Super Bowl XLV is upon us. It’s the final game of the NFL season and the most hyped, most watched event of the year. Part of that hype is the annual announcement of who will perform the halftime show. This year, the NFL has tapped The Black Eyed Peas to perform. Since every song they release seems to go to the top of the charts for 47 weeks, this is a pretty good selection.
Most recently, the halftime performers have been for a more mature crowd. Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, The Who, etc. But the halftime show wasn’t always a big deal. In the ’80’s, the shows included Chubby Checker and South Florida area dancers. In 1992 for Super Bowl XXVI the halftime show was Gloria Estefan, Brian Boitano and Dorothy Hamill. Yes, Estefan performed while Boitano and Hamill skated around. Fox decided to counter program with a live “In Living Color” to great success. Next year the NFL booked Michael Jackson and the spectacle of the halftime show began.
Michael Jackson begins his Super Bowl halftime performance by freezing.
What was the best show? What was the worst? Here is a list of the halftime shows since The King of Pop:
Super Bowl XXVIII: Wynona Judd, Naomi Judd, Clint Black, Travis Tritt and Tanya Tucker
If you were a country fan I guess this would be a good show. I might be more interested in Brian Boitano.
Super Bowl XXIX: Tony Bennett, Patti LaBelle, Arturo Sandoval and Miami Sound Machine
I thought these were supposed to get better. I guess Estefan wasn’t invited back but the Miami Sound Machine was.
Super Bowl XXX: Diana Ross
Super Bowl XXXI: James Brown, ZZ Top and The Blues Brothers
Not sure how you get that combination but whatever.
Super Bowl XXXII: Boyz II Men, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations and The Four Tops
Super Bowl XXXIII: Gloria Estefan, Stevie Wonder and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
The people demanded it, and they brought back Estefan. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy performed at the height of the swing craze until everyone realized that swing was stupid.
Super Bowl XXXIV: Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias, Toni Braxton and Edward James Olmos
Edward James Olmos?!
Super Bowl XXXV: Aerosmith, Britney Spears, Nelly, Mary J. Blige and *NSYNC
MTV’s TRL did this show at the peak of its popularity. The show featured a medley of the performers hits, finishing with everyone singing “Walk This Way.”
Super Bowl XXXVI: U2
U2's Bono shows off an American flag while paying tribute to those that died on 9/11.
My favorite ever. After 9/11 emotions were high. The last song was “Where the Streets Have No Name” with a list of all the people that died. Bono ended the show lifting his jacket to reveal an American flag. Who knew an Irish band could make us all feel so patriotic.
Super Bowl XXXVII: Shania Twain, No Doubt and Sting
Super Bowl XXXVIII: Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, OutKast, P. Diddy, Kid Rock and Nelly
The infamous wardrobe malfunction. After Jackson bared all, the networks went for safer acts.
Super Bowl XXXIX: Paul McCartney
Macca rocked the place with whole crowd singing along to “Hey Jude.”
Super Bowl XL: The Rolling Stones
Would you have ever thought that Mick Jagger and Keith Richards would be picked to perform because they won’t do anything indecent?
Super Bowl XLI: Prince
Same for Prince. Almost on cue, the rain came pouring down during “Purple Rain.” Then Prince made everyone pancakes.
Super Bowl XLII: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Super Bowl XLIII: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
This was the halftime show where my buddy Fitz said he wouldn’t go to a Springsteen show for free. This was around the time that he flew to Washington D.C. to see Josh Groban.
Super Bowl XLIV: The Who
They went too old. Stories circled that The Who didn’t even rehearse. They were supposed to kick off a tour after the SB but those plans went away.
So here we are. The Black Eyed Peas will probably start with “Let’s Get It Started” and end with “I Gotta Feelin’.” They have said that they have some surprise guests in store. My money is on Gloria Estefan.
Read more of Jason's work at Fade to Black in the Communities at the Washington Times.
Jason Black is a regular sports contributor on America's Morning News and America's Radio news. Coincidently, or not, does movie reviews for KJ103 and102.1 Kissin' Country. You can also follow Jason on Twitter @jasonblack23.
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