Were at SuperBowl 59! I remember when it was SuperBowl 50, I’m only 17 and I feel old dude. The one thing I don’t remember from SuperBowl 50 however is the half time show. The Super Bowl halftime show has become a legendary show, featuring some of the biggest stars in music. In the last two years, it has presented us with some unforgettable moments and others that nobody wanted to see.
In 2020, the stage was charged, having been blessed with the high-energy performances of the brilliant Shakira and the iconic Jennifer Lopez. Live, the two performed an explosive duet that perfectly married high-energy Latin rhythms with hook-laden pop melodies, making the evening very memorable for those present. This blockbuster show was further powered by surprise appearances from chart-topping artists Bad Bunny and J Balvin, adding in their brand of reggaeton to further electrify and rhythmically engage the performance.
The following year, in 2021, it was the turn of the living legend performing as The Weeknd to light up the stage with an act that would never be forgotten at any moment soon, it didn’t fail to visually and musically entertain in any way. Leaving behind him a legacy for his signature sound and enigmatic persona that has kept fans intrigued, The Weeknd put on a show-stopping performance made up of some of his most sizzling hits, including the top-of-the-charts sensation “Blinding Lights” and longtime fan favorite “Can’t Feel My Face.” His set was characterized by a dazzling light show that blazed and shone throughout the arena, along with a maze-like configuration of his stage setup that added depth and dimension, building ultimately into a performance that sent onlookers amazed and totally under its spell.
Hip-hop was celebrated in an all-star performance during the 2022 halftime show by Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, and Eminem. It was a gesture to the wealth and heritage of the genre, as presented through different levels of style by these several artists. From the West Coast hip-hop beats provided by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg to a serious lyrical flow delivered by Eminem, this was one concert that showed the power of hip-hop not only as a genre but also within popular culture. I think that it was the best one in the past 5 years.
Last and in my opinion least, Rihanna’s 2023 Super Bowl Halftime performance was polished as an act in and of itself but in my opinion wasn’t that exciting. Without energy, visuals worth taking your breath away, or special guests, this performance in and of itself wasn’t exactly the most jaw-dropping when compared with others, and her being pregnant was a little bit odd and kind of drew the attention off the actual show.
This upcoming year’s SuperBowl half time performance will feature Kendrick Lamar a very controversial choice. On one hand, it is very loud, doesn’t get to the point and sometimes is either hit or miss. Lets hope its a good one this year. Apart from entertaining millions, the halftime performances themselves have brought the a lot of diversity and ingenuity that the music world has to offer to heighten each Super Bowl so that every one of them is something that one just must witness. Its all about trying to out do the last years performance and its something that we will look forward to for years to come.
