Are You Not Entertained?
When we think of the Super Bowl, we often think of the teams that worked their butts off to get where they are. We have bets at stake, all kinds of snacks on the table, and an annual party that gets all the boys together. However, some could argue that the real entertainment lies at halftime, where some of the biggest performers don the stage to deliver the show of a lifetime. With that, let’s revisit some of the top performances and why they’re still hailed as iconic.
1. Michael Jackson
Okay, well, when the King of Pop enters the stage, what else are we expecting? MJ’s phenomenal halftime show is easily the best one we’ve had in years. He nailed his classics, brought us his dance moves, and reminded everyone why he topped so many charts. Don’t even get us started on the pyrotechnics and costumes.
2. Prince
We’ve heard a thousand covers of “Purple Rain,” but no one’s doing it better than the OG artist himself. Not only did fans get treated to the classic song, but they also got to watch Prince perform it in the middle of a literal downpour. It doesn’t get any better than that.
3. Beyonce, Coldplay, and Bruno Mars
Apparently, it wasn’t enough for us to have just one incredible musician. Coldplay took the stage during Super Bowl 50 to belt out some of our favorite hits…right before they welcomed Beyonce and Bruno Mars on stage for a mash-up no one saw coming. They all knocked it out of the park, and though they don’t seem like the best blend of genres, they proved just how well they work together.
4. Dr. Dre and Friends
Seeing Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg alongside Eminem was incredible enough, but hip hop fans also got to see Kendrick take his spot alongside the genres titans. Wait—we’re still not done! Perhaps our favorite move of the whole performance was 50 Cent’s drop from the ceiling to take us way back in time.
Jason Persse from Brooklyn, USA on Wikimedia
5. U2
U2’s memorable performance was actually less about their hits and more about the stand they took. A few short months after the tragic 9/11 attacks, they took to their heart-shaped stage and displayed the names every lost life as they sang “Where the Strees Have No Name.”
