Top 5 Super Bowl Halftime Shows
Prince performed during the halftime show of Super Bowl XLI, which took place at Dolphins Stadium in Miami, Florida, United States, featuring the Indianapolis Colts vs. Chicago Bears.
Photo Credit: Jeff Kravitz/ Getty Images
By: Joshua Martin
No less than a mega star is considered to headline the coveted Super Bowl Halftime Show. For most artists, that 13-min time slot is a career high point. What we witnessed Sunday was an R&B legend giving us hit after hit and proving that his name undeniably belongs at the top of the genre. Yes, recency bias is a thing but we can’t deny that Usher’s halftime show was definitely one of the best the event has ever had. Not unfair to say it may be the best.
The easiest way to settle this argument would be with a list of our own. Let's end the debate! Here are our top 5 Super Bowl halftime performances of all time.
5. Rihanna - 2023
Rihanna’s FULL Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show
Rihanna’s performance was memorable for several reasons, most notably of how many bangers the Grammy-winning singer has in her arsenal. “Diamonds,” “Umbrella,” “We Found Love” were just a few of the whopping 12 singles the Barbados-born singer performed. The set was her first live performance in five years up to that point and the revelation of her being pregnant with her second child made the event an overall joyous occasion.
4.J.Lo & Shakira - 2020
Shakira & J. Lo's FULL Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show
The dynamic duo of Jennifer Lopez and Shakira didn't disappoint. Filled with LatinX representation and other surprising elements which included rope dancing, cameos from Bad Bunny and J. Balvin, J. Lo’s child singing “Born in the USA” and their stance on immigration, made this one of the more memorable Halftime Shows ever. Shakira’s physical fluidity and J.Lo’s work ethic also gave us that iconic dance off that had the entire world shook.
3. Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem and Kendrick Lamar - 2022
Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar & 50 Cent FULL Pepsi SB LVI Halftime Show
This one stands out because it was the first time the halftime show featured an exclusive hip-hop line up that featured some of the genre’s greatest. Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, and Kendrick Lamar, with a surprise appearance by 50 Cent, served up some of their most iconic songs with flair. Mary J. captivated the crowd with her electric performances of “Family Affair” and “No More Drama,” while Dre and Snoop proved their staying power by performing classics such as “The Next Episode” and “California Love.” Kendrick Lamar lit up the stage with “Alright” as the performance ended with a passionate Eminem taking a knee amid the country’s political issues. All in all, the music took center stage and we were able to witness Snoop Dogg crip walk on live television. Iconic!
2. Michael Jackson - 1993
Michael Jackson - Super Bowl XXVII 1993 Halftime Show (Remastered Perfomance)
The King of Pop was definitely in his performer bag at the 1993 Super Bowl. Doubles entered the stadium from each corner before the real Michael Jackson stood up and performed hits like “Jam” and “Billie Jean.” The finale was epic to say the least. Michael sang the single “ Heal the World” while the onlooking audience held cards that created images of children from across the globe. The truly big production also included a video montage of his various humanitarian efforts around the world and a choir of 3,500 local LA kids.
Prince - 2007
Prince - Super Bowl XLI 🏈 | Halftime Sh
This performance has reached mythical status, partly due to the rain and the fact that not even Mother Nature could stop the “The Purple One”. A spirited rendition of “Purple Rain” and an amazing medley of songs that included Queen’s “We Will Rock You,” his hits “Let’s Go Crazy” and “Baby, I’m a Star” all crescendoed into a downpour on his logo-shaped stage. A special appearance of the Florida A&M marching 100 band and his back band the “New Power Generation” was the icing on the cake which was an unforgettable night Prince and those of us who witnessed it.
Unfortunately, the 8 time Grammy winner didn't crack the top 5. Also, Much apologies to the Queen Bee and her fantastic performance in 2013. Reuniting with Destiny’s Child was what the culture needed at the moment.
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