Ever since the recent Bad Bunny electrifying half-time moment cracked open the global imagination, the Internet has been humming with a familiar question: What if dancehall took that stage next?

Across timelines and comment sections, fans have been calling for a showcase befitting a culture that has unmistakable global influence. So rich were those online conversations that two of the genre’s most recognisable architects, Sean Paul and Shaggy, were name-dropped for a possible performance. That possibility feels less like fantasy after Shaggy revealed to the Jamaica Observer’s Splash that, should the opportunity arise, he would be more than willing to carry Jamaica’s flag into the coveted Super Bowl half-time spotlight.

Pointing to catalogues and the kind of global reach that, in his view, already meet the Super Bowl’s standard, Shaggy said the idea of a dancehall half-time show is not just plausible, but historic in scope, especially if approached the way Jamaican music has always moved best, collectively.

“I never saw the online comments about me and a possible Super Bowl show, but I saw the conversations about Sean and I think he totally could do it. He has the catalogue; and if Bad Bunny can do it, the absolutely 100 per cent Sean can do it too,” he said. “If the opportunity comes, of course I would jump to do it, but if I do it, I would bring in as much of our dancehall and reggae stars as possible. It wouldn’t just be Shaggy, and I’m sure Sean would do things the same way.”

Framing Bad Bunny’s iconic moment as the perfect opportunity for a broader cultural showcase, Shaggy said the Super Bowl stage would have been the ideal platform to push Caribbean music even further on a global stage. He suggested that the moment could have soared even higher had artistes from other genres been invited into the fold, transforming the spectacle from a singular performance into a shared celebration of musical lineage and cross-cultural influence.

“I think Bad Bunny should have brought a bunch of other artistes on it with him from other popular music to make that [a Caribbean showcase] happen, and so a half-time show of Shaggy or Sean Paul would have a bunch of different artistes in it sharing the spotlight with us. And with Brand Jamaica’s reach, a hit. Now that’s a great idea.”

Whether or not the Super Bowl comes calling, the conversation itself speaks volumes. For Shaggy, Jamaican music has travelled the world not by permission, but by persistence — shaping charts, influencing genres, and redefining global sound along the way, making it undeniably deserving of the platform.

Orville “Shaggy” Burrell (Photo: Karl Mclarty)