It is a month since pop princess Rihanna wowed the crowds at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, during the halftime interval of Super Bowl LVII. Before revealing her second pregnancy, Rihanna belted out renditions of “Only Girl (In the World)”, “Rude Boy”, “Work”, and “Umbrella” before the Kansas City Chiefs came from behind to defeat the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35. Although she was lip-syncing badly, Rihanna’s performance was widely praised, which got us thinking about some of the great Super Bowl halftime shows.
Ever since the University of Arizona Symphonic Marching Band, the Grambling State University marching Bad, Al Hirt, and Anaheim High School Hi-Steppers Drill Team and Flag Girls entertained spectators at the first-ever Super Bowl in 1967, some of the world’s biggest music stars have stepped onto the field during the Super Bowl’s halftime interval. Chubby Checker, Gloria Estefan, Diana Ross, Boyz II Men, and Aerosmith are just a handful of acts to perform on the NFL’s biggest stage, but which performances are the best?
Prince – 2007
The greatest-ever Super Bowl halftime show occurred at the Dolphins Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, in February 2007. While the best sports betting sites in California were predicting the game’s outcome, the 74,512 supporters inside the stadium, and the 140 million watching on television, were unaware that they were about to witness something extraordinary.
The late Prince was fond of flamboyance, which came out during his show, which took place in the middle of a torrential downpour. Prince started with “We Will Rock You,” which went into “Let’s Go Crazy,” “Baby I’m a Star,” and then the Creedence Clearwater hit “Proud Mary.” Prince continued dazzling with “1999,” “All Along the Watchtower,” and a cover of the Foo Fighters‘ “Best of You” before finishing with an epic version of “Purple Rain.”
Prince fought hard to keep his performance from YouTube, but it has been widely shared since his death in 2016.
Beyonce – 2013
Both NME and Rolling Stone ranked Beyonce‘s 2013 Super Bowl halftime show as one of the best. More than 71,024 spectators inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, sat open-mouthed after the Ricky Kirshner produced and Hamish Hamilton directed Beyonce masterclass took place.
Beyonce sang “Love on Top,” “Crazy in Love,” “End of Time,” and “Baby Boy,” after which Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, who used to be part of Destiny’s Child with Beyonce. The trio gave viewers a trip down memory lane with “Bootylicious,” Independent Woman Part I,” Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) before Beyonce signed off with “Halo.” It was a typical Beyonce performance; is any pop star more suited to the Super Bowl shenanigans than her?
Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, and 50 Cent – 2022
Whether you like the genre or not, there is no denying the 2022 Super Bowl halftime show was nothing short of incredible. It was the first Super Bowl halftime show to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Live) award; it also won the Outstanding Music Direction and Outstanding Production Design for a Variety Special category.
With the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams tied 10-10 at halftime at the SoFi Stadium in California, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg sent a wave of nostalgia over the airwaves with “The Next Episode” and “California Love” before 50 Cent appeared with his blockbuster hit “In da Club.” More rapping and R’n’B greats entered the fray, with Mary J. Blige‘s “Family Affair” and “No More Drama” getting the crowd on their feet, with Kendrick Lamar and Eminem joined forces for “Forget About Dre.” Truly epic and well deserving of a place on this list.