Super Bowl Halftime Shows - Spoilers!
Super Bowl Halftime Shows are one of my favorite things I look forward to every year. There are so many ways artists or theatre companies always bring it with theatrical moments, fireworks, dancing, cultural memes and sing-alongs from the fans.
1. Prince - 2007
Even before the show started, it was crazy in Prince style. He came out in a red blazer and his dancers, started to perform his songs on his electric guitar. Imagine if it was outside the stadium, I would think there's technographic and fireworks. He did not even answer any of the reporters questions. That is badass.
During this show, it was raining. When I looked at when he came in, my eyes were emblazoned with excitement that a legend would come out to perform. There were dancers in white and two in the front dressed in black dresses.
The stage is under his logo, the marching band dressed in brightly coloured clothing, and the covers he did, Bob Dylan, Foo Fighters, and Creedence Clearwater Revival was fantastic. The ending of 'Purple Rain' really shined and cemented as one of the best artists ever to perform. To cap it off, fireworks are shown shooting to the sky.
That is a really cool performance.
2. Radio City Music Hall, Chubby Checker, The Rockettes - 1988
During this performance, they opened with 88 Grand Pianos on both sides, shaped like grand pianos. Dressed in white suits as trumpet players play together in harmony. The dancers form a 'connection' to connect two 'grand pianos'.
Some kind of giant boombox in the middle shows the Rockettes come out. They are dressed in gold and white with top hats. Of course, they did their signature move, the kickstand on the piano keys. Their dance number was phenomenal.
Later on, the dancers dressed in pastel colours, clap their hands and gather in the same boombox. Chubby Checker then comes out in glittery top and sings his signature song, 'The Twist'. Lots of dancing involved with the pastel coloured dancers. The show ends with woman dressed dancers dressed in purple football ensemble.
3. Michael Jackson - 1993
This one is very much a popular choice among favourites for their Halftime shows, mine included. The way that the energy was amenable with screaming fans, its irreplaceable.
The show begins with 'lookalike' Michael Jacksons in this funky 90s graphic. He goes up to the top of the stage, another lookalike happens and he does a kick and flies up. Then you look into the middle of the stage, among with screaming fans, is where he comes up.
He stands there for a mere one minute to get the crowd energized. He takes his sunglasses off. (sidenote: I love the lady's hair, the one that is playing the guitar. Shoutout to her! She's rocking it! - found out her name is Jennifer Batten who played his shows a few times.)
"Jam" is played and he does his dance moves. The dancers look like Janet Jackson when she did 'Rhythm Nation 1814'. Takes off his gold ribbon jacket and flips his top hat to his head. In a very sly move. He sings 'Billie Jean'.
He goes into 'Black or White'. Walks around the stage. I think the wind is blowing his white button-down shirt off to mimic a ghost. The signs point to this really cool picture of two shaking hands. It was a call for unity.
With his wave of a wand, the lights were flashing into a sea of flashing cards from the crowd depicting children coming together for unity. He sings 'Heal The World'. Everyone comes together to join Michael on stage to sing altogether as the inflatable earth pulls out.
4. Madonna - 2012
Only the Queen of Pop could do this. Madonna is the quintessential artist to pull out big spectacles such as dancing, visual arts and her songs last a lifetime. And it shows in her craft in the Super Bowl.
The show depicts her as a Greek Goddess. She gets carried with Greek Gods wearing warrior attire while the boa feathers carry something to the stage. Its not in fact, Madonna. She's sitting in her throne, dancing and 'Vogue' comes on. She's wearing a crown that looks like a cat as harps come and play her in.
Afterwards, 'Music' comes on. (sidenote: Madonna's last number one on Billboard). She gets up the bleachers and dances some more. The dancers are now wearing Adidas wear. (she accidentally tripped on the ledge on the stairs via 3:37 on video. A floating guy which looks like Richard Simmons. Then he gets on a tightrope. LMFAO (Redfoo and GoonRock) comes on and does a DJ set. Then they all dance to 'Sexy And I Know It' song.
Then, she does her 2012 hit song, 'Give Me All Your Lovin'". Nicki Minaj shows up to dance and rap. (All I'm thinking when I watched this is, she's 50 something years old and dance like that??? Holy moly good for her!) M.I.A. (Paper Planes) comes out to do her part.
Cee Lo Green comes out to perform with her, 'Open Your Heart' then comes out and she sings an opener with the band coming out. Her drums, the tambourine and the band wearing 'M' (stands for Madonna, duh)
Then the last part is that she sings, 'Like a Prayer' to many of the choir members join her onstage. Cee Lo Green joins as well. Then she stands in the middle of the stage and leaves with the steam coming out while she descends out of the show.
5. Kendrick Lamar - 2025
I know this is still fresh and some are saying its the worst, but I like this show. The way that he visualized it in front of President Donald Trump (2024-Present) is really cool. It shows the strength of America and his love from California. Samuel L. Jackson dressed up as Uncle Sam. He starts off by rapping 'Bodies' from his unreleased project. Then 'Squabble Up' plays with the red dressed dancers chorography. That's his first number one off 'GNX' which was his surprise album from 2024.
Uncle Sam (Samuel L. Jackson) says "No no no no, too loud, too reckless, too ghetto. Mr. Lamar, do you really know how to play the game. Then tighten up."
Humble plays. Its his second number one, first solo one on Billboard.
And the dancers create an American flag, the blue, white and red stripes. He dances in the middle.
He then raps 'DNA' off his album, 'Damn.' And walks around the stage to the other side, with the swinging dancers left and right.
'Euphoria' comes on. It's one of the rap songs that was part of the Drake vs. Kendrick beef.
The streetlights come on, as 'Man at the Garden' plays. The dancers are wearing beige tops and jeans. Uncle Sam gets back.
'Peekaboo' starts playing and the camera goes to dancers in all four corners.
Then 'Not Like Us' (sorta) plays, which he explains 'perform their favorite song'. Four ladies dressed in white t-shirts.
'Luther' plays (my favorite off his album, 'GNX'). SZA comes out wearing a lacy ensemble and they sing a duet. 'All The Stars' then starts playing as the dancers go around in a circle.
'Not Like Us' finally plays, he then smiles when he raps 'Say Drake'. Serena Williams makes an appearance. Mustard (the producer) then comes out with a football and 'TV off' plays out. 'Game Over' then appears on screen.
He surprises me in this show.
Who should do the Halftime Show next? (My take on who should perform)
Janet Jackson
I know she already performed in 2004 with Justin Timberlake, hello 'Nipplegate' but I think she deserves a stand alone halftime show. Especially after going to her show in 2023, where she sang all her greatest hits; 'Together Again', 'Miss You Much', 'That's The Way Love Goes', etc. I think she'll do an amazing job and show that age doesn't matter when you are performing.
Backstreet Boys
Backstreet Boys has had so many hits, why not sing them in a show like this? Some of their songs are singalongs like 'I Want It That Way', 'Quit Playing Games', etc. People can wear BSB t-shirts and reminisce on simpler times in the late 90's. New Kids did it once in 1991, why not BSB? Who is on tour and expected to showcase live in Las Vegas, in the famous 'The Sphere' this summer.
Ariana Grande
You know I had to throw someone current pop artists out there and she is one of them I can think of. Ariana Grande has several well-known hits, dances really well and is a light to be reckoned with. You got 'No Tears Left To Cry', 'thank u, next', and 'Problem'. She can even bring Nicki Minaj to collaborate on a song, since she has many songs with her. She can also invite big names, such as Mariah Carey, Charli XCX, or Taylor Swift even.
Some honourable mentions include:
Dua Lipa - Especially after the success of 'Future Nostalgia'. The way she motivates her songs with dancing, vocals and her energy is sublime.
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| Dua Lipa |
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| Red Hot Chili Peppers |
Ezra Collective - It does not have to be well-known musicians, as long as they can put a great show. The thing about them that I love is their rhythm, their energy and the way they want people to dance. They could also bring in high collaborations like Ed Sheeran, Jorja Smith and others. They could spot a light on UK music scene and get people moving.
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| Ezra Collective |
5 Seconds of Summer - Again, having international musical stars can showcase how diverse the Super Bowl is around the world. Them being Australian and having a bunch of hits, 'She Looks So Perfect', 'Youngblood' among others, they can bring in an energy like no other. They can also bring in special guests, Shawn Mendes, The Chainsmokers, Demi Lovato, etc.
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| 5 Seconds of Summer |
Kylie Minogue - Again, someone who has experience with performing live with energy. Although this is a long long shot as Americans probably not know some of her songs, she does have a few 'Can't Get You Out of My Head', 'The Locomotion'. This could be a great opportunity to introduce or reintroduce her music again.
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| Kylie Minogue |
Drake - The possibility of Drake performing would be amazing as well. Someone like Drake could bring up the energy as he performs hits. He is also Canadian which we need now that there's tension between both countries.
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| Drake |
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