Music and Entertainment at the Super Bowl: Celebrating Memorable Halftime Moments
The Super Bowl is not only the biggest sporting event in the United States but also a cultural phenomenon that attracts millions of viewers from around the world. One of the most anticipated aspects of the Super Bowl is the halftime show, which features some of the most popular and influential artists in music history.
The halftime show is a chance for the performers to showcase their talents, creativity, and charisma on a global stage while entertaining and inspiring the fans.
The Early Years: Marching Bands and Up with People
The first Super Bowl was held in 1967, featuring a halftime show by the University of Arizona Symphonic and Grambling State University Marching Band. The bands played patriotic songs and medleys of popular tunes while forming various shapes and patterns on the field.
The halftime show was meant to provide a break from the game and a spectacle for the audience, but it was not considered a major attraction or a ratings booster.
For most of the next two decades, the halftime show continued to feature marching bands, drill teams, and other performance ensembles, such as Up with People, a group of young singers and dancers who promoted positive messages and social causes.
The halftime show also began to have themes, such as “Salute to Louis Armstrong” in 1972, “A Musical America” in 1976, and “Salute to Motown’s 25th Anniversary” in 1983. These shows also featured guest stars, such as Ella Fitzgerald, Carol Channing, Andy Williams, and Chubby Checker. However, these shows were still largely overshadowed by the game itself and did not generate much buzz or excitement among the viewers.
The Turning Point: Michael Jackson
The halftime show changed forever in 1993 when Michael Jackson performed at Super Bowl XXVII. Jackson was already one of the biggest stars in the world, with a string of hit albums and videos that revolutionized pop music and culture.
He then performed a medley of his songs, including Billie Jean, Black or White, We Are the World, and Heal the World, while also interacting with the crowd and using pyrotechnics, dancers, and a choir of children.
Jackson’s performance was watched by an estimated 133.4 million viewers in the United States alone, making it the most-watched halftime show ever.
Jackson’s performance set a new standard for the halftime show, demonstrating how it could be used as a platform for artistic expression, social commentary, and mass appeal. It also showed how the halftime show could attract more viewers than the game and boost the performers’ careers and sales.
After Jackson’s performance, the NFL began to seek out more popular and contemporary artists to headline the halftime show, such as Gloria Estefan, Aerosmith, U2, Madonna, Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, and many more. The halftime show also became more elaborate and extravagant, featuring elaborate stages, costumes, props, special effects, guest stars, and surprises.
The halftime show increased Super Bowl viewership by a huge margin; this attracted more sports and betting fans to the Super Bowl. Moreover, popular sportsbooks have started issuing odds and betting promos about the next Super Bowl.
The Controversy: Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake
The halftime show peaked in 2004 when Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake performed at Super Bowl XXXVIII. The duo performed a duet of Timberlake’s song “Rock Your Body,” which ended with Timberlake. ripping off part of Jackson’s costume, exposing her right breast to millions of viewers.
The incident was later dubbed a “wardrobe malfunction” by Timberlake’s publicist, but it sparked a huge backlash from the public, the media, and the authorities. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) fined CBS $550,000 for broadcasting indecent material during prime time, while Jackson and Timberlake faced criticism and boycotts from various groups and organizations. The incident also increased censorship and regulation of live television broadcasts in the United States.
The incident had a lasting impact on Jackson’s and Timberlake’s careers and the halftime show itself. Jackson’s album sales declined significantly after the incident, while Timberlake’s popularity soared. The halftime show also became more conservative and cautious in its choice of performers and content for several years after the incident.
It featured mostly rock artists from previous decades, such as Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, and The Who. The halftime show also implemented a five-second delay to prevent any future mishaps.
The Comeback: Prince
The halftime show regained momentum and glory in 2007 when Prince performed at Super Bowl XLI. Prince was already a legend in the music industry, with a prolific and diverse career that spanned over three decades.
His performance at the Super Bowl was a masterclass of musicianship, charisma, and showmanship, as he played a combination of his hits, such as Let’s Go Crazy, Baby I’m a Star, Proud Mary, and Purple Rain, while also covering songs by Queen, Foo Fighters, and Bob Dylan.
Prince also displayed his versatility and adaptability as he performed in the rain, using it as part of his show rather than letting it hinder him. He also used a giant curtain behind him to create a silhouette of himself playing his iconic symbol-shaped guitar, creating one of the most iconic images in Super Bowl history. Prince’s performance was widely praised by critics and fans and is considered by many to be the best halftime show ever.
Prince’s performance showed how the halftime show could showcase artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation while entertaining and engaging the audience. It also showed how the halftime show could transcend genres, generations, and expectations and create a memorable and unique experience for the viewers.
The Tribute: Whitney Houston
The halftime show is not the only musical aspect of the Super Bowl that has made history. The national anthem, performed before the game by various singers and musicians, has also been a source of pride, controversy, and emotion for the fans and the performers.
Houston was one of the most successful and acclaimed singers of her time, with a powerful and versatile voice that could sing any genre.
Houston’s national anthem performance was a soaring and stirring rendition that captured the mood and spirit of the nation, which was at war with Iraq at the time. Houston’s performance was accompanied by a live orchestra and a flyover by military jets, adding to the drama and patriotism of the moment. Houston’s performance was widely praised and applauded by the audience and critics and became a symbol of hope and unity for the country.
Her version of the national anthem became a hit single that reached the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was re-released after the September 11 attacks in 2001, raising money for charity. Her performance also set a new standard for future national anthem performers, who tried to emulate or surpass her vocal prowess and emotional delivery.
The music and entertainment at the Super Bowl have been an integral part of the event’s history and culture, as they have provided moments of joy, excitement, controversy, and emotion for the fans and the performers.
The halftime show and the national anthem have showcased some of the most talented and influential artists in music history, who have used their platform to express their artistry, creativity, and messages to a global audience.
