes from Puerto Rico. It's not all reggaetón. There're more genres than you think. 

Who is your favorite artist on this playlist? Why?  

I'd say, Juan Luis Guerra. What he's done as an artist when it comes to representing Christianity goes more on par with where I am in life at the moment. 

What does music mean to you and your identity? 

Music is one of the purest examples of humanity's ability. It's something that brings people together, not only at a single point in time, but across time. It's amazing to think that the music I listen to today, my parents and grandparents listened to it, and I  hope my kids and their kids listen to the same music as well. 

Victoria R. - Mexico 

Who is your favorite artist on this playlist? Why?  

Silvana Estrada is definitely one of my all-time favorite artists. One of my first concerts was where I felt so intentionally cared for. As someone who tries to move through the world with an ecofeminist lens, placing care at the center of how I live and relate to others, her music reminds me that care is a practice that we actively and intentionally choose... 

Care doesn’t always have to be big or visible...It can be keeping up with traditions even when you are far from home, speaking our languages, or creating spaces where vulnerability is honored.   

What is your favorite song on this playlist? Why? 

It’s probably between Vivir Mi Vida and La Vida Es Un Carnaval. I grew up in a family where there was always this mindset of living life fully, like it could be your last, where trying and failing was always seen as better than never trying at all. But not in a sad or fatalistic sense of I might die. It was more rooted in gratitude, presence, and joy.  

They carry this reminder that even when life is heavy, there is still beauty in celebrating, in dancing, in choosing joy, even when the world feels like it is all going to worse. To me, it isn’t about denial or ignorance of what’s happening. It feels more like a form of resistance, a refusal to accept things as they are, to let them make us numb (dehumanizing us) or disconnected from what we’re living through. 

Fabiola L. - Honduras

What is your favorite song on this playlist? Why?  

That would have to be Un Millón De Primaveras. It reminds me of my childhood, specifically riding through the roads in my hometown, so it has that mix. It reminds me of myself but also where I am from. If I close my eyes and listen to it, I picture one of my favorite roads back home. It's one of the songs that makes me feel the deepest and brings me a huge sense of peace and comfort. 

⁠Who is your favorite artist on this playlist? Why?  

Selena and Bad Bunny.  Their influence and how revolutionary they are. Selena broke countless barriers, and Benito did so too. They are my favorite because they represent the impact music has in bringing people from everywhere together, and that’s something that our Latin heritage imposes a lot, and most of us in Hispanic households grew up with the sense of family and closeness. I admire both of them.  

What does music mean to you and your identity? 

Hard question because it is hard to put into words. I think the fact that certain songs bring me back to a place, to home, to a moment in my life depicts how I deeply feel a song. It makes me emotional, it makes me feel, it makes me want to dance or want to cry. Music is an important aspect of my life, and in many ways, it helps me express and be myself in the world just by listening. It helps me come back to who I am. 

Marial M. - Dominican Republic 

What do all the songs have in common? 

These songs represent different genres but are all created by Dominican artists. One thing they share is the use of local slang to depict daily life. Also, regardless of the genre, these songs rely on percussion instruments to drive the main beat. 

 What do you feel when listening to these songs?  

Listening to them always makes me feel like I'm home. The sounds are so familiar and organic. Since I grew up surrounded by music, and because the DR is a country that is constantly dancing, hearing these songs makes me feel as though I never left. 

Where and when would you listen to this playlist? 

While I listen to these artists constantly, their music feels more necessary on days spent speaking English for hours on end. It grounds me; Dominican music reminds me of my identity, specifically on those days when I feel like I've spent too much time translating myself to the world. 

Poppy M. - Venezuela 

What do you feel while listening to these songs?  

I feel at home. For me, home is people; my family, friends. All these songs take me back to early-morning drives to school with my dad or a weekend at the beach with my friends. Sometimes when I hear these songs, I smile and remind myself of what a fun time I had the first time I heard them. Other times, I hold back tears, missing the people this music reminds me of.  

Who is your favorite artist on this playlist? Why?  

Lately, I’ve been listening to the band Rawayana a ton. I’m from Caracas, which is right by the Caribbean, and we share a lot of cultural elements with some of the islands up north. Rawayana is one of many artists that have worked for years to bridge those sounds with Venezuelan elements and have gathered a lot of international success. Listening to them just makes me feel so lucky and proud to be where I am from.