The NFL, Apple Music and Roc Nation have announced that Usher will headline the festivities at Allegiant Stadium on Feb. 11. It begs the question, what are the greatest Super Bowl halftime shows of all time?
I honestly had no idea that Usher was still a thing. Don’t get me wrong. I think Usher is very talented and enjoy his music. I’m much more of a rock and metal girl, but I can appreciate artists such as Usher have lots of talent and a huge reach. But, the last time one of my friends was excited to see an Usher show was in 1999. I kid you not. I remember that one of my friends was super excited to go see Usher in Grand Rapids, and that’s the last time I’ve heard of him. But, here we are, and Usher will headline the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in Las Vegas.
Three stand out to me. Rock and metal are always underrepresented at the Super Bowl halftime show. But, one rock performance that stands out is U2 in 2002. This was right around when the band was doing their 360 tour, which sold out around the world. The show also happened soon after 9/11, and Bono and the band performed a touching tribute, performing “Where the Streets Have No Name” on a heart-shaped stage. As they played, the names of those who lost their lives during the 9/11 attacks were projected onto a giant screen. The show also featured an appearance from Paul McCartney.
Another major Super Bowl performance was the legendary Prince in 2007. He performed a medley of rock covers and his own songs, and the fact it was raining made “Purple Rain” even more appropriate. As the rain came down, Prince performed the most passionate rendition of “Purple Rain” that you can imagine.
Finally, one more That really stands out is the recent Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg + Eminem + Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar halftime show. This historic performance happened in 2022. Even as a rock and metal fan, I totally appreciated the history on that stage. All of the artists went perfectly well together and represented an era of hip-hop, when it was very new and original.
As for who I’d like to see play the Super Bowl, honestly, a rock or metal act would be my pick. I think Metallica would be the quintessential metal band to play this event. They’re a big enough name and regularly sell out stadiums around the world. The fact they haven’t been tapped for a Super Bowl yet makes me scratch my head. People often suggest AC/DC, and they’re great, but I do think an American band would be best, since football is such an American sport. So, I’m going with Metallica.
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On an unrelated note, if you’re in Michigan anytime soon, check out some areas to view gorgeous fall colors here.