At least I'm old enough to remember good halftime shows of the past.

[WarGamer]

Michael Jackson, Prince, Madonna... Lady Gaga and Springsteen, Beyonce and U2...

Hell even Shakira and J-Lo with Bad Bunny were better than tonight.

[Emile]

1. This is horrible

[demosincebirth]

78. I agree!!😢

[BOSSHOG]

2. Remember UP WITH PEOPLE

That was way back halftime shows

[LeftInTX]

58. Apparently, they are still popular in Mexico

&ab_channel=RobertBrew

[ALBliberal]

3. Tom Petty so many good ones

[DenaliDemocrat]

4. This looks like a Jr High talent show

It’s baaaaaad

[senseandsensibility]

5. Not watching

What's wrong with it? Nothing will ever compare to Prince IMO, but times change.

[Traildogbob]

34. Ditto on the Prince show

But on a positive note, MAGA, Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, Neo Nazi’s, MTG and pretty much all of GQP have to be as raged as we have had to be dealing with since 2016, and especially since November. Our time to smirk like Moses Mike.
I am just giddy over their outrage of an all black show. Had as many white performers as Trump has black cabinet members. Hershel don’t count, outta sight outta mind.

[roscoeroscoe]

82. Coldplay,

Oddly the lat time the Eagles won the SB

[Dorian Gray]

103. I hate coldplay

To each their own.

[roscoeroscoe]

107. Here's the You Tube

Pretty good even if you think they're pop music junk, I thought they were great. I love Bruno Mars too.

[AkFemDem]

6. Bruno Mars!!!

[TexasBushwhacker]

23. My brother is a very dedicated amateur musician

We were hanging out at a family wedding a couple of weeks after the Super Bowl that year. He has a friend who throws a SB party every year. Even though Bruno isn't really my brother's kind of music, I said "OMG, did you see Bruno Mars on the Super Bowl?!"

My brother's response was "Bruno is the REAL DEAL." Indeed he is, and I'm a 68 year old white lady!

My favorite halftime is still Prince though.

[ALBliberal]

7. Is it horrible? Can't watch and yet feel I have the

“Right” to ask friends suffering through it

[ProfessorGAC]

11. It's Certainly Targeted At...

...people very unlike me.
But, the single largest slice of his demographic are people 50-64, so go figure.
I found it derivative and dull.
Like I've seen it all before.

[Tickle]

8. Oh good, it's not just me NT

[LogDog75]

9. I liked the halftime show from Super Bowl XXXIII in

The theme of the halftime show was Celebration of Soul, Salsa and Swing featuring Music Hall Gloria Estefan, Stevie Wonder, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and Savion Glover.

[tishaLA]

10. I love Kendrick

Zero interest in Springsteen or U2

[WarGamer]

12. Maybe it's my age... loved snoop, dre and fifty cent in LA a few years ago...

I like Pit Bull and Bad Bunny...

"This" style of rap does nothing for me.

[tishaLA]

13. Kendrick doesn't have the laid back style of Snoop

Or really Dre. It's very aggressive, in your face, and socially conscious

[harumph]

15. I thought it was brilliant.

People not familiar with Kendrick aren't going to follow the lyrics and miss a lot.

[True Dough]

27. I don't think

Drake and his lawyer missed one single thing!

[still-prayin4rain]

52. Me too, I loved it!

[DET]

61. I Couldn't Make Out the Lyrics

Don’t know if it’s my hearing or his enunciation. Not my up of tea, but I’m glad a lot of people liked it. And if it pissed off Trump and the MAGAts, I’m all in.

[Emile]

83. Lyrics are words in a song. The last thing I would call that is a song.

There was no singing at all.

[harumph]

93. root of song and memory is rhyme.

[Dorian Gray]

104. Funny

I love Springsteen, I like Kendrick, and I think U2 is boring as hell.

Music tastes are so personal.

[Alliepoo]

14. Not watching the game at all. But fwiw

I LOVED the Shakira/ J Lo halftime show!!

[WarGamer]

17. Shakira bats 1.000... never misses

[True Dough]

30. She's also a huge tax cheat

Sheltering her wealth in overseas tax havens.

[DeepWinter]

85. She is Colombian

And the taxes due were to Spain.

[True Dough]

86. And no less a tax fraud!

BARCELONA, Spain — After having maintained her innocence for nearly five years, pop star Shakira struck a last-minute deal to avoid the risk of going to prison on the opening day of her tax fraud trial in Barcelona on Monday.

Shakira told the presiding magistrate, José Manuel del Amo, that she accepted the agreement reached with prosecutors. She answered "yes" to confirm her acknowledgement of six counts of failing to pay the Spanish government 14.5 million euros (about $15.8 million) in taxes between 2012 and 2014.

https://www.npr.org/2023/11/20/1214135694/shakira-tax-fraud-deal-trial#:~:text=Shakira%20reaches%20deal%20on%20tax%20fraud%20charges%20to%20avoid%20prison%20%3A%20NPR&text=Hourly%20News-,Shakira%20reaches%20deal%20on%20tax%20fraud%20charges%20to%20avoid%20prison,a%20fine%20of%20%247.6%20million

[Mosby]

95. That's a lot of dough.

Nt.

[RandomNumbers]

16. I only saw a little bit of it

I hadn't ever listened to this guy so I figured it wouldn't be my style of music, and it sure as heck wasn't. I popped my head into the living room a few times but mostly puttered around finishing up some things so I can crash when the game is over.

I assume it was target at a different demographic.

Still, glad I didn't have my heart set on a halftime show I would enjoy.

[WarGamer]

19. My secret fantasy is a Metallica halftime show.

[RandomNumbers]

20. LOL I could go for that

but I'd be surprised if it ever happened.

I could also go for The Offspring.

[WarGamer]

37. the last chance for Metallica would be Super Bowl 2026 in San Francisco... home of Metallica.

[BOSSHOG]

31. Next Year let's have

The Rolling Stones and the Doobie Brothers. The Dinosaur Tour. Halftime for old guys. Doobies CD out in June with other old gang and Michael McDonald back together.

[Srkdqltr]

39. Then others won't like it. How funny. Its like this every year.

[BOSSHOG]

42. I'd like to have them play in my back yard

But you are right. Ain’t gonna get 100% acceptance. And the acoustics seem to be not the best for TV.

[proud patriot]

54. Or TOOL

[Dave Bowman]

18. The one I'll never forget is Janet Jackson and whatsisname and the whole circus that followed.

[eppur_se_muova]

48. There's now a crater on Mimas named after Janet Jackson ...

(Not really. )

[malaise]

21. Tonight was pretty good

I give tganks that my friends kids, neighbors kids and those I influenced keep me young.
That was well done.

[2 Meow Momma]

22. I'm old enough to remember marching bands at half time. LOL

I’m sure Kendrick fans are loving it. He and the dancers were working hard to entertain.

[tulipsandroses]

74. I liked it and real hip hop fans recognize the greatness that is K-Dot

He is one of the last few true hip hop MCs. DNA is one of my favorite hip hop songs of all time. Glad he did it. Given all the anti DEI bullshit.

Serena crip walking, was the nail in the coffin for Drake’s career. 😂

I doubt there are many true hip hop fans on DU so I expect that most here won’t be KDot fans. Good music, like beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

[SoFlaBro]

81. I'm over 50 and grew the fuck up on hip hop. Kdot has slowly grown on me over the last few months. Watching closely.

[ChazII]

89. I also remember the days of

the marching bands.

[LexVegas]

24. Drake fan? nt

[Paladin]

25. Ari Melber probably enjoyed it.

I thought it sucked.

[49jim]

26. I switched to Celebrity Jeopardy

[True Dough]

32. Who were the contestants tonight?

And who won?

[49jim]

41. Margaret Cho was the winner

She won 47.5k….wasn’t sure of the other two…..too much for this 75 year old brain to handle.

[True Dough]

44. $47.5k is not too shabby,

but it's no 49jim!

[FalloutShelter]

28. PRINCE!

N/T

[WhiskeyGrinder]

29. oh is it time for people to show their age again lol

There was a LOT of anti-status quo subtext there.

[tulipsandroses]

75. Yeah, trying to decipher Kdot's performances is a cultural phenomenon itself. Lol

Samuel L Jackson as a black Uncle Sam.
Uncle Sam trying to control Kendrick but he can’t.
Black men forming the American flag.
I’m sure I’ll see more when I watch it again.

[OAITW r.2.0]

33. Wasn-t meant for me. Didn't pay attention.

Freaking Eagles are dominating the Chiefs. I like.

[murielm99]

35. I left in the middle of it.

It was boring.

[Docreed2003]

36. Gotta love people offering up their opinions as if it's fact

We thoroughly enjoyed tonight. It told a story, the music and performances were excellent. It may not be your cup of tea but it wasn't bad.

Edit to add: there was PLENTY of anti-Trump imagery and message in the performance as well.

[WarGamer]

40. Music is personal.

Just me... I didn't hear MUSICALITY tonight.

[Docreed2003]

50. I did, see how that works

[W_HAMILTON]

67. Plenty of anti-Trump imagery, you say?

I bet that's there reason ... some ... didn't like it in the first place...

[Srkdqltr]

38. I cannot remember a Super Bowl half time that everyone liked. The ones in the past were panned just like these are .

Just have to laugh.

Besides a lot of folks here watch Gun smoke era stuff soooooo.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

43. Bring back The McGuire Sisters sisters and Dynaflow transmissions!

(Ok Feech)

[Srkdqltr]

47. Yah, dig 'em up and let 'em sing.

[WarGamer]

46. Michael Jackson, Prince and Madonna are mostly liked... by all.

[B.See]

45. I gave it a chance.Though I've no doubt

those who are into the genre loved it. Anyone looking at what I've posted in M.A. knows my musical tastes are all over the place. However, with few exceptions, they do not include country or rap.

Though of the latter I've a few I like, including, as it so happens one by Drake ("Headlines" ) and an irresistible little ditty with a great hook the mind can't let go of, that goes, "Wanna be a baller baller, shot caller, twenty inch blades on the Impala."

Made all the more curious by the fact that I actually don't wanna be a baller, I've never driven a Chevy (best I can recall) and I'm not altogether sure what 'blades' ARE.

On a more serious note though, with all that's happening in our society today, I wish our young artists weren't so engaged in feuding with and demeaning each other in music, especially over (as yet) unfounded allegations. Nor do I particularly like the celebration of such.

Seems to me that's the kind of stuff that has the potential of getting someone hurt... or worse. After which people will be running around wondering who shot 'such and such'?

But hey, what do I know? I'm old.

[Music Man]

49. Rap is not my thing, and I would never listen to it for pleasure,

But I do readily admit that there is skill I don't understand. Kendrick Lamar is a Pulitzer Prize winner, and a couple musician friends of mine (classically trained types) that I really respect find him to be masterful. The kids can have this

Sure, I love me some marching bands and classic rock, but when one thinks about it, we have the modern-day version of poetry being performed at sporting events, and that's cool in its own way.

Besides, Kendrick Lamar is no fan of Donald Trump, so props to him.

[still-prayin4rain]

51. I'm old and I thought it was great!

[BlueTsunami2018]

53. Black empowerment seems to bother a lot of people.

Kendrick was great. Sam Jackson was great. The message was great.

You obviously don’t know the songs well enough to understand the significance of rapping “Humble” over an American Flag made of black men right in Piss Wig’s face.

Serena Williams crip walking was also brilliant.

Maybe after it’s interpreted for you, you’ll like it more.

[Sucha NastyWoman]

60. That's just it

I just didn’t understand it. But felt like,as often happens, if I put a little effort into learning and understanding it, I might like it.

[Polybius]

66. I thought the GNX was the amazing

Although him standing on the hood made me cringe.

[RandomNumbers]

73. I hear ya but

I'm betting Piss Wig (great name btw) had no more idea what was going on than I did.

That said, I made approximately zero effort, was not a captive audience, and respect the fact that my musical taste isn't the only valid one. I'm vaguely curious about the rough percentage of attendees who enjoyed it. Since they paid thousands of bucks to be there. But I guess it's the football and the experience that mattered a lot more than the halftime show.

(I am not bothered at all by black empowerment, but I don't listen to opera either, for the same reason I don't listen to much rap - it doesn't do anything for me)

Seeing comments like yours does make it more likely I'll look for it on youtube and try to understand it.

[B.See]

77. Exactly. Not saying he doesn't deserve his props, but

not every genre is everybody's cup o tea.

Re black empowerment, I'm old enough to remember the work of activists like SNCC etc. etc. and as a Black man have been championing black empowerment ever since. It's just that I personally would like to see less infighting /dissing among Black artists of each other's work, and more of that 'empowerment' directed at the REAL enemy within... at things like, for instance, getting out the vote, registering voters, activism, messaging, and protest...

so that there would be LESS misinformed, uninformed, and/or unmotivated so-called "undecideds" who go about rationalizing and identifying with Trump's machismo BULLSHIT. Hell, he even expects it of us.

So don't just talk about it. Show me.

[tulipsandroses]

91. It sure does. OR the cultural divide is quite evident. Kendrick's performances have been

the most political and pro black of any artist in recent history, but yet people -unfamiliar with him and what he does, call it garbage.
Boggles the mind.
There is a reason Jay-Z picked him for this year's performance. KDot understood the assignment and delivered. There were people upset that Lil Wayne, who kissed trump's ass to get a pardon was not chosen, even though he is a NO native. Bravo to JayZ for picking K-Dot instead. The revolution was televised!
Its one thing to not like rap as a genre of music, but when you are trashing a man who is unapologetic when it comes to being pro black, I might have to give you the side eye.

[malaise]

105. Nailed it

Rec

[Bread and Circuses]

55. Unwatchable, low energy, boring

[Silent Type]

56. 60 years of playing less than mediocre guitar, horns, mandola, etc., makes me respect musicians of all genres, except

Kid Rube, Nugent, etc.

[Comrade Citizen]

57. Brilliant Vanguard Art

That show really inspired me. Love Samuel L Jackson, Kendrick Lamar, and SZA. Loved the message. Great choreography.
It represents our future, and gives me hope.

[iemanja]

59. Get off my lawn!

[Morbius]

62. In Living Color

I am not a fan of the halftime show. Usually not my kind of music. I do remember the above, though; in 1992, in response to the boring halftime programming at the time, new network FOX broadcast a special live episode of In Living Color, which was such a hit that the NFL started their halftime shows (with Michael Jackson).

I remember predicting, in response to the aforementioned incident, that the phrase "wardrobe malfunction" would become part of the national lexicon. Some things are obvious.

[Greybnk48]

63. I watched the whole thing, even though these 76 year old ears couldn't keep up with the lyrics.

I will put in my airpods tomorrow and listen to some of his music. Why? Because anyone who has had 57 Grammy nominations, with 22 wins, AND has won a fricking Pulitzer Prize for his work "Damn" deserves respect.
I don't really understand some of the lyrics (I'm an old white lady), and they are sung too fast, but he has my respect for sure.

I also like that he went after a pedophile, Drake, shaming him for his disgusting behavior. I listened to "Not Like Us" and now I know what "jabronie" is and a "colonizer."

Never too old to learn.

[vanessa_ca]

96. Kudos to you! "Drake VS Kendrick Explained to White People"

I'm not posting this for you, but it was a brilliant explainer and I'm using this reply as an opportunity to share it. Josh barely alludes to the pedophilia, it's more of a lil history lesson about Kendrick and Drake.

[Zackzzzz]

64. How about

marching bands and baton twirlers.

[Polybius]

65. 2022 was amazing

Not sure how old you are, but it was a Gen Xer's wet dream. Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and others. 2020's was good too.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

68. Might not be your style, but Kendrick won a Pulitzer Prize for music.

He's the first musician that wasn't classical or jazz to win it. He is seriously talented. I get people don't like rap, but the music community realizes he is incredible.

[dgauss]

69. I think this U2 performance is the last Superbowl halftime music I really enjoyed. It was right after 911.

Easy to say I'm an old timer stuck in a certain genre but a big part of it was that the actual musical part of it was created by people instead of software. I understand that lyrical content and styles change but I liked the human element of the music.

(Probably have to click on the 'watch it on youtube' link to see if if you want to.)

[GoCubsGo]

70. I didn't mind it.

The music isn't really my cup of tea, but I enjoyed the dancing. And, word has it that The Fat Felon Fuck was unhappy with it, and left the game early, which made it all worthwhile.

[IbogaProject]

71. That was likely the worst ever

He didn't even play his good song.

[Tommy Carcetti]

72. My annual hot-take tradition: Prince was vastly overrated

He sung mostly covers, with the exception of Purple Rain.

The only reason people remember that show was that it was raining during Purple Rain.

[canetoad]

76. As bad as Meatloaf?

Pre-match entertainment

Pre-match entertainment was provided by American singer Meat Loaf, who performed a 12½-minute medley of his best-known songs.Meat Loaf's vocal performance, which was largely off-key, was widely panned by commentators; it was later reported that he had been suffering health issues, including a heart attack and a hemorrhaged vocal cord, in the weeks before the grand final which affected his performance. Nevertheless, years later the performance remains widely remembered and mocked in AFL states for its poor quality.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_AFL_Grand_Final

[Mountainguy]

79. Strong disagree

Kendrick was fire tonight.

[WarGamer]

80. Music is 100% subjective... I thought it was hot trash.

My ears grew up on Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin, graduated to Van Halen and Metallica to 80's hair bands... to New Wave and the birth of rap, like NWA... Tupac...

Then grunge and Cobain, Prodigy, Limp Bizkit...

Late 90's folk like Natalie Merchant...

Then Gloria Estefan, PitBull, Shakira...

It's just me but I haven't heard ANY music post 2008-ish... just noise.

[tulipsandroses]

90. Someone that likes NWA and Pac but not Kdot? That tells me you know nothing about Kendrick

Last edited Mon Feb 10, 2025, 03:56 PM - Edit history (1)

Yeah, that does not compute.

Confession time: I sometimes blast this song next to a car bearing the traitor confederate flag.LOL

?si=44JLKT6zzAXd0vy6

[WarGamer]

92. He may be a poet... but I don't hear music.

That old 80's rap... you could listen in your car and be moving to the beat... it had rhythm and energy.

Sorry... I just didn't hear it from KL.

Obviously his talent is appreciated by many... I just don't hear it

THIS... is epic.

?si=BrM5HuREjntG6atP

[vanessa_ca]

94. Interesting because Dre is one of Kendrick's biggest fans

It's ok if you don't hear it, but I have faith in you and your open mind, faith that you will if you delve a bit more into him.

[ribrepin]

84. My granddaughters loved it

I think they were going for the younger generation. Late teens and barely 20.

[justaprogressive]

87. Face it, you're OLD

I've been listening to rap since "The Last Poets"

Lamar is a true world-class grammy-winning performer.

and IF you were listening you'da noticed that SZA is the shit!



We had our time. This show was timely!!

[MineralMan]

88. You would have loved the halftime shows

my high school band put on, with me as drum major. Now those were halftime shows!

[LeftInTX]

100. Like this?

[MineralMan]

106. Maybe not quite..

LOL

[FHRRK]

97. Not sure why a liberal doesn't get the Gil Scott Heron referrence right off the bat

The revolution will be televised but you picked the wrong guy.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As a 62 year old white male, I missed a lot, but got the general vibe.

Then again, the all black performance didn't bother me, unlike some others who were watching with me.

Now I am more of a Jam Band guy, so very unlikely my genre will ever be represented.

What specifically bothered you?

[WarGamer]

98. I just didn't HEAR MUSIC.

Music runs the gamut from Sinatra to Natalie Cole to Natalie Merchant all the way to Metallica and Michael Jackson to Slayer and George Strait.

And YES... to Snoop, Dre and Tupac.

Since writing this OP I understand Lamar is a poet... talented and popular in his genre.

I just don't HEAR MUSIC.

[FHRRK]

99. Yeah, I get that

Not my thing, but my kids get it.

Seems like that is the way of the world, certain generations want their own thing.

[AZJonnie]

101. Prince doing Purple Rain and U2 doing MLK/Where the Streets Have No Name

Been a ton of great shows and moments but for my money ... top 2 songs in halftime history, with a bullet. U2 was 5 months after 9/11, and it was a MOMENT, man. Like a nation finally collectively sighed and was like "maybe thing are going to be okay, football and rock and roll will kick the darkness til it bleeds daylight". The first and last two minutes are like wooooooow to me, even still today, I remember watching it at the time so well, and I was bawling. Sometimes I still do. It's worth clicking through to, and turning it way up

https://www.nfl.com/_amp/why-u2-s-super-bowl-halftime-show-was-the-greatest-0ap3000000885742

His jacket closer felt like an atomic FU shot right up the hidden passageway of Bin Laden's Terrorcave.

?si=U_6U4KU72CBhCqT_

[Dorian Gray]

102. I'm old enough to remember them too

and while I liked some and didn't like others, Kendrick was the most watched AND the most downloaded after the fact. You don't have to like him, but plenty of people do. Not everybody loves every half time show.

[WarGamer]

108. Re: the stats

The NFL announced that 2025 was the FIRST YEAR where they used a new counting formula for viewership.

It VASTLY expanded the numbers.

FYI, KL has sold a LOT of albums (nowadays, downloads...)

Something like 55 million "Equivalent Album Sales"

Drake has 170 million

Eminem has 210 million sales...

Taylor Swift has 230 million

Madonna 250+ million

Metallica 125 million

Shakira 86 million

Carrie Underwood 85 million

Michael Jackson... 340 million and appealed to everyone from 10 to 110 years old... all colors and groups.

And the KINGS... the Beatles with 420+ million sales... most of those before downloading was a thing.