The worst Super Bowl halftime shows of all time
The worst Super Bowl halftime shows of all time
(Photo by Magnus Lunay) Let’s face it, for music lovers craving some post punk and heavy metal, the Super Bowl isn’t necessarily going to pique their interest. However, there have been some great halftime shows from the likes of Prince and U2 in the past. Alongside these memorable performances, we’ve also witnessed some forgettable live shows.
This season, it’s over to Bad Bunny to put on a special show, while Green Day are starting the musical proceedings off before the big game starts. While not all NFL fans will necessarily be paying attention to the tunes on display, other viewers regard these performances as the main attraction. For many, settling down to watch these performances after finishing betting on the Super Bowl and following the pre-game analysis appeals. Not every live show goes to plan, though.
Over the years, we’ve been exposed to some shoddy halftime shows, many of which failed to hit the spot with viewing audiences. Ahead of this season’s Super Bowl LX clash between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, below we highlight just some of them.
Maroon 5 with Travis Scott and Big Boi (2019)
When Maroon 5 were booked with Travis Scott and Big Boi for Super Bowl LIII in 2019, music fans everywhere were understandably excited by the prospect of seeing this somewhat unique blend of music makers take to the stage. In the end, though, the tracks didn’t seem to get the crowd moving, Adam Levine divided opinion in particular, and it all felt a bit forgettable.
The Black Eyed Peas (2011)
Where do we even begin with this 2011 appearance from The Black Eyed Peas? Not only did it feel like something we’d seen a hundred times before, but it didn’t really create much of an atmosphere. The halftime show is essentially meant to keep fans entertained while the on-field action is on hold, but The Black Eyed Peas did a remarkable job of ensuring everyone had a nap. In fact, even Usher looked like he didn’t want to be there.
Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias, Toni Braxton and Tina Turner (2000)
A stellar line up of performers took to the stage in 2000, but it didn’t really live up to the initial hype it created. Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias, Toni Braxton, and Tina Turner were huge stars in their own right, but you wouldn’t have known it. Not only did they fail to perform any of their instantly recognizable hits, but they also looked fairly disinterested on stage. Overall, it felt like it was put together at the last minute and nothing really worked.
The Who (2010)
For many people, The Who are one of the greatest bands ever, and it’s easy to see why. Booking them for 2010’s Super Bowl halftime show probably wasn’t the best idea, though. Both Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey clearly didn’t understand the sport and the significance of the occasion, with their low-energy performance highlighting their evident lack of interest in the NFL. We can’t really blame them for it either, it was just simply a poor decision that was never going to work.
Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake (2004)
Janet Jackson certainly didn’t deliver the same type of Super Bowl performance as her brother Michael did, although she isn’t the only artist responsible for it. Teaming up with Justin Timberlake in 2004 for Super Bowl XXXVIII, the chemistry on stage simply wasn’t there. Additionally, random appearances from the likes of Nelly and Kid Rock felt totally unnecessary. What made the performance even more farcical, though, was Janet Jackson’s exposed nipple making an appearance.
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Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!
