Last year I felt compelled to take an honest look at the Super Bowl halftime show because of all the hate that was directed at Maroon 5. With the controversy still very much raging over Super Bowl LIV I, again, feel compelled to weigh in.
Even as I write this, there are those out there claiming that this was a triumph of women’s empowerment featuring two middle-aged mothers putting dancers half their age to shame on one end, and those claiming that the show was inappropriate at best.
My verdict?
- The 2020 halftime show was very, very sexy.
- Was it over the line? Whose line are we talking about? Are we talking about folks who have never experienced Latinx culture, even from the safe confines of YouTube? Then, sure. It was likely over their line.
- Was it a terrible show when compared to its contemporaries in the modern halftime show era? Far from it.
- The Super Bowl LIV halftime show was one of the biggest spectacles that has ever been presented during the big game. I objectively find that to be undeniable.
- Through my own, admittedly biased, lens, I still rank it high at #7 on the top halftime shows of the modern era.
Read on to find out why.
[Original post below with the addition of the 2020 Halftime show]
Super Bowl LII is in the books, and America has a lot to complain about when it comes to this year’s contest. Many offense-minded fans are upset that the game unfolded more like a Premier League European football match than a clash between American football teams. Everyone outside of New England is livid that Tom Brady has his 6th ring. Finally, there are claims from all over the internet that Maroon 5 helmed the WORST halftime show in history.
As a full-time music fan and a fairweather (at best) football fan, I decided to review all of the halftime shows of the modern era to see if the haters were right. For the purpose of this blog I’ve defined the modern era as starting in 2001 with Super Bowl XXXV featuring Aerosmith, NSYNC, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige, and Nelly.
The verdict? Maroon 5 and company are FAR from the worst halftime show in modern history. In fact, there are least five shows that were worse.
Sweet Guitar Tones Rankings of Modern Super Bowl Halftime Shows From Worst To Best
20. The Who (2010)
19. Choose or Lose featuring Janet Jackson, P. Diddy, Nelly, Kid Rock and Justin Timberlake (2004)
18. Shania Twain, No Doubt and Sting (2003)
17. The Black Eyed Peas featuring Usher and Slash (2011)
16. The Rolling Stones (2006)
15. Maroon 5 featuring SpongeBob SquarePants, Travis Scott, Big Boi and the Georgia State Marching Band (2019)
14. The Kings of Rock and Pop featuring Aerosmith, NSync, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige and Nelly (2001)
13. Justin Timberlake & The Tennessee Kids featuring University of Minnesota Marching Band (2018)
12. Madonna featuring LMFAO, Nicki Minaj, M.I.A. & Cee Lo Green (2012)
11. Katy Perry featuring Lenny Kravitz and Missy Elliott (2015)
10. Paul McCartney (2005)
9. Bruno Mars & Red Hot Chili Peppers (2014)
8. Lady Gaga (2017)
7. Shakira & Jennifer Lopez (2020)
6. Beyoncé (2013)
5. Coldplay featuring Beyoncé & Bruno Mars (2016)
4. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (2009)
3. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (2008)
2. U2 (2002)
1. Prince featuring the Florida A&M marching band (2007)
The Prelude To the Modern Halftime Show
For a bit of history, let’s take a look back at the halftime shows from before 2001. They were largely marching band shows or themed tribute nights. Some of the ideas were great, like 1998’s Tribute to Motown (on Motown’s 40th anniversary). Some were fun, like the 1997’s Blues Brothers Bash. And some were questionable at best, like Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye (yeah, a ride at a theme park…).
The first flash of what could be considered a modern Super Bowl halftime show came from the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, in 1993. Many of what would become modern halftime show tropes were on full display during this performance, including the reveal of a decoy Jackson on top of the Jumbotron followed by the surprise emergence of the actual Jackson from beneath the stage. Once in view, Jackson let the tension build until the audience was practically begging him to start. The finale of the show included a choir, an inflatable globe, and the audience creating oversize images using large cards. However, it would be 8 years before performances of this calibre started to regularly grace the halftime stage.
Setlist:
- “Jam”
- “Billie Jean”
- “Black or White”
- “We Are the World” (Michael Jackson with a children’s choir)
- “Heal the World”
So let’s start with the worst of the modern-era halftime shows.
19. The Who (2010)
This pains me to write. I’m a huge Who fan. But this performance was bad.
After rewatching it many, many times I’m convinced that most of the problems were rooted in technical difficulties. The mix was bad. Townshend’s electric guitar was way too high in the mix. The passing of John Entwistle also impacts the band’s sound. As great as Piño Paladino is, he’s not Entwistle. Entwistle’s Bach organ-sized sound would fill in any gaps behind Townshend’s sparse lead paying. Without him, and with the second guitar buried in the mix, Townshend sounds like an out-of-touch player rather than one of the true guitar heros of his generation.
It’s too bad that the Who didn’t play the halftime show 7-8 years earlier. They owned the Concert for New York City after 9-11. They were at the top of their game. In this performance, though, they were out of touch with themselves and their audience.
Setlist:
- “Pinball Wizard”
- “Baba O’Riley”
- “Who Are You”
- “See Me, Feel Me”
- “Won’t Get Fooled Again”
18. Choose or Lose featuring Janet Jackson, P. Diddy, Nelly, Kid Rock & Justin Timberlake (2004)
This show comes off as a direct reaction to 2003’s lackluster show. It’s as if the NFL tried to recreate the success of 2001’s mashup by putting a bunch of hit-makers on the same bill, shaking it up and hoping for the best.
The theme was lost almost instantly. As soon as the PSA was over, there was no more reference to voting or getting involved. P. Diddy didn’t even wear his “Vote or Die” shirt that seemed inescapable in 2004.
This show fell victim to the same challenges faced by dance pop acts. It was hard to get the right balance of music and vocals. Also, knowing the controversy that would result from the final moments of this evening’s performance, Nelly’s “Hot In Herre,” becomes an erie foreshadowing of things to come when you rewatch this performance.
Kid Rock’s performance is solid and what you’d expect from him. I’m sure if the NFL was expecting any trouble they thought it would come from Rock, who has always been outspoken. But it was the closing number that made this set infamous. Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson’s performance of “Rock Your Body” led to the term “wardrobe malfunction” entering the vernacular.
Setlist:
- ‘Choose to Party!’ Intro (Jessica Simpson)
- Marching bands
- “All for You” (Janet Jackson)
- “Bad Boy for Life” (P. Diddy)
- “Diddy” to the tune of “Mickey” (P. Diddy)
- “Hot in Herre” (Nelly),
- “Mo Money Mo Problems” (P. Diddy)
- “Bawitdaba” (Kid Rock)
- “Cowboy” (Kid Rock)
- “Rhythm Nation” (Janet Jackson)
- “Rock Your Body” (Justin Timberlake with Janet Jackson)
17. Shania Twain, No Doubt and Sting (2003)
This halftime show was a monumental step back compared to the year before, when U2 provided one of the best halftime shows in Super Bowl history. This was more like the shows in the 90s, but without at least a theme to tie it all together.
The best thing that can be said about this show is that it gave a nod to country music, which has been left out of the halftime shows that followed — despite being a major commercial force in music.
Unlike 2001’s show, there wasn’t even an attempt to bridge the gap between styles. The show ground to a halt between Twain ending and No Doubt starting. At least the transition into Sting went smoothly, since No Doubt served as his backing band and their ska-influenced rock translated to the Police’s reggae-influenced rock sound well.
Setlist:
- “Man! I Feel like a Woman!” (Shania Twain)
- “Up!” (Shania Twain)
- “Just a Girl” (No Doubt)
- “Message in a Bottle” (Sting with No Doubt)
16. The Black Eyed Peas featuring Usher & Slash (2011)
This performance was the Black Eyed Peas savoring the tail end of their 15 minutes of fame. It was largely a Tron-inspired autotune spectacle.
The mix made things challenging. Most of the time it sounded like there was too much vocal and not enough music. Particularly challenging are moments when Fergie went from singing to hyping the crowd without moving the microphone far enough away from her mouth to compensate. That resulted in unpleasant shouting.
The emergence of Slash gave me hope that things would get better, but the accent Fergie adopts to try and sound like Axl Rose took me right out of the moment. I know she could have done better, because when she was on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Concerts singing the female parts to “Gimme Shelter” she knocked it out of the park.
Usher didn’t really offer much to the show other than some fun astronaut-inspired costumes and dance moves. The only part of this show that came off well was their breakthrough hit “Where Is The Love.”
Setlist:
- “I Gotta Feeling” (The Black Eyed Peas)
- “Boom Boom Pow” (The Black Eyed Peas)
- “Sweet Child O’ Mine” (Slash & Fergie)
- “Pump It” (The Black Eyed Peas)
- “Let’s Get It Started” (The Black Eyed Peas)
- “OMG” (Usher & will.i.am)
- “Where Is The Love?” (The Black Eyed Peas)
- “The Time (Dirty Bit)” with “I Gotta Feeling” reprise (The Black Eyed Peas)
16. The Rolling Stones (2006)
The Rolling Stones were an unpopular choice when they were tapped to perform at the Super Bowl in Detroit in 2006. Eight years prior, the halftime show was a tribute to Motown on the occasion of their 40th anniversary and it was hoped that with the big game coming to Detroit that the chosen performers would have some kind of connection to Detroit’s rich musical history.
While it doesn’t make up for the missed opportunity to honor black musicians, at least it wasn’t a completely tone-deaf decision. The Rolling Stones had acknowledged that they built their career on the Blues and brought many pioneers of the form to a second wave of prominence in the 1960s. If the NFL had somehow gotten Led Zeppelin to reunite for a performance, that would have been far worse considering their well-documented history of lick-lifting without credit.
The performance itself didn’t come off very well. The best part is Mick Jagger being Mick Jagger, working the crowd and going through the motions with enthusiasm. Unfortunately the sound was not good and Keith Richards’ usually tasteful guitar tone comes across like a gorilla scratching a guitar string.
The Stones also only played three songs instead of the four done by other heritage acts like Paul McCartney, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. The Stones’ performance would have been far more exciting if they had added one more song and cut some of the parts out of tracks like “Start Me Up” and “Rough Justice.” It wasn’t all bad though — “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” came off solid.
Setlist:
- “Start Me Up”
- “Rough Justice”
- “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”
14. Maroon 5 featuring SpongeBob SquarePants, Travis Scott, Big Boi and the Georgia State Marching Band (2019)
Maroon 5 was the most complained-about Super Bowl headliner in recent memory. Similar to the way people complained that the Rolling Stones were not the right band to pay tribute to the musical heritage of Detroit in 2016, in 2019 people were saying the same thing about Maroon 5 and Atlanta.
Maroon 5 came out of the gate strong, playing two of their biggest hits and getting the crowd going. Like many female singers, Adam Levine removed more and more clothing as the set went on. Unlike many female singers, he was questioned for that choice…. Hmmm… I wonder why….?
The first time I thought the set was lost was when Levine suddenly had a guitar strapped to him in “This Love.” I didn’t know he could play guitar. After holding it without playing it for an uncomfortably long time, he provided some, surprisingly, pretty solid lead guitar work. Unfortunately this was largely lost on the TV audience as he spent most of the solo on the side of the stage where the camera angles were poor.
Travis Scott was forgettable. Diving into the audience after his bars was probably the best part of his set.
The cinematography of the halftime show in recent years continues to amaze me. The highlight was the spinning camera shots focused on Levine. Another highlight of the performance was how “She Will Be Loved” had that almost U2 spirit is in the room feel to it.
Hometown hero Big Boi came out and took the show in another direction while Levine settled into a backing role with the band. As the set ended, the rock breakdown and pyrotechnics were solid.
Setlist:
- “Harder to Breathe” (Maroon 5)
- “This Love” (Maroon 5)
- “Sicko Mode” (Travis Scott; intro referencing ”Sweet Victory”, which was played by the Bikini Bottom Super Band)
- “Girls Like You” (Maroon 5)
- “She Will Be Loved” (Maroon 5)
- “Kryptonite (I’m on It)” (Big Boi)
- “The Way You Move” (Big Boi)
- “Sugar” (Maroon 5)
- “Moves like Jagger” (Maroon 5)
13. 2001: “The Kings of Rock and Pop” featuring Aerosmith, ‘N’Sync, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige and Nelly (2001)
This halftime show is the first of the modern era by my definition. It’s also one of the last Super Bowls to have a theme instead of just a headliner.
The audience was treated to The Kings of Rock and Pop featuring Aerosmith, ‘N’Sync, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige and Nelly. That was an odd grouping to be sure, but an intriguing one.
In 2001 Aerosmith was riding high after their 90s resurgence, ‘N’Sync had come out of the late 90s boy band battles as the clear victor, Britney Spears was in ascendancy, Mary J. Blige was finally getting the mainstream respect she deserved, and Nelly was starting to break out.
While parts of this show were brilliant, like “Walk This Way,” it was so campy it would have made Adam West’s Batman blush. The pre-recorded AeroSync bit with Ben Stiller was cringeworthy, and the dance-offs were both too planned out and too spontaneous. It is also clear that the camera crew wasn’t used to this kind of star-studded, multiple-vocalist affair. Many times the singer that you heard was not the one you saw on the screen.
For all its faults, though, this show was the beginning of a new era for Super Bowl halftime shows.
Setlist:
- Pre-recorded intro sketch with Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Aerosmith, and NSYNC
- “Bye Bye Bye” (‘N’Sync)
- “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” (Aerosmith)
- “It’s Gonna Be Me (‘N’Sync)
- “Jaded” (Aerosmith)
- “Walk This Way” (Aerosmith, ‘N’Sync, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige, Nelly)
12. Justin Timberlake & The Tennessee Kids featuring University of Minnesota Marching Band (2018)
I wanted to like this show, but even before it got started there were a few ghosts hanging over the production. First was the fact that Timberlake was being allowed back to the halftime show while Janet Jackson was all but blacklisted for the infamous wardrobe malfunction in 2004. The other involved Prince’s recent death. The game took place in Minneapolis, and rumours of a Prince hologram performance (against the wishes of his estate) were everywhere.
Since 2004, Timberlake had become a solo superstar. He was also one of the funniest musicians to ever host Saturday Night Live. He was certainly a culturally relevant choice, but probably not the best one.
His performance included the most separate stages of any modern Super Bowl. He went from a “club” inside of the stadium into the bowl of the stadium, down a catwalk, onto the stage, and around to other stages, strutting all the way.
The strutting led to three feelings.
- This is kind of dragging on.
- This is not the “backstage tour monologue trope” on SNL. This is the Super Bowl.
- He looks like he’s gloating.
As far as the Prince tribute goes, it was a tribute to Prince’s stunning halftime performance in 2007 rather than a tribute to his entire career. It would probably have been better to have referenced the Purple One another way.
Setlist:
- “Filthy”
- “Rock Your Body”
- “Señorita”
- “SexyBack”
- “My Love”
- “Cry Me a River”
- “Suit & Tie” (Featuring the University of Minnesota Marching Band)
- “Until the End of Time”
- “I Would Die 4 U” (Pre-recorded video of Prince displayed on a projection screen with Justin Timberlake)
- “Mirrors”
- “Can’t Stop the Feeling!”
11. Madonna featuring LMFAO, Nicki Minaj, M.I.A. & Cee Lo Green (2012)
Madonna was a surprise pick for the 2012 Super Bowl. Many thought she was past her prime, but she delivered a very exciting and physical performance. Her dance background was on full display as the centerpiece of the show really was the dancing. The vocals were often lost in the mix, as many dance-focused acts’ vocals are at the Super Bowl.
The guest artists were mostly curious choices. The flash in the pan that was LMFAO was… On stage… I guess. Mostly they just looked weird and gave a nod to what was on the radio at the time.
Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. seemed out of place for most of their time on stage. They felt like props except for when they each got their chance to spit a few bars. Minaj took full opportunity to put her stamp on her moment while M.I.A.’s moment didn’t really translate well and is mostly known for flipping the bird to the camera.
Cee Lo Green was largely forgettable on “Open Your Heart” and “Express Yourself.” However, he was great on “Like A Prayer” (always a barnburner) with his sparkly choir robe!
The odd choices of the night included the tightrope dancing guy in Roman garb and the parting “World Peace” visual effect on the field.
Setlist:
- Vogue” (Madonna)
- “Music” / “Party Rock Anthem” / “Sexy and I Know It” (Madonna with LMFAO)
- “Give Me All Your Luvin'” (Madonna with Nicki Minaj and M.I.A.)
- “Open Your Heart” / “Express Yourself” (Madonna with Cee Lo Green)
- “Like a Prayer” (Madonna with Cee Lo Green)
10. Katy Perry featuring Lenny Kravitz and Missy Elliott (2015)
The NFL was going to have a hard time topping Madonna, Beyonce, and Bruno Mars. Katy Perry got the nod, helped along by Lenny Kravitz, Missy Elliott, and Animatronic Tiger and, of course, Left Shark.
Perry’s long intro to “Eye of the Tiger” was visually exciting but could have done without the exaggerated roar at the end. “Dark Horse” contained exciting visuals that were reminiscent of the Beijing 2008 opening ceremonies (although with more CGI and fewer drummers). It was a cool spectacle, but nothing more.
Lenny Kravitz got introduced and sang “I Kissed A Girl” so well that I’m honestly interested in hearing him sing the rest of the song rather than just the verse, chorus, and outro that he got to play before they moved into “Teenage Dream.”
And then… Left Shark…
Missy Elliot’s entrance to the stage was almost as out of place as some of the transitions from 2003 & 2004, where one artist ends and another… just starts. At least the nature of the intro allowed it to be played off like a bad DJ transition, but it honestly could have been better. Perry and Elliot didn’t have much chemistry together, but when Elliott got to take the stage on her own for “Lose Control” she made the space her own.
One of the best parts of the 2016 mashup (featuring Coldplay, Beyoncé and Bruno Mars) was how the show kept going and how the artists stayed on for the rest of the performance. I like to think that this idea came out as a direct response to how 2015 went with Kravitz just disappearing and then Elliot giving a wave before Perry ended with Firework suspended by a flying “The More You Know” shooting star.
Setlist:
- “Roar” (Katy Perry)
- “Dark Horse” (Katy Perry)
- “I Kissed a Girl” (Lenny Kravitz and Katy Perry)
- “Teenage Dream” (Katy Perry)
- “California Gurls” (Katy Perry)
- “Get Ur Freak On” (Missy Elliott and Katy Perry)
- “Work It” (Missy Elliott and Katy Perry)
- “Lose Control” (Missy Elliott)
- “Firework” (Katy Perry)
9. Paul McCartney (2005)
After the controversy that was the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show, the NFL played it very safe by calling in Paul McCartney. He had kicked off the 2002 Super Bowl by playing his 9-11-inspired track “Freedom.”
Unlike other heritage acts, McCartney was in fine playing form when the Super Bowl came knocking. His band, which is still in place today, had been together for two years when they played during the big game in 2005. Because of this, you got a great energy, a great sound, and a great performance.
Never afraid to try new ideas and new technology, McCartney performed on a stage that was able to display images like the video boards that are very common at shows today. I happened to watch this halftime show with a friend who is an internationally touring sound engineer, and when he saw the stage he remarked that “those things had JUST come out in the trade magazines.”
The Super Bowl became the prime place to debut not only new ad campaigns but also the best production gear available.
Setlist:
- “Drive My Car”
- “Get Back”
- “Live and Let Die”
- “Hey Jude”
8. Bruno Mars & Red Hot Chili Peppers (2014)
I honestly didn’t know much about Bruno Mars before this show. I had heard a few tracks in passing but never intentionally listened. I had heard that he was an entertainer like Michael Jackson, so I was excited to see what he had in store for us.
After starting with a children’s choir, Mars began a nearly 1-minute drum solo. Ballsy move. The drums were clearly live to an electronic beat, leaving him little room for error. I didn’t even know that he played drums and I was very impressed with his skill.
When his band hit the stage and they tore into “Locked Out of Heaven,” it felt like the best parts of Motown, James Brown, Philadelphia and Vegas showmen all coming together in an exciting modernized form. But it wasn’t just a gimmick. These cats could PLAY, probably showing off some of the best musicianship to grace the halftime stage in the modern era.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers were also on the bill. I’m honestly not sure why. It was probably a way for the NFL to hedge its bets after signing a young act like Mars. They shouldn’t have worried. Mars and company had the show well in hand, but like true professionals they planned their set out so that when the Californicators came out with “Give It Away” the audience was prepared. Actually, with Mars’ band behind them, I have to say this was the most I’ve ever enjoyed seeing the Peppers on television.
That being said, the inclusion of the Red Hot Chili Peppers made this show’s ranking plunge from a likely top 5 position all the way down to 8.
After the Peppers finished, there were pre-recorded videos of the troops saying hello to their loved ones. The subtle military snares in the background were the perfect segue back into Mars’ final song.
Setlist:
- “Billionaire” (Intro) (children’s choir)
- “Locked Out of Heaven” (Bruno Mars)
- “Treasure” (Bruno Mars)
- “Runaway Baby” (Bruno Mars)
- “Give It Away” (Red Hot Chili Peppers with Bruno Mars)
- “Just the Way You Are” (Bruno Mars)
7. Lady Gaga (2017)
Lady Gaga’s performance may be one of the most subversive in history. While it started off as what appeared to be the usual star-spangled-spectacle one would expect, Gaga had a few surprises in store. After performing a brief medley of “God Bless America,” and “This Land Is Your Land,” she referenced the pledge of allegiance by stating, “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty, and justice, for ALL,” before jumping off the roof of the stadium and onto the field. While this can be viewed as more of the usual flag waving, those familiar with her work know that she is an LGBT+ Icon and her inflection on the word “all” makes it clear that she is starting her performance on the largest American stage by making the statement that all means all and there should be liberty and justice for all in the United States of America.
Like Beyonce and Jackson, Gaga made the crowd wait a few beats before she got started. Once she got going she tore through a catalog of her hits. Of course I’ve got to give her points for her brief stint on the Keytar, even if it did come at the expense of a backup dancer who was temporarily turned into a voice-activated microphone stand.
She also nailed the dismount of the halftime show when, dressed in stylized football pads, she dropped the mic, caught a glittered football, and jumped off camera.
Setlist:
- “God Bless America”/”This Land Is Your Land”
- “Poker Face”
- “Born This Way”
- “Telephone”
- “Just Dance”
- “Million Reasons”
- “Bad Romance”
7. Shakira & Jennifer Lopez 2020
The first thing I noticed about this performance was that this was not the usual fare for a Super Bowl halftime show. In the modern era the farthest the NFL and Pepsi have drifted from traditional rock & roll has been hip-hop and pop. This was different. Taking a nod from the host city of Miami, this was a Latinx explosion of song and dance!
Of course purists will protest over lip-synching complaints and, while I see their point, I don’t think that there are honestly that many high-level performers out there who are really playing every note we hear coming through our TVs. But that’s another post all together.
The biggest complaints I saw online in real-time, and have seen since, has been about how sexualized the performance itself was. My first reaction to that is that everything I’ve seen about Carnival includes highly sexualized costumes, music and dancing. If that is the norm for a major celebration in many Latinix cultures, why would a halftime show in Miami be any different? I hope that the same people that, rightly, protested importing the Rolling Stones to play in such a storied music city as Detroit in 2006 are also defending 2020 for at least being representative of some, although admittedly not all, elements of the culture of the host city.
My main complaints on the sexuality of the performance are pointed at the directing and editing of the TV coverage. I’m not talking about the focus on the performers bootys. Frankly that focus was a given as soon as the performers were announced. My issue was more with the camera angles. As a photographer, in addition to a blogger, I know that a lot can change in a shot based on the angle it’s shot from. Personally, I think a few of the angles were… lower… than they needed to be – I’ll own it, I’m talking about the now famous J. Lo slide. But, on reflection, this performance was likely rehearsed to death – cameras included – so if this was her artistic choice I’m here for it.
Finally, many people are talking about how the men were mostly covered up while the women were scantily clad. I agree that this trope has played out for generations in a myriad of environments. That being said, I am pretty sure that it was Shakira and Jennifer Lopez who chose, or at least approved, their wardrobe while the backup dancers and minor featured acts likely were told what to wear.
In the end, I hear the complaints from those who thought that this performance went too far. While I respect that their experience of this performance was different from mine I personally rank this among one of the best halftime shows of the modern era and I welcome the inclusion of new sounds and looks into the halftime show.
Setlist:
- “She Wolf” (Shakira)
- “Empire” (Shakira)
- “Osos Así / Whenever, Wherever” (Shakira)
- “I Like It” (Shakira featuring Bad Bunny)
- “Chantaje / Callaíta” (Shakira featuring Bad Bunny)
- “Hips Don’t Lie” (Shakira)
- “Jenny From The Block” (Jennifer Lopez)
- “Ain’t It Funny” (Jennifer Lopez)
- “Get Right” (Jennifer Lopez)
- “Waiting For Tonight” (Jennifer Lopez)
- “Booty” / “Que Calor” / “El Anillo” / “Love Don’t Cost A Thing” / “Mi Gente” (Jennifer Lopez featuring Balvin)
- “On The Floor” (Jennifer Lopez)
- “Born in the USA” (Jennifer Lopez featuring daughter Emme Maribel Muñiz)
- Let’s Get Loud (Jennifer Lopez featuring daughter Shakira)
- “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” (Jennifer Lopez featuring Shakira)
6. Beyonce (2013)
Entering to the words of Vince Lombardi and a wall of fire, silhouetted in light and flame, Beyonce stood alone with confidence to spare. She made the audience wait for it, taking a page from Michael Jackson’s playbook. Kicking into “Crazy in Love,” she owned not only the stage but the telecast as well. Her gift for knowing where the camera is is uncanny.
Less than 9 years after Janet Jackson’s bare breast being deemed too controversial for the Super Bowl halftime show, Beyonce’s show was orders of magnitude more sexual, proving that time and the confident assertion of female sexuality can break through the boundaries.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t give major props to the flaming guitar played by Bibi McGill. This, plus the great projection and LED displays, made this not only an exciting musical performance but also an exciting visual experience.
Beyonce shared the stage with her former Destiny’s Child bandmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams as they emerged from beneath the stage for two of their hits. They also joined Beyonce for “Single Ladies” before she closed out with “Halo.”
Setlist:
- Run The World (Girls)” (Intro) / Vince Lombardi “Excellence” speech voiceover
- “Love on Top” (chorus a cappella) (Beyoncé)
- “Crazy in Love” (Beyoncé)
- “End of Time” (Beyoncé)
- “Baby Boy” (Beyoncé)
- “Bootylicious” (Destiny’s Child)
- “Independent Women Part I” (Destiny’s Child)
- “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” (Beyoncé featuring Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams)
- “Halo” (Beyoncé)
5. Coldplay featuring Beyoncé & Bruno Mars (2016)
For the 50th anniversary of the Super Bowl, the NFL went with a smart combo of safe pop-rock in the form of Coldplay with featured performances from two excellent halftime alumni, Beyoncé and Bruno Mars.
This was the best multiple-act halftime show of them all because each act was allowed to be themselves. They came together in a way that didn’t seem forced at all. Coldplay’s Chris Martin also demonstrated one of the qualities that makes Bono a great frontman: his ability to unselfishly share a stage.
Since this was a west-coast Super Bowl, the halftime show took place in daylight. Ordinarily this makes for a less visually interesting show, but very bright colors made this as visually appealing as earlier performances by the likes of Katy Perry and the Black Eyed Peas.
Setlist:
- “Yellow” (intro a cappella) (Coldplay)
- “Viva la Vida” (Coldplay)
- “Paradise” (Coldplay)
- “Adventure of a Lifetime” (Coldplay)
- “Uptown Funk” (Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars)
- “Formation” (Beyoncé)
- “Crazy In Love”/”Uptown Funk” (Beyoncé, Bruno Mars)
- “Clocks” (instrumental) (Coldplay)
- “Fix You”/”Up & Up” (Coldplay, Beyoncé and Bruno Mars)
4. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (2009)
Springsteen had been approached about the Super Bowl in the past and had turned down the invitation. But after seeing Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers steal the show — and receive a major bump in record sales — in 2008, the Boss was ready to bring the heart-pounding, Earth-stomping, air-conditioner-shaking, legendary E-Street to the 50 yard line.
Like the Heartbreakers the year before, this was a band at the height of its latter day power (minus the untimely passing of the Minister of Mystery brother Dan Federici, the band’s longtime organist, in 2008).
Both Petty and Springsteen put on great sets with classic tracks to keep the audience happy, but Springsteen, ever the showman, took it one step too far in my opinion. I LOVED the throwback opening pose adopted by Springsteen and Clarence Clemons, and the power slide leading to Springsteen’s crotch being thrust into the camera (to his profound embarrassment) was a great rock ‘n’ roll moment. But changing the lyrics of “Glory Days” to reference football instead of baseball, the whole delay of game skit with the referee, and the call that they’re all going to Disneyland were just a bit too much for me.
Setlist:
- “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out”
- “Born to Run”
- “Working on a Dream”
- “Glory Days”
3. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (2008)
Riding high after their 30th anniversary tour and subsequent career-spanning documentary, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers brought their show to the 2018 Super Bowl in Arizona.
Like many of the heritage acts that have played the Super Bowl in recent memory (including Rolling Stones, The Who and Paul McCartney), the Heartbreakers didn’t have any special guests and they played complete songs. Unlike their contemporaries, their set rose to the top of the heap because they were in prime performing shape, they dabbled with just enough special effects to enhance their show and their repertoire of short songs didn’t let anyone in the audience get bored.
Fun fact: While I am now a Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers superfan, I had lost touch with their work after the mid 90s. Subsequently, I didn’t realize that Mike Campbell had grown his hair out into dreadlocks. So when I first watched the performance, I was livid that someone other than Campbell was soloing over Heartbreakers tunes so passionately. The following day I was embarrassed, and relieved, to learn that it was Campbell all along enjoying a moment he well deserved!
Setlist:
- “American Girl”
- “I Won’t Back Down”
- “Free Fallin'”
- “Runnin’ Down a Dream”
2. U2 (2002)
In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, a shaken nation found solace in two musical acts that were coming out of a challenging period in the 90s. Bruce Springsteen and his newly reunited E-Street Band’s album The Rising and U2’s album All That You Can’t Leave Behind saw both acts returning to the career heights they had enjoyed in the 80s.
While Springsteen’s music celebrated the resolve of first responders and the strength of a community united in the face of tragedy, U2’s music provided a feeling that better days were ahead. This made U2 an excellent choice to perform a show with the theme of A Tribute To Those Killed in the September 11 Attacks.
Since this Super Bowl took place in the Superdome, which was capable of suspending a traditional lighting rig, this is one of the halftime shows that looked the most like a traditional concert. It also allowed for the scrolling of the names of all of those who perished on 9/11 to be displayed as U2 transitioned from “MLK” into “Where the Streets Have No Name.”
Bono has remarked that “‘Where the Streets Have No Name’ is what we play when we need the Holy Spirit in the room.” In this case it was the perfect closure to the most serious halftime show in modern history. Respectful, but with that defiant joy that U2 has come to represent.
Setlist:
- “Beautiful Day”
- “MLK”
- “Where the Streets Have No Name”
1. Prince featuring the Florida A&M marching band (2007)
Prince is one of those artists that, while I always respected, I was never an active fan of. I knew a lot of the singles, and the first CD that was truly my own was the soundtrack he made for Tim Burton’s Batman (Warner Brothers 1989). That was the extent of my contact with Prince and his lengthy back catalog.
Then in the mid 2000s, two things cemented Prince in my mind as a master musician and a master showman. The first was in 2004, when he stole the show during George Harrison’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The second was the 2007 Super Bowl.
Prince owned the stage with a confidence that only he can bring to the biggest football game of the year. And he did it in the pouring rain! While football games are all-weather affairs, concerts without roofs rarely go on in the rain for a variety of safety reasons. But the elements were no match for the Purple One as he tore through originals and covers alike with passion and flair.
Highlights included his unexpected cover of Foo Fighters’ “Best of You,” the climax of “Purple Rain,” and his larger-than-life guitar solo projected behind the curtain.
Setlist:
- “We Will Rock You” (Queen cover) (Intro)
- “Let’s Go Crazy”
- “1999” (Interlude)
- “Baby I’m a Star”
- “Proud Mary” (Ike & Tina Turner / Creedence Clearwater Revival cover)
- “All Along the Watchtower” (Bob Dylan / Jimi Hendrix cover) (Snippet)
- “Best of You” (Foo Fighters cover)
- “Purple Rain”