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Many audience members did a double-take at this unexpected intro. Instead of a prerecorded sample, the artists opted for a live rendition of the Finnish hook, drawing applause as the Finnish/Estonian quartet of singers kicked off the high-energy number. Once the polka transition was complete, the beat dropped and Bad Bunny and Residente launched into the bass-thumping reggaeton track, trading verses in Spanish while the Nordic singers grooved behind them. It was a cultural crossover few could have predicted on American late-night TV – Finnish polka meets Latin urban music – and it brought the house down.
A Mashup of Polka and Reggaeton on Live TV
The song “Bellacoso” itself contains a quirky piece of Finnish DNA. Its intro and outro are built around a sample of “Ievan Polkka” (known in English as Ieva’s Polka), originally a folk tune from Finland. The melody gained global fame after Finnish quartet Loituma’s version went viral online in 2006 (you might recall the “Leekspin” meme); it even spawned a cover by Japanese virtual pop star Hatsune Miku. Residente decided to weave this ear-catching Finnish polka riff into his new song. In fact, Rolling Stone noted that the version of “Ievan Polkka” used in “Bellacoso” was specifically the Hatsune Miku rendition. Rather than simply play a backing track of that sample on Fallon’s stage, Residente took the extra step of recruiting real Nordic performers to sing it live. The result was a true mashup: a globetrotting fusion of Finnish folk and Puerto Rican perreo. As the “Ievan Polkka” quartet sang the bouncy “Nuapurista kuulu se polokan tahti…” line (Finnish lyrics about a neighbor playing a polka), the reggaeton beat seamlessly kicked in, blending two worlds of music. One entertainment outlet praised the choice, writing that many viewers “expected the Miku sample at the intro, but a live sampling of ‘Ievan Polkka’ was an interesting surprise for sure”. Even Fallon himself looked amazed by the on-stage culture clash. By the time Bad Bunny – sporting his signature shades and streetwear – joined in with Residente, the studio was cheering the bold performance.
Nordic Artists Take Center Stage
So who were these surprise Nordic performers stealing the spotlight in a Latin music number? It turns out the quartet consisted of three Finns and one Estonian artist living in New York. They are members of the local Nordic arts scene – in fact, all were involved in Kalevala: The Musical, an original theater project inspired by Finnish mythology. The Finnish singers included composer Johanna Telander, pianist Markus Kaitila, and organist Kalle Toivio, joined by Kristi Roosmaa, an Estonian-born vocalist. For them, appearing on one of America’s most-watched talk shows was the opportunity of a lifetime. Kristi Roosmaa, who had just had a baby a few months prior, was “humbled to perform as a featured singer with Residente and Bad Bunny”. She recalls how the gig came together practically overnight: “It all happened so fast. I found out about this opportunity on Saturday afternoon, had to learn the song within a few hours, self-tape and send it to Residente’s music director before midnight, and they confirmed by next morning. Fast forward three days and I’m in NBC studios at Rockefeller Center getting to do what I love – perform!” Johanna Telander – the creator of Kalevala the Musical – had been the one to recommend her friend Kristi for the show. Together with Kalle and Markus, they formed the perfect ad hoc Finnish choir for Residente’s vision. Dressed in matching outfits, the Nordic quartet stood slightly off to the side on Fallon’s stage, swaying and clapping along to the music as they sang. Their poised, folksy presence contrasted charmingly with Bad Bunny’s urban swagger. The multicultural collaboration showcased not only the versatility of the Puerto Rican stars, but also the talent of these Nordic artists prepared to represent their heritage on a global platform.
From Viral Performance to Super Bowl Stage
The cross-cultural performance quickly became a viral moment. Within a week, video of the Fallon segment had racked up over 1.7 million views online – “more than the population of my homeland, Estonia,” Kristi noted in astonishment. Major music outlets like Rolling Stone and Billboard even wrote up the performance, ensuring that a worldwide audience heard about the Finnish polka/Latin trap mashup. Online commenters had a field day: some playfully dubbed the quartet “stiff gringos” for their earnest dancing, while most others applauded Residente’s creative choice to include them. For many Puerto Rican music fans, it was likely their first exposure to Finnish folk music – and conversely, for Nordic Americans, it was thrilling to see a beloved Finnish tune remixed on U.S. prime-time TV. The moment also underscored Residente’s reputation for genre-blending bravado (as Remezcla noted, he’s known to appreciate weaving in other cultures’ music). And of course, it shone a spotlight on Bad Bunny, who was then an ascending Latin trap star making inroads into the English-language market. Performing on Fallon was a big deal for him – it was only his second appearance on U.S. late-night TV – and he made it count. In the months and years that followed, Bad Bunny’s career exploded. He went from that memorable Fallon debut to releasing multiple chart-topping albums, winning Grammys, and selling out stadiums worldwide. Today, Bad Bunny is arguably one of the biggest superstars on the planet – in fact, he’s a three-time Grammy winner and the most-streamed artist in the world, recently announced as the headline halftime performer for the 2026 Super Bowl. It’s incredible to think that an Estonian soprano and three Finns shared a stage with him back before he became a household name. As Roosmaa said on her website, the Fallon clip’s view count even surpassed her country’s population – a testament to how far-reaching that night’s impact was.
Celebrating Nordic & Baltic Arts in the US
For the Nordic and Baltic creative community in America, this unique Fallon moment remains a proud example of cultural exchange. It’s not every day that Finnish folk singing is featured on U.S. network television alongside urban Latin music icons. The fact that it happened at all was thanks to both a bold artistic vision and the preparedness of our Nordic artists when opportunity knocked. “I wanted to find ways to meaningfully share parts of my cultural heritage,” Johanna Telander has said of her mission as an expat Finnish musician. In crafting the “Ievan Polkka” mashup for Fallon, she and her colleagues literally shared a piece of Finnish culture with millions of viewers. And they did so in partnership with Latinx artists, showing how music can bridge cultures in joyful ways. The performance also led the Nordic singers to continue collaborating: during the COVID-19 lockdowns of 2020, the same quartet reunited virtually to record a full online cover of “Ievan Polkka,” bringing a bit of upbeat Finnish spirit to audiences when live shows were on pause. Such efforts demonstrate the passion these artists have for keeping Nordic and Baltic heritage alive in their new home country.
This Fallon mashup wasn’t just a one-off novelty – it symbolizes why it’s important to support Nordic and Baltic arts in the United States. When small-country talents like Johanna, Kristi, Markus, and Kalle are given a stage, they rise to the occasion and create magic that resonates far beyond their communities. They showed that our regional songs and stories can find a place on the biggest platforms, from late-night TV to viral videos – even foreshadowing the Super Bowl halftime show. As Bad Bunny gears up to entertain the world at Super Bowl LX in 2026, we’ll remember that Nordic voices once stood beside him, polka-ing their way into pop culture history. It’s a reminder that by uplifting our Nordic and Baltic artists abroad, we not only honor our heritage – we also enrich the broader cultural tapestry, one extraordinary performance at a time.
