First published on BackPageLead on 30 January 2012.
When Madonna takes to the (presumably) lavish stage at halftime on Sunday afternoon at Super Bowl XLVI, it will be hard to imagine the modest origins of the spectacular.
In fact, it’s almost impossible to imagine the scene at the Los Angeles Memorial Collesium when the intermission entertainment was – predominantly – the University of Arizona marching band.
During much of the first decade of the Super Bowl, the marching band was the main source of entertainment.
In the second decade, Up With The People (writer’s note: I had to Google them) was a mainstay, often choreographing and starring in themed performances.
Yet, after Super Bowl XXIII featured a magic show (seriously) in 1989, the beginning of the nineties marked the time when the NFL first began to go down the pop-star path.
For Super Bowl XXV, the NFL ponied up what must have been a considerable sum and convinced New Kids On the Block to take to the stage, and the rest, as they say, is history.
While it is all just a matter of opinion, here are my top five extravaganzas in Super Bowl history.
5. Michael Jackson, Super Bowl XXVII, 1993
Think what you will about Jackson, but it’s impossible to ignore the fact that ‘The King of Pop’ can put on a show.
While the images of young children cheering Jackson may now be a little cringe-worthy, his performance at the Rose Bowl was one of the best.
A set list built around ‘Billie Jean’ and ‘Black or White’ was always bound to get the fans in California dancing, and it was also responsible for a noticeable spike in TV ratings.
Besides all that, it set the bar for the over-the-top shows that we see today.
4. Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake, Super Bowl XXXVIII, 2004
In reality, the performance wasn’t anything particularly impressive – like most Super Bowl shows – but few will forget this one. This was where Nipplegate was born.
The level of vitriol that spewed forth from seemingly every orifice of the American media following Jackson’s infamous wardrobe malfunction was incredible. Reportedly the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) received over half a million complaints.
However, it’s hard to watch the video and not get the feeling that perhaps it was a staged exposure, taking into account Timberlake’s lyrics at the moment he peels off a layer of Jackson’s outfit rather easily.
3. The Rolling Stones, Super Bowl XL, 2006
Originally, I had the Stones performance at Ford Field higher up the list, but ultimately they couldn’t find a spot above the other two acts.
But still, Mick and the boys put on a high-energy set in Detroit, showing that they still have some life in their apparently ageless legs.
With a relatively small set-list featuring just three tracks – ‘Start Me Up’, ‘Rough Justice’ and ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’ – like much of their career, the Stones did things a little different than everyone else to great affect.
An interesting side note is that this was the first year that ABC introduced a 5-second delay and even edited the lines in two of the three songs.
2. Prince, Super Bowl XLI, 2007
Bumping Prince from the number one spot on this list was tough, considering the truly spectacular show that ‘The Artist Formerly Known As’ put on in Miami.
From the moment he rose out of the arena to the stage, draped in a sky blue suit with guitar in hand and launched into the his classic ‘Let’s Go Crazy’, Prince owned the stage.
‘His Royal Purpleness’ even took a page of Dave Grohl’s book, covering the Foo Fighters’ ‘Best of You’.
Then to top it off, as the rain fell in Miami, Prince brought the proverbial house down with a stunning rendition of ‘Purple Rain’.
1.Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band, Super Bowl XLIII, 2009
Super Bowl XLIII certainly felt the full force of the ‘righteous and mighty power’ of Springsteen and The E Street Band.
From the very beginning the entire show was almost the perfect blend of a live performance and a TV presentation.
Be it the carefully crafted player introduction, or The Boss’s opening address – guacamole and chicken finger jokes included – it barely missed a beat.
It’s fitting that a performer that has been credited with being something of a poet laureate for the American people put together one of the best performances.
Springsteen and the Band seemed relaxed as they worked through a typically tight, professional and up-tempo set, with Springsteen even changing the lyrics to his classic ‘Glory Days’ to suit the occasion.
Liam Quinn is a second-year Bachelor of Journalism student at La Trobe University, who is currently on exchange at Michigan State. You can follow him on Twitter: @liamquinn23
