The Tremendous Bowl is among the most watched sporting occasions yearly, nevertheless it’s not simply the soccer folks tune in for.
Every year, A-list performers placed on the present of their lives to the NFL halftime crowd, bringing a bunch of memorable – and surprising – moments with them.
World pop celebrity and self-proclaimed ‘dangerous gal’ Rihanna has received the job for Tremendous Bowl LVII, going down in sunny Arizona in February 2023.
This received us serious about among the most iconic halftime exhibits through the years. One factor is for certain, they’re by no means boring.
Learn our 10 most memorable Tremendous Bowl halftime exhibits and prepare for the nice, the dangerous, and the ugly.
10. Michael Jackson – Tremendous Bowl XXVII
The requirements are excessive in terms of memorable Tremendous Bowl halftime exhibits. That’s why the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, solely makes it to quantity 10 on our listing.
This efficiency stands out as a result of for the primary 90 seconds Jackson stood totally nonetheless, staring out into the frenzied crowd. At first, it was cool, however after the primary minute, many viewers started to surprise if this MJ was truly a waxwork in any case.
Fortunately, he finally began his act and handled his adoring followers to classics together with “Billie Jean” and “Black or White” earlier than a finale of “Heal the World.”
He was joined by a choir of three,500 kids from LA – yep, this doesn’t age effectively…
It was definitely a memorable near the present that happened lower than a 12 months after the 1992 LA riots.
9. Paul McCartney – Tremendous Bowl XXXIX
Paul McCartney has executed nearly all the things a musician may do. He had the decision up for the Tremendous Bowl again in 2005, cementing his now five-decade reign on the prime.
The NFL needed a controversy-free halftime present after the scandal in 2004 (extra on this later), and Macca didn’t disappoint. He tore by means of the classics “Drive My Automotive,” “Get Again,” and “Reside and Let Die” earlier than closing with “Hey Jude.”
This Beatle took the gang alongside for an epic present, and one we’ll always remember.
8. Madonna – Tremendous Bowl XLVI
Unsurprisingly, this listing is filled with enormous names, and Madonna can cling with one of the best of them.
The Queen of Pop has had many memorable TV moments through the years, together with kissing Britney Spears on the 2003 VMAs and falling on stage on the 2015 Brit awards.
Nonetheless, it was truly certainly one of her company that brought about an enormous stir on the Tremendous Bowl in 2012.
Madonna was joined on stage by Nicki Minaj, LMFAO, Cee Lo Inexperienced and M.I.A., with the latter inflicting controversy for sticking her center finger as much as the digital camera through the tune “Give Me All Your Luvin’.”
Regardless of M.I.A. grabbing a number of the headlines and making the efficiency significantly memorable, Madonna nonetheless broke viewing figures because the most-viewed Tremendous Bowl halftime present at that time.
7. Aerosmith, Britney Spears, ‘NSync, Nelly, and Mary J. Blige – Tremendous Bowl XXXV
For those who didn’t see this halftime present, you could possibly be forgiven for considering there was a typo right here.
Sure, Aerosmith, Britney, ‘NSync, Mary J. Blige, and Nelly (only for good measure) actually did carry out collectively.
Oh, and Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler, and Chris Rock received in on the act, too, as a part of a pre-recorded sketch earlier than the efficiency.
The cross-section of followers who love all these artists should have been fairly small, however in some way, they made it work. Or no less than they made it memorable.
After ‘NSync kicked off the efficiency, rock legends Aerosmith took over and delivered an amazing rendition of their unforgettable ballad “I Don’t Wanna Miss a Factor.”
A short time later, issues began getting fairly unusual.
In a bunch efficiency of Aerosmith’s traditional “Stroll This Means,” ‘NSync, Britney, Mary J Blige, and Nelly paced across the stage and took turns strutting, screaming and shouting into the mic with various ranges of ability.
There was additionally a weird however fortunately quick dance-off between Steven Tyler and Justin Timberlake.
I have to lie down simply writing about it.
6. Bruce Springsteen and The E Road Band – Tremendous Bowl XLIII
What do you get once you mix an American rock legend with a packed stadium and large TV viewers? An unforgettable present for everybody, that’s what.
In 2009, Bruce Springsteen and the E Road Band rocked the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, however the Boss needed to make sure everybody at residence was simply as concerned.
Because the band began taking part in the intro to “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out” (together with compulsory fireworks), Bruce grabbed the mic and instructed the TV viewers, “I would like you to step again from the guacamole dip! I would like you to place these hen fingers down! And switch your tv all the way in which up!”
If the American public have been going to take heed to anybody, it will be the Boss.
The hen fingers have been promptly discarded, and other people have been rocking of their dwelling rooms from Washington to Florida.
Apparently, Springsteen had beforehand turned the present down, so followers worldwide have been ecstatic he lastly got here to his senses. His efficiency at Tremendous Bowl XLIII will dwell lengthy within the reminiscence.
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5. Beyonce – Tremendous Bowl XLVII
Who runs the world?
Properly, it was undoubtedly Queen B on Tremendous Bowl Sunday again in 2013. The pop celebrity took to the stage within the Mercedes-Benz Superdome New Orleans, racing by means of hits together with “Love on Prime,” “Loopy in Love” and “Child Boy.”
She was then joined on stage by former Future’s Little one members Kelly Roland and Michelle Williams to sing classics “Bootylicious” and “Impartial Ladies.”
Lastly, Kelly and Michelle left the stage and let Beyonce have the limelight once more. She closed the present together with her heartfelt anthem “Halo” which left followers within the stadium and at residence reeling.
How can one particular person have that quantity of vitality, expertise, and charisma? Who is aware of, however God, it’s enjoyable to observe.
4. Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, P. Diddy, Child Rock, Jessica Simpson, and Nelly – Tremendous Bowl XXXVIII
You have been promised there can be the nice, the dangerous, and the ugly on this listing – and right here you have got it.
This Tremendous Bowl halftime efficiency by Janet Jackson is arguably probably the most notorious of all time. The fallout from an unlucky wardrobe malfunction was extraordinarily ugly and admittedly ridiculous.
On the finish of an in any other case common halftime present, Justin Timberlake tore off a part of Janet Jackson’s outfit as he sang the fairly becoming lyric “higher have you ever bare by the tip of this tune” from his 2002 hit “Rock Your Physique.”
Whether or not intentional or not, this resulted in Janet Jackson’s nipple being revealed (for half a second) to the TV viewers. Sure, 500 entire milliseconds.
Occasions have been totally different in 2004, and this most likely unintentional reveal brought about an epic fallout.
Jackson’s music was shockingly barred on a number of platforms, NASCAR, and the NFL tightened indecency guidelines.
CBS, the dad or mum firm of the manufacturing, was fined a document $550,000 for indecency, and simply months later, the US Home of Representatives handed a invoice to boost the utmost nice for indecency.
Many commentators additionally prompt that “nipplegate,” because it turned identified, even influenced the 2004 Democratic Get together primaries. Jackson herself stated the incident was utilized by George W Bush as a distraction approach.
With hindsight, the entire debacle was blown means out of proportion, nevertheless it was positively memorable.
3. Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent, Kendrick Lamar, and Anderson Paak – Tremendous Bowl LVI
Recency bias? Possibly. Hip-Hop fan? Undoubtedly.
However these points apart, this iconic Tremendous Bowl halftime efficiency was memorable for the sheer quantity of expertise on stage, if nothing else. Some halftime exhibits have one incredible artist. This present had seven.
It was additionally an ideal celebration of Los Angeles, the place the Tremendous Bowl was being held. The LA Rams accomplished the celebration once they closed out a 23-20 victory in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Dr. Dre was the headline act right here, however the supporting forged and excellent visuals have been what actually stood out and made the efficiency unforgettable.
2. U2 – Tremendous Bowl XXXVI
America and the remainder of the world have been nonetheless in shock when U2 took to the stage on the halftime present of Tremendous Bowl XXXVI in 2002.
Lower than six months after the September 11 assaults, the Irish rock superstars delivered one of the vital memorable dwell music performances ever.
In a second of pure magnificence, U2 carried out their hit “The place the Streets Have No Title” whereas the names of the victims have been projected behind them.
Within the tune’s climax, lead singer Bono revealed the within of his jacket adorned with the star-spangled banner.
A very memorable efficiency and a tremendous tribute to the victims of 9/11.
1. Prince – Tremendous Bowl XLI
What might be extra memorable than the enduring and incomparable Prince performing an epic model of his traditional “Purple Rain” because the precise rain hammered down onto adoring followers in Miami?
Properly, when it comes to Tremendous Bowl halftime exhibits, nothing.
Broadly thought to be one of the best Tremendous Bowl halftime efficiency from one of many best performers ever, there was actually solely going to be one winner on this listing.
Prince’s set included covers of Queen’s “We Will Rock You,” Bob Dylan’s “All Alongside the Watchtower,” and the Foo Fighters’ “Better of You.”
However the magic second got here on the finish of his set when he performed his most well-known monitor, “Purple Rain.”
Because the unrelenting rain got here down, Prince did his factor on the guitar then whipped the gang up right into a sing-along crescendo that may dwell lengthy within the recollections of NFL and music followers alike.
The legend is gone however not forgotten.
Lead picture: Twitter/PigsAndPlans
