Best Super Bowl Halftime Shows

Once they debuted as an alt-rock act in 2000 with “Yellow,” it was unthinkable that Coldplay would finally ascend to Tremendous Bowl standing. Nicely, over time, the band took over the planet with its introspective mushy rock, and earlier than headlining Tremendous Bowl 50, the group added some dance grooves to its music and colours to its palette with the A Head Stuffed with Goals LP.

The booty-shaking, Technicolor Coldplay was on full show at Tremendous Bowl 50, however extra importantly, they invited two artists with PhDs in dance to make issues iconic. Bruno Mars and Beyoncé introduced then-new hits “Uptown Funk!” and “Formation,” respectively, and the following showdown between their dance troupes was irresistible. Main kudos to Coldplay for letting two different artists steal the band’s personal halftime present.

It was the day that the phrase “wardrobe malfunction” entered the American vernacular. Debate about whether or not Justin Timberlake “unintentionally” uncovered Janet’s nipple whereas ripping off a portion of her costume has raged since that Houston halftime. FCC fines have been assessed, thrown out and appealed in courtroom, however the courtroom of in style opinion continues to be out over why Jackson appeared to bear the brunt of the backlash and profession influence whereas Timberlake appeared to stroll away pretty scot-free.

However, bedazzled breast or not, you must admit that J&J placed on a reasonably superior present. It’s a disgrace that what most individuals bear in mind is simply the final two seconds.

She rode in on an enormous gold tiger. She grinded on Lenny Kravitz’s guitar. She gave the web prime meme materials with the now iconic Left Shark. (If you understand, you understand.) What extra may you ask for?

Katy Perry’s halftime present was 12 minutes of lights, coloration, particular results and fireworks, and fairly stable vocals for somebody who spent the entire time dancing in excessive heels or flying over the stadium strapped to a mechanical capturing star. Plus, the pop star barely scratched the floor of her catalog of high 10 hits along with her setlist, that means extra folks than not have been seemingly capable of sing alongside from begin to end. And the cherry on high? Missy Elliott joined her onstage as a particular visitor, effortlessly performing hits comparable to “Work It” and “Get Ur Freak On.”

When Rihanna hit the (levitating) stage at Tremendous Bowl 2023, she hadn’t launched an album in seven years or carried out onstage in 5 years. The busy Barbadian pop star had been focusing her vitality on constructing out her Fenty Magnificence empire (to not point out changing into a mom), so it was no big shock that style felt as intrinsic to her halftime set as sound. That rubbed a couple of people the improper approach (not everyone seems to be a fan of marshmallow puffers, apparently), but it surely shouldn’t have – Rih introduced precisely the correct amount of professionalism (choreo was on level) and DGAF rock star vitality (test her face as she strutted throughout the earthbound stage) to make this soar. When all was mentioned and danced, it turned the most-watched halftime present ever.

A purported “secure alternative” by the NFL following the earlier yr’s “Nipplegate” controversy that includes Timberlake and Jackson, McCartney signaled the transition from modern pop acts to basic rock legends acting at halftime.

Atop an X-shaped stage fabricated from video projectors, the ex-Beatle first warmed up with “Drive My Automotive.” He then adopted up with “Get Again,” earlier than buying and selling his guitar for a piano throughout a fireworks-laden rendition of Wings’ James Bond theme, “Stay and Let Die.” Saving his greatest for final, McCartney signed off with “Hey Jude,” throughout which the 84,000 in attendance at Jacksonville’s Alltel Stadium all joined in for the enduring coda.

No schticks, no gimmicks, simply good quaint rock n’ roll. The Rolling Stones saved it easy and basic with their activate the Tremendous Bowl stage, which was made to appear like a huge model of the band’s iconic emblem — a pair of crimson lips with a tongue protruding — for the efficiency.

Mick Jagger did as Mick Jagger does, wiggling his hips and strutting across the stage with reckless abandon. The band performed simply three songs, each from begin to end: “Begin Me Up,” “Tough Justice” and naturally, “Satisfaction.” 

Keen to maintain viewers glued to their televisions, the NFL whipped up the Greatest Freaking Halftime Present Ever, starring Michael Jackson. The late King of Pop whipped viewers right into a frenzy with a lip-synched medley of “Jam,” “Billie Jean” and “Black or White.” MJ then cued up a snippet of “We Are the World” as the group turned over playing cards revealing drawings by the youngsters of Los Angeles.

And simply in case viewers missed his message of concord, MJ concluded with “Heal the World,” whereas surrounded by 3,500 kids, as a blow-up globe deployed on the 50 yard line.

Opening with Woman Gaga singing a medley of “God Bless America” and “This Land Is Your Land” from the roof of the Tremendous Bowl stadium, the New York Metropolis pop star then launched herself from the heavens down onto the stage, singing dance-pop favorites “Poker Face,” “Born This Approach,” “Dangerous Romance” and extra.

It was definitely probably the most visually gorgeous and vocally spectacular halftime exhibits in Tremendous Bowl historical past, and her stage exit might be the very best the present has ever seen: She mic dropped, caught a soccer toss and hopped off a staircase into nothingness. Overlook taking a bow or flashing a smile — that’s the way you finish a present.

Driving an enormous buzz for her then-forthcoming album MDNA, Madonna charged into her Tremendous Bowl XLVI halftime efficiency because the quasi-gladiatorial captain of a cheerleading squad that included LMFAO, Nicki Minaj, M.I.A. and CeeLo Inexperienced. Amid Roman troopers, Madge entered the sphere on a golden throne to belt out longtime favourite “Vogue” earlier than being joined by LMFAO for a “Occasion Rock Anthem”/”Horny And I Know It” infused tackle her 2000 hit “Music.”

Positive, the Materials Woman slipped a bit whereas dancing in these thigh-high-heeled boots, however her Tremendous Bowl gig’s most talked about second got here when M.I.A. and Minaj joined her for contemporary single “Give Me All Your Luvin’.” It occurred quick, however everybody watching at dwelling definitely noticed M.I.A.’s mischievous center finger, which sparked its personal mini-“Nipplegate”-esque controversy. Nevertheless, Madge’s epic “Like a Prayer” finale, aided by CeeLo and a big robed choir, ensured that the 12-minute spectacle ended with the main focus proper again on the music.

In 2009, the Boss beckoned viewers to step away from the guac and “put the rooster fingers down” earlier than continuing to rock Tampa for the subsequent 12 minutes. Although Bruce turned down a number of prior invites to carry out on the large sport, Springsteen’s set was proof that good issues come to those that wait.

The E Avenue Band rocked by a four-song set of crowd favorites, however the largest hit got here when Jersey’s most interesting slammed right into a TV digicam together with his crotch throughout “tenth Avenue Freeze Out.”

After her silhouette was lit on fireplace, Beyoncé emerged from a cloud of smoke with an impressed show of hits (together with “Love on Prime” and “Loopy in Love”) and multimedia indulgence throughout her Tremendous Bowl XLVII Halftime Present efficiency. And that was all earlier than Future’s Youngster‘s long-rumored reunion commenced when Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams shot out from underneath the stage like pistons to affix Bey for “Bootylicious,” “Unbiased Girls” and “Single Girls.”

Throughout Beyonce’s reign on the halftime stage, she was additionally backed by dozens of feminine dancers and band members (together with a killer horn part), and progressive animation screens with duplicate Beys working wild.

Hip-hop lastly bought its halftime present highlight in 2022 when Dr. Dre and his cohorts took over the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. Beforehand introduced performers Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar and Eminem have been joined without warning friends 50 Cent (rapping “In Da Membership” the wrong way up) and Anderson .Paak, who banged away on the drums throughout Slim Shady’s “Lose Your self.”

From Dre sitting on the piano to play “Nonetheless D.R.E.” to Snoop rapping to Blige’s booty-shaking “Household Affair” to Kendrick’s fashionable basic “Alright,” it demonstrated that hip-hop is greater than prepared for its second – and plenty of extra to come back, we hope — on the Tremendous Bowl Halftime Present. The Emmy Awards agreed: This was the primary Tremendous Bowl halftime present ever to win a high program Emmy — excellent selection particular (reside).

Lower than 5 months after the tragedies of Sept. 11, 2001, U2 introduced the heart-shaped stage from their Elevation tour to the gridiron. The band kicked off with “Stunning Day,” but it surely was their 9/11 tribute that captured probably the most consideration.

As they performed “The place the Streets Have No Title,” a scrolling backdrop featured the names of all the victims who perished within the assaults, and Bono completed the track by opening his jacket to disclose the celebs and stripes in its lining.

Lengthy identified for erotically charged performances, Prince was a curious halftime alternative solely three years post-Nipplegate. Whereas he did wield that purple, unpronounceable-symbol-shaped guitar in an unabashedly phallic approach behind a display, the ecstatic genius of Prince’s efficiency was the best way he truly performed the instrument.

The rocker powered by his personal classics (“1999,” “Let’s Go Loopy”) and the classics of others (“Proud Mary,” “All Alongside the Watchtower”). However the explosive coda was “Purple Rain,” which had the stadium filled with testosterone-pumped soccer fanatics waving their arms and howling in falsetto as, sure, an precise downpour swamped Miami’s Dolphin Stadium.