Maria was watching the Benito Bowl when an unexpected artist came on: the one and only Ricky Martin. He sang one of Bad Bunny’s most political, anti-colonial anthems. Maria knew this was a touchstone moment — the artist who most represented the ‘90s Latin Boom wasn’t performing to a white audience for recognition or acceptance; he was singing a song of resistance, in Spanish. And then Maria’s 11-year-old son said, “Who’s that???” 

Today, Maria revisits the importance of the queer icon’s career and life, and how he had to live “La vida loca” so that Bad Bunny could do “Lo que le da la gana.” 

Video of Ricky Martin performing his first solo album.