The Super Bowl halftime show is an annual event, featuring unforgettable performances by major artists. These 10 halftime shows stand out for their creativity and lasting impact on pop culture.
Michael Jackson revolutionized the Super Bowl halftime show in 1993. Before him, these performances were mostly filler between the 2 quarters. He stood motionless on stage for over a minute, letting the anticipation build and then gave a flashy performance.
Gaga performed an entertaining multi-song set that was simultaneously confrontational and engaging. It was a celebration of inclusiveness and individual identity, Lady Gaga wasn’t going to compromise herself and beliefs just because she was in front of her largest audience ever. The whole set was lgbtq-forward, family-forward, and America-forward.
8. Shakira and Jennifer Lopez (2020)
In 2020, Shakira and Jennifer Lopez delivered a celebration of Latin pride. They brought an electric stage presence with, and guest appearances from Bad Bunny and J Balvin. This show wasn’t just about music, it was a declaration of cultural significance and empowerment.
7. Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, 50 cent, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar and Eminem (2022)
In Los Angeles, there was a six-name headline that featured a stage that was a map of the city, with vintage cars and houses with rooms. These legends gave a surreal performance with memorable choreography that made history.
The Weekend’s 14-minute set began with a stage set in the stand, the city of Tampa’s skyline (which hosted the 2021 Super Bowl) and he was backed by a masked choir. He included a semi-unsettling funhouse which ultimately contributed to his promised “cinematic experience”.
5. Coldplay, Beyoncé, and Bruno Mars (2016)
All around the stage at the center of the Levi’s Stadium field, there were bold colors, dancers holding floral umbrellas, and a kaleidoscope stage. Coldplay was the headline of the show but functioned more as an opening performance before the real act. Beyoncé and Bruno Mars then took the stage individually. Beyoncé delivered songs with declarations of black pride while Mars ran through a hyper dance routine of “Uptown Funk”.
Expectations were high for Rihanna because she had been busy with her beauty/fashion brand and this was her first public performance in five years. During her show she announced that she was pregnant but that in no way affected her set. She delivered an empowering and surprising performance, including her retouching her makeup mid-song.
Twenty-time Grammy winner Kendrick Lamar flooded the stage with symbolism creating a statement during his performance. He included an all-black dance cast, Samuel L. Jackson as Uncle Sam, an interpretative form of a split American flag, a game board, and multiple disses at Drake. Not to mention a guest appearance of SZA. It was an intelligent strategy to showcase his artistry and political views.
Katy Perry’s sense of theatrics is what made her halftime show the best. It began with her entering the stadium on a giant mechanical tiger with glowing red eyes, containing ridiculous props with women dressed in giant sharks and flames. Those stunts alone make Katy Perry’s performance incredibly deserving of all the recognition!
There are three reasons why Prince’s performance was so incredible: the stage presence, the musicians, and the downpour of rain. Two days before the Super Bowl, the weather forecast wasn’t looking very promising, so the producers didn’t want him to perform live, but Prince wanted to perform anyway. ended up making the most iconic halftime show of all time as he sang “Purple Rain” during the storm.
