The Super Bowl has a little bit of everything from the actual game to the commercials to the halftime performance. The Super Bowl is absolute must watch and it’s not surprising the work that goes into each Super Bowl as well as the consistent high ratings each Super Bowl receives. In this article we will examine what we consider to be the top 5 halftime performances of all time and while you may not agree with some of them there is without a doubt they all are great. We will look at the game itself as well as the performances. Let the countdown begin!
Super Bowl VLIX: Katy Perry featuring Lenny Kravitz Missy Elliott and the Arizona State University Sun Devil March Band
Super Bowl XLIX will be forever remember as the Marshawn Lynch not being given the ball at the goal line for the win instead we saw Russell Wilson throw the ball which was intercepted by Malcom Butler for the Patriots win. The game ended 24-21 Patriots, but it also featured one of the top halftime performances. What made this performance worthy of the top 5? Katy Perry’s entrance on the electrical tiger was one reason as the theatrics throughout the performance and it holds the record for most wardrobe changes in history. Many believe that Miss Elliott and Lenny Kravtiz were the best of the halftime show and I would agree with the exception of her entrance and wardrobe changes her musical performance is overshadowed by Elliott and Kravitz.
Super Bowl XLVII: Beyonce
Super Bowl XLVII may be forever known as the Super Bowl that lost power, but it was also one of the better games and featured two brothers in Jim Harbaugh and John Harbaugh as head coaches as the Ravens under John beat the 49ers under Jim by a score of 34-31. The halftime show was just as good though as it featured one of the biggest names in pop music with Beyonce. What made this performance one of the best? There wasn’t any wardrobe changes or huge theatrics as Beyonce wore all black for the entire performance, but maybe the best part of the show was Destiny’s Child being reunited to perform Single Ladies.
Super Bowl XXXVIII: Jessica Simpson, Ocean of Soul, Spirit of Houston, Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, P. Diddy, Kid Rock and Nelly
Super Bowl XXXVIII was one of the better Super Bowls as it featured a game winning field goal kick by Adam Vinatieri giving the Patriots a 32-29 win over the Carolina Panthers. It also had one of the most memorable halftime shows, but what made it one of the best? The wardrobe malfunction. We saw Kid Rock come out in an American Flag ponchos which was disatorous, but the bigger thing was Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake’s wardrobe malfunction in which at the end he ripped off Janet Jackson’s shirt and we saw part of Janet Jackson’s boob which lead many people to wonder if it was a wardrobe malfunction or if it was truly intentional.
Super Bowl XXXVI: U2
This Super Bowl will forever be known as the start of a dynasty as the New England Patriots defeated the St. Louis Rams by a score of 20-17. It also featured one of the most memorable halftime performances, but what made it great? Super Bowl XXXVI took place five months after the terrorist attacks on September 11th and we got U2 even though many would’ve performed Bruce Springsteen and I’ll admit it probably would’ve been 1 on the list had it been that. Still, U2’s performance featured the song Where the Streets Have No Name while the names of the victims scrolled and Bono revealed the American Flag under his jacket. It was definitely an emotional time in the United States and the halftime show was fitting.
Super Bowl XLI: Prince and the Florida A&M University Marching 100
The game wasn’t in doubt in the 2nd half and it was Peyton Manning’s first Super Bowl win and only Super Bowl win as the Indianapolis Colt’s starting quarterback as the Colts defeated the Bears by a score of 29-17. The halftime show though is without a doubt the best halftime show in the history of the Super Bowls, but what made it the best? It featured theatrics Prince performed his show on a stage that was shaped like his symbol and a scrim shot up into the sky with his image on it at the end of the show. He had one of the best guitar solos in the history of the show, but what it even more memorable is that he did it all during the rain.
How will this year’s halftime show be? Will it be one of the better ones and will it be one of the best of all time? It will be hard to top any of the top 5 from this list, but it will definitely be worth tuning in to see.
