What’s the deal with the Super Bowl Halftime show? Why is there suddenly an enormous, spectacle of a concert, with people dancing and singing in flashy costumes, in the middle of a brutal, important and highly competitive sporting event? When you think about it, the National Football League people had a pretty genius idea to create this must-watch television event during the game in order to rope all of the non-sports fans into watching something they don’t understand for an hour-and-a-half.
So, for anyone more into music than sports, here are the top 5 Super Bowl Halftime shows for you to watch.
5) Bruce Springsteen, 2009, Super Bowl XLIII
He asked us to “step away from the guacamole dip” and to “put those chicken fingers down” and when the Boss gives us orders we listen. Bruce Springsteen sounded great — as the E Street Band tends to do — and his set list hit the classics, including “Born to Run.” The only problem was it was just too short for a band used to playing three-hour sets.
4) Paul McCartney, 2005, Super Bowl XXXIX
Sir Paul went with a few tracks you wouldn’t expect with his halftime show such as “Drive my Car” and “Get Back”. That’s what made this performance a bit special.
3) U2, 2002, XXXVI
If anyone can perform in an arena it’s U2. Bono’s voice can’t really fit anywhere else, which makes U2 probably the only band qualified to play at the Super Bowl. And there were SOO many cameras for Bono to stare directly into.
2) Michael Jackson, 1993, Super Bowl XXVIII
This has been hailed as one of the most-watched events on television history. From the opening moments with just a tease of the “Thriller” chorus, and Michael Jackson appearing first on the giant TV screen then from out of nowhere in the center of the stage, you know it’s something special — especially by 1993’s standards.
1) Prince, 2007, XLI
What makes big events like this really memorable are surprises, and Prince was an odd choice for a Super Bowl performer — a gamble, really. But it paid off. From his cover of “All Along the Watchtower”/”Best of You” to the Prince-symbol-shaped stage to his solo during “Purple Rain,” this turned out to be one of the most unexpectedly awesome Super Bowl halftime shows.
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