Bad Bunny Pauses Stadium Show in Brazil to Honor Salsa Legend Willie Colón

Bad Bunny Pauses Stadium Show in Brazil to Honor Salsa Legend Willie Colón
Credit: X/ (screenshot)

Bad Bunny stopped his concert in São Paulo on Saturday night to honor Willie Colón. The Puerto Rican artist addressed the crowd at Allianz Parque hours after the legendary trombonist and producer died in New York at age 75 due to respiratory complications. The tribute connected a stadium in Brazil to the legacy of one of salsa’s most influential figures.

The pause came during Bad Bunny’s second performance at the venue, where thousands gathered to see the global artist perform. The moment shifted the focus toward the music that shaped him long before global tours and streaming records defined his career.

@billboard.colombia

@Bad Bunny dedicó unas palabras en honor a #williecolon en uno de sisa conciertos en Brasil 🇧🇷

♬ sonido original – Billboard CO

A Moment of Tribute Inside Allianz Parque

Bad Bunny spoke before continuing his set with Los Sobrinos, the band that accompanies him on stage. He addressed the loss directly and spoke about Willie Colón’s influence on artists raised in Puerto Rico and across the Caribbean.

“Especialmente para nosotros los que crecimos en el Caribe escuchando salsa… Hoy se fue una de las leyendas que aportó a este género tan hermoso y tan legendario. Así que, de parte mía y de Los Sobrinos, le deseamos que descanse en paz a Willie Colon. Mucha fortaleza a su familia. La inspiración de muchos de estos grandes músicos que dejaron en la tierra no va a morir nunca mientras sigan existiendo jóvenes talentosos como estos que están aquí, manteniendo la música y la salsa y todos los ritmos caribeños vivos”.

(Translated to English): “Especially for those of us who grew up in the Caribbean listening to salsa… Today one of the legends who contributed to this beautiful and legendary genre has passed. On behalf of myself and Los Sobrinos, we wish Willie Colón rest in peace. Strength to his family. The inspiration that many of these great musicians left here on earth will never die as long as talented young people like those here continue keeping salsa and Caribbean music alive”.

Fans stood inside a stadium built for spectacle and witnessed a moment rooted in heritage. The tribute connected generations of artists through shared sound and cultural identity.

Colón’s death resonated across the Latin music community. His trombone and production work helped define salsa during its most influential era. His collaborations with Rubén Blades and Héctor Lavoe helped shape the genre’s sound and global reach.

A Relationship That Bridged Generations

Bad Bunny’s connection to Willie Colón existed through music, public moments, and cultural influence. He referenced Colón directly in his album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, placing himself inside a lineage shaped by salsa pioneers. The reference appeared in the track “Nueva Yol.”

“Willie Colón, me dicen el malo / ey / porque pasan los años y sigo dando palos”.

(Translated to English): “Willie Colón, they call me the bad one / ey / because the years pass and I keep delivering hits”.

Colón also appeared in the video for “Nueva Yol,” reinforcing his presence inside Bad Bunny’s artistic narrative. The collaboration connected salsa’s foundation to its modern reinterpretation.

However, public tension surfaced after Colón questioned Bad Bunny’s Spotify streaming numbers on social media. He even remained vocal and direct when discussing the younger artist’s dominance.

Nevertheless, Colón later acknowledged Bad Bunny’s impact on salsa’s global visibility and Puerto Rican identity.

“Es algo que todos necesitábamos, el empuje que le dio a la salsa, le dio al boricua y tomar una posición más puertorriqueña y más latina, eso lo necesitábamos. Es una movida excelente”.

(Translated to English): “It is something we all needed, the push he gave to salsa, the push he gave Puerto Ricans to take a stronger Puerto Rican and Latin position, that is something we needed. It is an excellent move”.

Willie Colón’s Legacy Lives Through the Next Generation

Willie Colón helped define salsa’s sound through his trombone, arrangements, and production work. His music carried stories rooted in Puerto Rican and Caribbean identity. His recordings continue to influence artists across genres.

Bad Bunny’s tribute in São Paulo showed how that influence continues today. A global artist paused his concert to honor one of the figures who shaped his musical foundation.

The moment connected past and present through sound and cultural continuity.

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