Super Bowl LVIII is right around the corner on February 11th bringing football fans of all varieties together to celebrate a common interest. Though the game is the main event, it also happens to be a uniting day for music fans around the world.
In the past, the Super Bowl Halftime Show has generated widespread publicity for the NFL by a group that might not otherwise necessarily tune in on the big day. The two most watched Super Bowl performances of all time were given by Rihanna and Katy Perry with both over 118 million views. One thing both of these performers had in common was theatrics. They both created visually enjoyable and stimulating shows that made it hard to look away from. With Perry’s giant tiger and Rihanna’s cabaret of dancers, it’s no wonder they generated so much popularity.
This also aligns with what BSM students want to see in a halftime show. According to a recent poll by the Knight Errant, students believe that a great Super Bowl performance comes from being able to not just perform well and perform popular songs, but also from an electrifying light show and visuals that keep you on your toes. “Performing in the dark/at night [and] having good choreography and an iconic discography all add to the show,” freshman Brianna Johnson said.
Rihanna performs at the super bowl LVII halftime show
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Students at BSM have their own widespread favorite performers but one of the top answers was the 2022 show headlined by Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and Mary J. This show was an ode to classic 90’s rap while also lending the genre a new age feel. Surprisingly, this show was also a popular contender for least favorite for varying reasons. This just goes to show the subjectivity of art. “…with 5 different performers, It was kind of confusing. The set wasn’t too exciting, and none of the performers really got a chance to shine since there were 5 of them. Some of the performers were also no longer in their prime, and although still popular I think there could have been better options,” junior Andrew Schmidt said.
This year, Usher will take the stage. Ever since it was announced, there have been a wide variety of reactions. Some believe that Usher isn’t relevant enough to be more than a special guest. Others believe that this has been a long time coming. Among Benilde-St. Margaret’s students, the reaction has been mostly negative with many stating that they haven’t heard any Usher music in a long time.
There are many factors that go into choosing the lucky artist. Of course popularity is important but some of the other components include performance value and music genre. This seems to be something that the NFL and students right here at BSM agree upon. “[The best acts have] somebody recognizable and well received by the public who wouldn’t just use the Super Bowl as a chance to gain publicity,” Schmidt said.