All discussions regarding Gaga's Super Bowl Halftime show should go here. A separate [FRESH PERFORMANCE] thread for the halftime show is permitted once the show is done.
You can also use this thread to talk about the overall Super Bowl, from the game itself to the commercials!
Happy Super Bowl Sunday!
So... thoughts?
edit: link to performance on twitter and on youtube
I'd love to see Walk the Moon because they're my favorite band, but the Foo Fighters would be awesome and I feel like Beyonce at the Houston Super Bowl would've made more sense than in Santa Clara.
Remember this series from last year? For those of you that weren’t here or don’t remember, I did a series last year leading up to the Super Bowl where I reviewed every single halftime show from Super Bowl XVIII-on. We reviewed over 30 years of halftime show history in depth, seeing the good (like Prince and Michael Jackson), to the bad (like Elvis Presto and whatever atrocity was going on during Super Bowl XXV), to everything in between.
And, seeing as another Super Bowl is coming up, it only seems fitting to continue this series by taking an in-depth look at what might be one of the most anticipated halftime shows of all-time. The controversy and rumors surrounding this show have been plentiful, and we’re still a few days away from the event actually occurring. From reports that she may use the show as a platform to make a political statement to reports of her performing on the roof of NRG Stadium, this halftime show could be unprecedented.
So, it’s time for an in-depth preview at the Super Bowl LI halftime show with Lady Gaga. If you want to see my preview from last year’s halftime show, here you go.
Part I: A New Era of Halftime Shows?
When I created my series of the halftime show history last year, I divided the halftime shows into seven different eras.
| Era | Super Bowl Period | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Marching Band Era | Super Bowl I – Super Bowl IX | The halftime show consisted of marching band performances and instrumentals. It felt more like a traditional college halftime show with no additional fanfare attached to it |
| Cheese Era | Super Bowl X – Super Bowl XXI | The halftime show’s attention began to shift towards cheesy acts designed to fill the field, like Disney and Up With People |
| Transition Era | Super Bowl XXII – Super Bowl XXVI | While the halftime show started to get recognizable names like New Kids on the Block, Chubby Checker & Gloria Estefan, it was still stuck in the Cheese Era, just with more name recognition |
| Emergence Era | Super Bowl XXVII – Super Bowl XXX | The halftime show began to truly be taken seriously, starting with Michael Jackson’s performance at the Rose Bowl and ending with Diana Ross leaving Sun Devil Stadium in a helicopter. This was the era where we discovered what the halftime show could be |
| Poly-Headline Era | Super Bowl XXXI – Super Bowl XXXVIII | With the exception of Sup |
Been thinking about this, do you think he would do “The Recipe” with Dre? Or maybe fill in a verse on a Cali classic with snoop and Dre? Lmk in the comments.
This wouldn't be Bennett's first halftime show. He did the Super Bowl XXIX halftime show with Patti LaBelle in an Indiana Jones themed event. No, I cannot make that up.
Talk about a dramatic Super Bowl. I’ve been putting this one off for a few days now just because of other obligations and so that I could let what transpired on Sunday soak in, but now, it’s time to get to it and review the most recent halftime show- the Super Bowl LI halftime show starring Lady Gaga. In many ways, this was a halftime show that broke the mold from previous halftime shows, and may have started a new era in halftime show history. Unlike previous Super Bowls, it did not end in a ballad. Unlike previous Super Bowls, it only starred her, and there were no other guest performers. And, as expected, Lady Gaga did Gaga-esque things, consistently breaking the mold, being innovative, and going where no halftime performer had gone before.
The early reaction to this halftime show? In terms of reviews, I’ve seen nothing but positive reviews on this halftime show. From the reviews I’ve read on this halftime show, it’s been nothing but praise, and people are calling it one of the best halftime shows of all-time. Having said that, I have disagreed with the critics before. The Super Bowl XXXIV halftime show, which consistently pops up on the worst lists, was a show that I really enjoyed and still watch from time to time. The Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show, which keeps popping up on the best lists (probably because of the final 2 seconds), was a show that I absolutely hated. So, with that being said, how does the most recent halftime show look? Let’s dive right in and take a look at the Super Bowl LI halftime show.
NOTE: As always, this is not a review based on one viewing. I have seen this halftime show in its full length on YouTube over 8 times in the past 3 days to make this review. Keep that in mind- this reaction is not based purely on what I saw on Sunday night
Background Information
This halftime show was kept entirely under wraps, to the point where nobody knew what to expect. There were so many contradictory reports about what would actually take place in terms of guest stars. There was the report that she would be performing solo, with no other guest stars, which would make it the first time since The Who in Super Bowl XLIV that an artist did the show solo (and the first time since Diana Ross in Super Bowl XXX that a female star would do it). But then, there was [the possibility that Tony Bennett would make an appearance](h
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