The Super Bowl is one of America’s largest sporting events. Football fans refuse to miss a second of gridiron action as the two most successful teams battle for supremacy. However, a Super Bowl final is about far more than a football game, as many people tune in only to watch its legendary halftime show. This 15-minute interval used to feature one or two college marching bands. However, that changed in the early 1990s when it became trendy to have some all-time great entertainers perform for spectators and viewers at home.
Here are some of the best Super Bowl Halftime shows ever broadcast:
Michael Jackson
The King of Pop might have been a controversial personality, but his 1993 Super Bowl halftime show left fans awestruck. This was well before advanced technology and online sports betting became a reality in America. It was the first time a Super Bowl final deviated from its standard halftime lineup, and things would never be the same again. The people continue rating this performance as one of the best shows based on how impactful it was.
Jackson performed a few of his greatest hits, including “Billie Jean”, “We Are the World” and “Heal the World”.
Prince
The Artist Formerly Known as Prince rocked 2007’s Super Bowl final with a show that many believe remains unrivaled to this day. Backed by a brass band, he delivered a show-stopping performance that remains memorable for many fans. Prince’s death in 2016 triggered its resurgence in popularity. Undoubted highlights of Prince’s show were mashups of Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower”, Queen’s “We Will Rock You”, and the Foo Fighters’ “Best of You”. His performance closed with one of his most extraordinary live renditions of Purple Rain, including an epic violet guitar solo while rain poured down on stage. To this day, fans watch reruns of this performance, claiming it is the best way to deal with stress during trying times.
Beyonce and Destiny’s Child
Before Queen Bey became a solo artist, she performed in 2013’s Super Bowl final with Destiny’s Child bandmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. The spectacular band reunion show had fans cheering. Production included sophisticated lighting shows that caused half the Superdome’s lights to go out, leading to a prolonged blackout that lasted over half an hour. Among the hits Destiny’s Child performed were “Bootylicious”, “Single Ladies”, and “Independent Women”.
Janet Jackson
Another Jackson sibling gave one of the most outstanding Super Bowl halftime performances on record. In 2004, Janet Jackson put on a spectacular show featuring Nelly and Kid Rock. However, it was overshadowed by the infamous ‘wardrobe malfunction’ when Justin Timberlake accidentally ripped Janet’s chest covering, exposing her breasts on live television. Whether it was a genuine mishap was never determined, but it remains one of the Super Bowl’s most memorable performances. Fans are looking forward to a no-holds-barred performance for Super Bowl 2022, with its lineup including Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Dr. Dre , Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar. Fans cannot wait to see what these stars will produce.