The Best Super Bowl Halftime Performances

By Mike Ryan Posted Feb 6th 2010 10:53AM

The Who will be performing at halftime of Super Bowl XLIV this Sunday. Or, more accurately, Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend, with some other people, will be performing at halftime, -- considering bassist John Entwistle died in 2002 and drummer Keith Moon died in 1978. (If Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr were the halftime act, would they be billed as "The Beatles"?) The Super Bowl halftime show has gone through quite a few transformations (thanks, Janet Jackson) since its debut in 1967 -- a debut that featured the star power of ... the University of Arizona and Grambling marching bands. In 2007, the halftime performer was one of the most popular recording artists of all time, Prince; in 1971 the halftime performer was the Southeast Missouri State band. Southeast Missouri State! So, as the halftime shows continue to get bigger and bigger, we decided to take a look back at some of the more memorable performances.

Super Bowl XLI - Prince

In 2007, Prince took the halftime stage -- only three years removed from the Janet Jackson Nipple-Gate controversy -- and played a seemingly innocuous rain-soaked setlist consisting of "Let's Go Crazy," "Baby I'm a Star" and "Purple Rain." Prince seemed to avoid any controversy -- he resisted the urge to perform "Darling Nikki" or "Sexy MF" -- but, as the camera panned above The Purple One, his love symbol shaped guitar cast a giant shadow phallic symbol across the stage. Minor shadow-phallus aside, Prince shredded through his songs, reminding everyone that he's considered a genius for a reason.

Super Bowl XLIII - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

Bruce Springsteen's not the kind of guy to go for symbolic phallic symbols. Hey, he's The Boss! If he wants to show you his crotch, he's going to show you his crotch, dammit -- up close and personal. During his opening performance of "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out," Bruce shocked a nation (and one very surprised camera man) by doing a running knee-slide -- legs open -- right into a running camera. A last chance power drive, indeed. It's good to be The Boss.

Super Bowl XXV - New Kids on the Block

In 1991, the United States had just started operations in the first Gulf War and the lasting impression, musically, from this game was Whitney Houston's now iconic singing of 'The Star Spangled Banner.' Remember the halftime performers? You probably don't, because it wasn't aired live. New Kids on the Block performed "Step by Step" and "This One's For the Children" and, because of Desert Storm news coverage, the halftime show wasn't seen. An edited version was later played after the game, late enough that anyone actually wanting to see NKOTB had long since fallen asleep. Stunned Buffalo Bills fans were not entertained.

Super Bowl XXIII - In 3D

NBC -- always willing (ahem) to take a chance on a new idea -- unleashed the "Diet Coke Be Bop Bamboozled in 3-D" halftime show onto the world in 1989. Hosted by something called Elvis Presto, the performance consisted of some 3-D dancing and a card trick. (Where is the Southeast Missouri State band when you need them?) It would be almost 21 years before "Avatar" was released and a stunned nation would ever again accept 3-D technology.

Super Bowl XXXVI - U2

With all apologies to Bruce Springsteen and Prince (and Elvis Presto), U2 delivered, without question, easily the greatest and most emotional Super Bowl halftime performance of all time. Only a litle over four months after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, U2 gave an inspired set which included "Beautiful Day," "MLK," and "Where the Streets Have No Name." The last song featured a scrolling list behind the band that featured the names of every person who died during the attacks.

Super Bowl XXXVII - Justin Timberlake, Janet Jackson, Nelly, P. Diddy, Kid Rock

The halftime show that changed everything. Remember, there was this somewhat horrible trend happening at the halftime shows where one contemporary artist would begin and, as the show progressed, more and more singers would join. After awhile, it become reminiscent of a WWE Royal Rumble. Thankfully, Justin Timberlake would rip open Janet Jackson's shirt revealing her breast and thousands of outraged football viewers would complain, causing the madness to finally stop. Unfortunately, as a result, we never again saw a sporting event completely live again -- there is now a few seconds delay on every telecast -- but, thankfully(?), we did get to see Paul McCartney sing "Drive My Car" one year later.

Tags: Justin Timberlake, prince

Comments

(35)

Saturday 06 February

By callaway985

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Pretty narrow-thinking retrospective of super bowl performances imo...disappointing that it's trying to portray these as many of the best performances too.

A few of the more recent ones that I think should've been included: shania twain; motown; mccartney; aerosmith...i'm sure there have been others too, but these definitely trump j. jackson's, prince's, and the stones...all 3 of which seemed really disappointing to me.

By freecashhhh

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By Victorias_mom

My votes go to Janet Jackson/J-Timberlake, and Prince. No offense to Tom Petty, but I thought his halftime show was pretty boring. No one seemed to know the lyrics (lots of young'uns in the crowd!).

Sunday 07 February

By ebreit19

Call me nostalgic, but hands down, best performances ever presented at a superbowl were done by Up With People!

By Hobbs

AC/DC needs to play next year. The BEST rock-n-roll band of all time. "Rock-n-Roll Train" "You Shook Me..." "T.N.T" "Let There Be Rock". There's a set list. Never ever bring back that rap, hip hop, candy ass pop bs to the halftime show. Stones, McCartney, Petty, Prince, Springsteen, The Who; they are the real deal.

By Wayne

Typically the Superbowl Halftime Shows are garbage regardless of who is performing because live performances on television aren't much to brag about to begin with. But in my estimation the shows that were worthwhile were the country singers (whoever they may be), they really don't do anuthing onstage anyway except sing so it's hard to ruin a show like that. Janet Jackson was a great show because being able to see her tit made it all worthwhile. And Prince was good, he put on a really good performance. The Rolling Stones were the absolute worst of any performance that ever did a halftime show. I expect The Who to be alright but seriously, who really cares about seeing these old geezers that already have more money than God and who all lost their hunger and passion for their art decades ago. I'm almost as old as the remaining band members of The Who and I don't even care to see these old timers perform. If I had my way about who is up on that stage during halftime it would be Beyonce or Lady Gaga or even Adam Lambert. These performers are a hell of a lot more entertaining than most performers who do the halftime shows.

By SFeighner

I still think PRINCE had the best performance since the half-time show regained some of its sanity and it was taken away from a group of lip-syncing personalities via MTV. I also enjoyed Tom Petty's performance.

In the future, I'd like to see Metallica do the half-time show. A Led Zeppelin reunion would be good. I'd also like to see Bette Midler or Meat Loaf do the honors.

By Roseann

Not listed is Barry Manilow. He was the "best" performer during half time!!

By Kim

1 word PRINCE best half-time performance

By mike

How much did The Who get paid?...And I thought they still ROCK~!

By Nikki

I remember watching U2's performance, watching it again reminded me of how Americans were so proud and patriotic at that time. It is amazing how quickly people forget how we felt during that time. Why does it take such a horrible thing to remind us! And how in the world have we allowed things to change so much!!! That by far was the best half time show ever!!!

By Dave

What about Aerosmith? Nothing could have been odder than Brittney Spears joining them to do Walk This Way. I've seen most of these bands live -- Aerosmith and The Who were the best.

By susan

Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney and Prince. Definitely the top three.

Monday 08 February

By ABC

The remnants of the Who can no longer sing. Paul McCartney at 67 can still sing.

Saturday 12 February

By Realist

How could people forget Michael Jacksons Superbowl Performance in '93? He basically RE-DEFINED Halftime shows. Before '93, nobody gave a frick about halftime shows. More people tuned in to watch his than the actual game. It was the most exciting halftime show I have ever watched, and its a shame he's not even in the list, let alone his younger sister [because of the controversy] getting ranked higher. SMH.

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