This week, it was announced that global pop beauty Katy Perry would be taking centre stage at next year’s NFL Super Bowl performance. The XLIX halftime show will take place at the championship game on 1st February 2015, at Arizona’s University of Phoenix Stadium. Given Katy’s reputation for explosive performances full of glitter, pyrotechnics and elaborate costumes, we can guarantee her performance will go off with a bang.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DE7H4RGdKdY
With previous artists including Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake and Beyoncé, it is clear to see why the Super Bowl is so popular, with an estimated 115.3 million viewers tuning in to watch Bruno Mars and Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ performance earlier on this year. However, the pressure of having roughly a third of the US population watching has meant that acts have had to continually raise the stakes. We’ve made it our mission to bring you the Super Bowl’s ultimate performances – from the brilliant to the downright embarrassing.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qmwve14BKQI
Michael Jackson, 1993
The King of Pop graced the Super Bowl arena with his presence in 1993. Sending the crowd of almost 100,000 spectators wild, he performed a five-track medley of some of his biggest hits, including Billie Jean and Black Or White, with the addition of a children’s choir for We Are The World. Michael drew such a huge number of viewers to the show that broadcasters have since taken the halftime performance more seriously, ensuring that a big name in popular music is part of the show every year.
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Madonna feat. Nicki Minaj & M.I.A., 2012
During Madonna’s halftime performance, she was joined on stage by Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. At the end of M.I.A.’s chorus, she put her middle finger up to the camera on the line ‘I don’t give a sh*t’, sparking major controversy. While an attempt to obscure the expletive was made, it was still relatively audible and the screen blurred a second too late to censor the offensive gesture. NBC and NFL subsequently issued apologies.
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U2, 2002
In a poignant tribute to the victims of the 9/11 attacks in 2001, U2 performed in front of a white banner that had the name of every person that had lost their life projected onto it. Despite their Irish heritage, frontman Bono opened his jacket at the conclusion of their three track setlist. It revealed an American flag in the lining, reflecting the world’s respect for the country and those affected by the tragedy.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hj5NPNe3jNU
Christina Aguilera, 2011
Although not part of the halftime show, Christina Aguilera made an unfortunate mistake when singing the American National Anthem before the XLV game began. In the excitement, Christina mistakenly repeated nearly all of the second line of the song while she was only on the fourth line! Rather than singing ‘O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?’ she sang ‘What so proudly we watched at the twilight’s last gleaming’ to the anger and disappointment of viewers. Christina was reportedly ‘devastated’ after her performance and apologised for the mishap in a statement a few days later.
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Justin Timberlake & Janet Jackson, 2004
1st February 2004 was the fateful day the term ‘wardrobe malfunction’ entered every American’s vocabulary. In the final seconds of Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson’s steamy performance of Rock Your Body, they took the line ‘I better have you naked by the end of this song’ a little too literally. In an accidental (or should we say “accidental”) hand movement, Justin revealed Janet’s breast. Although the public saw this for less than a second, it was (almost) a second too long. Since dubbed ‘Boobgate’, the performance is arguably the most memorable in Super Bowl history.
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There you have it! Five of the biggest moments in Super Bowl history. Do you think Katy Perry will surpass expectations and draw in the biggest audience yet? We’d love to hear your comments below!
