As each February rolls around, football fans hold their breath for every score, and the crowd gets together for something just as big and celebrated: the annual Super Bowl halftime show. Some notable performers have included Justin Timberlake, Snoop Dogg, Rihanna, and this year, the eight-time Grammy award winner, Usher.
“He is a genuinely talented man who puts every ounce of his soul into his music, but I’m just not a huge fan of hip-hop or rap,” said senior Quinn Willie.
Usher’s performance accumulated 129.3 million views for the halftime show, and it was around 13 and a half minutes long. He performed a mashup of many of his popular songs, beginning with “Caught Up.” After a couple of songs, Alicia Keys joined with a piano and sang her song “If I Ain’t Got You,” which transitioned into “My Boo.”
“I loved when Alicia Keys joined in; she was so ethereal. The vibrant red, the rounded, abstract piano, and, of course, the giant flowing train she had attached to her dress. It was just stunning,” Willie said.
The show continued as H.E.R. joined in with “U Got It Bad” and rapper Will.i.am joined in with “OMG” afterward. The next song was “Turn Down for What” with Lil Jon, and it later morphed into “Yeah!” with Lil Jon and Ludacris to end the performance.
Some notable parts of the performance included Keys’ entrance, unique costume and wardrobe changes, and Usher sliding under Will.i.am’s legs and almost falling, and surprise guests.
“The thing that got my attention most was when [the dancers] were all on roller skates. I was a little shocked. Holy moly, they were rolling around and everything,” senior Mark Lobner said.
Not every student thought the roller skates stood out, as there were other fun surprises or generally memorable moments.
“[The most memorable part for me was] when Alicia Keys entered on the wrong note and had a voice crack,” said senior Ethan Ivanov.
But, of course, the main star of the Super Bowl was Usher himself. While his show featured elements such as a marching band, flashy lighting, and several backup dancers, some students didn’t enjoy the show.
“[The marching band] generally felt out of place and didn’t seem to match much else. Well, nothing did, to be honest,” said Willie.
Overall, there were enjoyable parts for every viewer and less enjoyable parts for others. Not every student loved the show, but all students seemed to share some sense of nostalgia that they knew Usher’s name and a couple of his songs.
One thing stayed the same: all eyes were on Usher as he unlocked everyone’s nostalgia with surprise guests like Alicia Keys. He also incorporated different elements, such as the marching band, and while not everyone enjoyed it, it was still a memorable experience.
“[The show] came off as sort of messy and not really in harmony. The beginning was [so] chaotic and crazy that I didn’t even notice the song; I was distracted by what was going [on] around him,” Willie said. “I just wish there was a more overall theme or idea that could have made it more cohesive.”
Hello, I'm Gianna! This is my second year on staff, now as a senior in high school. I'm the head of the News and Artwork sections. I'm currently in Color Guard, B.I.O.N.I.C, NAHS, NEHS, Quill & Scroll Honors Society, and Senior Class Council!
Hola I'm Bri and this is my first year on 42/Fifty. I'm a Senior and Vice president of NAHS.
