A Giant Fiesta in Oakland with Bad Bunny
What an incredible night! The perfect blend of talent and dedication drew a packed crowd to RingCentral Coliseum on Tuesday night, with the only vacant seats situated behind the stage and a few isolated spots with limited visibility. It marked the largest attendance at the stadium since the A’s playoff run—perhaps even surpassing that if you factor in on-field attendees. Bad Bunny brought his colossal World’s Hottest Tour to the Bay Area, returning just six months after a sold-out show at San Jose’s SAP Center during the El Último Tour Del Mundo tour. However, much has changed since then. He dropped his latest album, "Un Verano Sin Ti," and more recently, made history as the first Latino artist to be awarded Artist of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards.
In essence, this was an entirely distinct performance, encompassing the majority of the new album's 23 songs and unfolding on a much more grandiose scale.
The performance showcased a mix of complete and partial renditions of songs, with most featuring spectacular visual effects such as fireworks, bursts of flames shooting skyward both from the stage and its roof, and captivating laser light shows.
The expansive stage was adorned with four palm trees, transforming the setting into a sandy beach. The elevated stage design resembled Tyler, The Creator's harbor-themed stage from his previous tour. Walkways extended 40 rows into the floor crowd, connecting the main stage to a smaller one, complete with its own palm tree. Positioned below one of the palm trees was a beach chair. As the fans chanted "BE-NI-TO!" in excitement, Bad Bunny walked out solo, carrying a cooler (reminiscent of Tyler's briefcase) and took a seat.
Floor-to-ceiling video screens came to life, focusing on an oceanic scene that glided through dolphin-filled tropical waters to an island. The high-resolution visual graphics were consistently impressive, almost overshadowing the star himself at times.
Bad Bunny, sporting green overalls and singing into a heart-shaped microphone (a symbol for "Un Verano Sin Ti"), along with his DJ, kicked off the performance with "Moscow Mule," the first of approximately 40 energetic tracks. The pace rarely slowed, and when it did, it was only for fleeting moments, with the bass-heavy hooks creating a continuous, exhilarating experience.
Moving energetically across the main stage, Bad Bunny delivered a dynamic performance, breezing through four tracks, including "Efecto" and "Me porto bonito," during which he added flair by hip-thrusting a palm tree. Taking a brief break, he relaxed on a beach chair and pulled a beer from the cooler. After a sip, he expressed gratitude to the crowd, potentially maintaining the night without uttering a word of English. Subsequently, around 20 dancers joined him for "Party" and continued to share the stage for a significant portion of the remaining show.
The vibrant ensemble, including Bad Bunny and the colorfully dressed dancers, then transitioned into the lively "Tarot," prompting the audience to move in a horizontal motion. Throughout the performance, attendees enthusiastically sang or screamed along with every song, creating an immersive and participatory atmosphere.
Before performing “Neverita,” Bad Bunny expressed his desire to transport the audience to a beach with his music (or at least, that's the interpretation given the reviewer's limited Spanish proficiency). Regardless, this objective was effectively achieved with numerous tropical visuals showcasing Caribbean waters, greenery, wildlife, and even mermaids. The dancers descended down the ramps for “I Like It,” punctuating the performance by shooting handheld fog cannons into the surrounding crowd. Bad Bunny himself remained on the main stage for the initial two-thirds of the concert.
A standout moment occurred during “Ni bien ni mal,” creating a cathartic release as the stadium lit up with a dazzling laser show, complemented by LED wristbands distributed to attendees beforehand.
An unexpected and heartwarming episode unfolded when Bad Bunny, now relaxing on his stage beach with his dancers and enjoying a glass of wine, congratulated a couple in the front celebrating their anniversary. The husband mentioned six years, but the significant other corrected him, revealing it was actually seven. Displayed on the large screens, the crowd demanded a kiss, and the couple obliged.
One of the noteworthy instances where the bass-heavy main beat took a backseat was during the acoustic-guitar-led “Yo no soy celoso.” Bad Bunny sat on the stage floor surrounded by the dancers for this segment, prompting a reflection that having a guitarist on stage with Ocasio would have enhanced the experience.
As the show reached its two-thirds mark, Bad Bunny descended a ramp to the B-stage during “Callaíta,” marking a shift in the performance. He remained on the B-stage, bowing and singing directly to fans in front of him. This created a surge of excitement every time he changed directions, captivating the audience for the next 15 minutes. The climax occurred when the dancers formed a circle around Bad Bunny, and he was propelled around the palm tree on the smaller stage. To the shock of many, the tree and a round section of the stage lifted off the ground, carried by guide wires nearly as high as the third deck of the stadium. It did a lap for the fans in the nosebleeds as Bad Bunny sang “Un coco” and another song.
The show featured a dynamic opening set by producer and DJ Diplo, lasting nearly an hour on an elevated platform above the stage floor. Diplo curated a mix that catered to the audience's preferences, starting with reggaeton and cumbia, transitioning to J. Balvin’s “In Da Getto” and Flo Rida’s “Good Feeling.” Adding a diverse touch, he included ABBA’s “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” and Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ “Heads Will Roll.”
Bad Bunny took the stage after 9:30 p.m., with most attendees already in their seats. The entry process was prolonged due to long lines at security checkpoints, ticket-scanning stations, and, for those on the floor, an additional line for wristbands. Parking challenges and overflow lots opening across I-880 further contributed to the delays.
Fans, anticipating the long night, embraced the moment by dressing like Bad Bunny, sporting floral print shirts with matching shorts or pants. The wait between Diplo and Bad Bunny prompted attendees from all three decks to initiate a successful wave that circled the park five times.