Greetings, reader!
Last Sunday was Super Bowl Sunday, and the traditional halftime show was performed by Usher. As a fan of the halftime show format, I decided to rank the 10 latest instances, from the 2015 one to the latest one just a few nights ago.
10. Maroon 5 (2019)
Oh jeez. I was bored out of my skull when re-watching this show for the purposes of this list to prove my hypothesis that it would be ranked last based on my recollection of it - yet somehow, frontman Adam Levine looked even more bored while performing. Maroon 5's music isn't all that great to begin with, and this low-energy performance is more or less a disgrace to the Super Bowl halftime show format. I mean, out of all the possible guest performers in a world full of great musicians, they got Travis Scott??
9. Justin Timberlake (2018)
There was a lot of controversy in the decision to bring Timberlake back at all - while what exactly happened with the ridiculously infamous incident of 2004 is complicated and much-speculated, the fact remains that Timberlake's career and reputation remained intact while Janet Jackson's career was more or less ruined, and Timberlake did very little to publicly stand by Jackson as the American media dragged her through the mud. So, Timberlake's very presence at another halftime show was less than inspiring.
Also, it's not a particularly great show. There are some cool light effects in the beginning, and the tribute to Prince is touching, but other than that, it's bang-average. The show elements are certainly more lively than in the complete joke that is the Maroon 5 halftime show, but compared to the level of spectacle seen most years, this one doesn't quite have what it takes.
8. The Weeknd (2021)
Out of all the halftime shows in recent years (or ever), this one would nab the Oscar for best set design with ease. The production values of The Weeknd's shows are insane, albeit the musical hype isn't as high as in many other shows. Of course, this was the only halftime show heavily impacted by Covid, and when you take that into account, the end result is very respectable - it certainly stands out of the crowd with its makeshift stage up in the stands.
I'd imagine it was a bit weird for the live audience, but the TV version works wonders - and of course, the Weeknd eventually makes his way to the field for the impressive Blinding Lights finale. All in all, this delightful oddball show ranks higher than the bad/subpar ones, but not as highly as the more awe-inspiring ones by slightly better artists.
7. Usher (2024)
Last week's R&B nostalgia blast ranks at a solid #7, being a thoroughly entertaining show but not as spectacular as some big favorites. Usher himself is fine, but he gets delightfully out-shined by most of his guest performers: Alicia Keys is a class act with If I Ain't Got You, H.E.R. dazzles with one firecracker of a guitar solo, and Lil Jon turns the stadium into a full-on rave for Turn Down for What.
While the show wasn't as epic as a certain hip-hop-nostalgia blast from a few years ago (more on that later), it succeeded well enough as a similar sort of throwback to the mutual ground between R&B and rap music from the 2000's. All in all, Usher's show isn't magnificent, but not a dud either, and pretty much on par for what you'd expect from a Super Bowl halftime show.
6. Rihanna (2023)
Rihanna's show wasn't as visually grandiose and explosive as some halftime shows, but it didn't need to be - the amount of radio hits Rihanna has released in the last few decades is pretty much unparalleled, so the true star power comes from the songs.
Bam, it's Bitch Better Have My Money, bam, now it's Only Girl (In the World), bam, now it's We Found Love, and the hit potpur just keeps on giving. The Run This Town / Umbrella / Diamonds climax is insane. Compared to many other halftime shows, this one was more 'music first', and the music is good enough for that to be perfectly okay.
5. Shakira & Jennifer Lopez (2020)
Here, on the other hand, we have two artists whose actual music has never been all that special to me, but whose star power and stage charisma is undeniable. You don't need to be a fan of their songs to appreciate how much fun is being had on stage, with both artists beautifully paying tribute to their cultural roots with various Latin pop elements being seen in the aesthetic in every element of the show. It's a joyful performance, with memorable moments from Bad Bunny's energetic guest performance all the way to the Waka Waka finale.
4. Lady Gaga (2017)
Speaking of energy, this one woman has more of it throughout her performance than the entire bands put together in the shows I ranked at #10 and #9. The God Bless America opening is perhaps a bit over-patriotic for my taste, but if that's what it takes for the more conservative football fans to come around to appreciating Gaga's progressive style and lyrics, it's fair enough.
In the bulk of the show, the artist goes through hits like The Edge of Glory, Poker Face and Born This Way with loads of energy, and there's no time to even think about the lack of guest performers as Lady Gaga's pace and energy fills the show's requirements with ease. Costume changes, cool pyro effects and other delightful tropes ensue until it all culminates in a banger arrangement of Bad Romance. Good stuff.
3. Katy Perry (2015)
If I ranked these performers as overall artists, Katy Perry wouldn't be ahead of the likes of Lady Gaga or Rihanna. But when purely comparing the halftime shows, Perry does a weirdly good job. The show elements are so ridiculously over-the-top that they work - the artist enters the field on a gigantic mechanical lion, and exits by flying around the stadium attached to a firework / shooting star prop.
In between, she has a blast interacting with the guest performers (a rocking Lenny Kravitz balanced out by an badass Missy Elliott). The background props and backup dancer outfits make for a zany and memorable aesthetic, nailing this one down as one of the better modern halftime shows.
2. Coldplay (2016)
Super Bowl 50 called for a true spectacle, and the chosen artists sure delivered. Coldplay is the headlining artist and they do a fine job, but the spotlight is stolen in the best possible fashion by guest performers Bruno Mars and Beyoncé. These two stars bounce off each other with sublime chemistry, with the Uptown Funk / Formation mash-up rising to levels of peak pop music magnificence.
All in all, the 50th Super Bowl's halftime show is properly explosive, highly memorable and filled with great artists performing great arrangements of great songs. One of the best.
1. Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige & Kendrick Lamar (2021)
First of all, this one made me feel old. When I first heard that this would be the lineup, my impulse was to think 'Cool, they're really getting with the times with all these trendy and relevant artists!'. Then, I realized that these rappers were trendy and relevant in my childhood, that this lineup had more of a 'blast from the past' idea to it, and that I must have felt exactly the way my parents' generation would feel if Van Halen or Aerosmith were to headline the halftime show.
When viewing the 2021 halftime show with the right attitude, as a nostalgic blast from the past and a love letter to hip hop, it's perfection.
The collection of iconic tracks is insane, the trailer park -style stage design is dope as hell, and naturally, the performances of a lineup who could make up 50% of a respectable 'Top 10 rappers of all time' list are amazing. Dr. Dre soaks in the atmosphere and energy, Snoop Dogg brings his signature chill vibe, Eminem spits out Lose Yourself while Anderson Paak has the time of his life on the drums, Mary J. Blige raps with rapid-fire intensity, Kendrick astounds with the astute timing of his rhymes, and 50 Cent makes an appearance while being upside down for some reason. This halftime show is hip hop heritage, and the only right choice for my #1.
Thank you for reading! On next week's Thursday, the date is 2/22, so I'll be celebrating the abundance of number 2's by ranking the 2 movies in the Jump Street franchise.
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