It’s that time of year again where we get to witness two of the best teams in the NFL play to be crowned champion. The Super Bowl is the crown jewel of professional sports, with millions of people around the world watching every single year. Last year, Super Bowl LVII was the second most-watched TV program of all time, just behind the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969. This year, the Kansas City Chiefs return to familiar territory to possibly become back-to-back champions, but have a talented team that stands in their way, the San Francisco 49ers. It should be quite a showdown, but we all know the Halftime show is nothing to sell short. Here is my list of the Top 10 Halftime performances to ever grace the stage of the Super Bowl.
10. Coldplay, Beyoncé, and Bruno Mars (2014)
Just look at those three names and tell me with a straight face that this show would be boring. You can’t, and it definitely wasn’t. All three respective artists are none too familiar with performing in sell-out stadiums around the world, but put them together and you have something that pushes the boundaries of something magical. To mark a half-century of Super Bowl games, the NFL selected Coldplay to start the show, followed by the return of Bruno Mars and Beyoncé to finish the show. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9cUytejf1k
9. Madonna (2012)
No one was sure as to what we would witness with a halftime performance by Madonna, but it was one for the books. Already a pop icon, Madonna graced the stage with her hit Vogue to start it all off, followed by artists like LMFAO, Nicki Minaj, Cee Lo Green, and even some Roman soldiers to march her around. With this Super Bowl being hosted in Indianapolis, many local high school students appeared in the drumlines, respectively.
8. Michael Jackson (1993)
The King of Pop made his mark in halftime performances with one of the most iconic concerts ever. Live at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, MJ lit up the stage with hits like Billie Jean and Black and White. Overall, this concert was about one message: peace and love. He gave the world an outstanding live version of We Are The World and Heal The World. Truly and iconic venue for the most iconic pop figure in history.
https://youtu.be/EsopN7JKUVs
7. Rihanna (2023)
Rihanna fans were rejoicing worldwide as they saw her grace televisions everywhere with her first live performance in five year. No need for special guests or costume changes, she rocked it the entire time with what God gave her. The choreography of her dancers, the floating platforms, and her classic style of singing made this one of the best performances she’s ever given. Oh yeah, she was pregnant and hoisted up in the middle of the field for all to see.
6. Bruno Mars & The Red Hot Chili Peppers
This was possibly the most-fun performance to watch. Bruno Mars started the entire show with a kickass drum solo, followed by a full band with matching choreography. Midway through his set, he was able to mesh his own music together with the introduction to the Red Hot Chili Peppers as they started with their classic Give It Away. The entire audience in the stadium gave that energy back with millions at home dancing along.
5. Shakira and Jennifer Lopez (2020)
The two most dominant Latina women in music came together in 2020 to perform a spectacular halftime show. Performing their classic hits together in amazing costumes and outstanding choreography that dazzled the television screen, Shakira and J-Lo reminded the world that they still have it and never lost it. Of course, why not throw in two more Latin artist that are dominating the charts. J. Balvin and Bad Bunny respectively added the final touch to an incredible show. And can we talk about the INCREDIBLE shape these two ladies are in at 43 and 50 respectively?
4. Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, 50 Cent, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar (2022)
What do you get when you put a handful of some of the greatest talents in hip hop together on the biggest stage of them all? This masterpiece. Using a simple set that looks like a neighborhood block in LA, Dre and Snoop start it off with their classic ‘Next Episode’. Dre even stands behind a makeshift producing board. 50 Cent shows up upside down to keep the energy going, with Mary J. Blige making the world bob their heads to ‘Family Affair’. Kendrick Lamar being the youngest talent in the lineup shows he can hang with the big dogs of the hip hop industry with his latest hits. Next, Eminem caps off the last few minutes with his best performance of ‘Lose Yourself’ in front of millions. This was one of the greatest hip hop shows of all time, possibly even the best. No one expected anything flashy, but were expecting the best hits of each artist, and they did more than deliver.
3. Aerosmith, NSYNC, Mary J. Blige, Britney Spears, Nelly (2001)
Aside of the show in 2022, this is probably the most star-studded lineup the Super Bowl halftime show has ever seen. You have NSYNC, the hottest boyband at the time starting off the party, followed by Aerosmith, one of the greatest rock bands of all time. As I’m writing this, it dawns on me that Justin Timberlake has performed at THREE Super Bowl halftime shows. He held his own in his first appearance here with his fellow NSYNC members with their top pop hits and choreography to match. You honestly couldn’t tell at some points in the early performance which band was getting the loudest cheers, NSYNC or Aerosmith. They ROCKED it. Gracefully, Britney Spears and Mary J. Blige pop up on stage to give some supporting vocals to the fellas. And wait, Nelly is here too?? When did he get here? Oh well, it’s awesome. The fireworks rock, the talents rocked, the game rocked. What a night.
2. Beyoncé, Destiny’s Child (2013)
The visuals. The nostalgia. The choreography. The music. What a night for the Bey-Hive and for the Queen herself, Beyoncé. It’s hard to be bored when you start off the show with one of the best songs made in the 2000’s with ‘Crazy Right Now’ and a guitar with fireworks on it. As she slays her hits from her career, she brings back Destiny’s Child for one night only. Childhoods everywhere screamed cheerfully in unison. To close out the show, Beyoncé kicks up the volume in vocals to show the world she can do it all and more. All hail Queen B.
1. Prince (2007)
You’d have to be an absolute fool to believe there was a better halftime performance than this. Script writers couldn’t make something up quite like this. The multitalented Prince hits a slippery stage in the rain to deliver an unforgettable performance that made people forget this was during a football game. And come on, ‘Purple Rain’ IN the rain?? Are you serious? Goosebumps. What makes me sleep well at night is knowing the fact my favorite team, the Indianapolis Colts, won the game with Peyton Manning at the helm. A perfect Super Bowl.
Think there was a halftime performance I missed? Tell me what you think!
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