The game was not even close, with the Seahawks beating the Broncos 43-8, and the commercials were average at best. Oddly enough, the Super Bowl XLVIII halftime show was probably the most entertaining part of the evening.
When the NFL announced Bruno Mars would be performing at halftime back in September, the decision was met with a bit of confusion among fans. He had no prior ties to New Jersey or the NFL. Why didn’t the league go get one of the trademark New Jersey classic rock acts such as Bruce Springsteen or Bon Jovi? It seemed like a missed opportunity, but in the end, Mars did not disappoint.
For the fourth year in a row, the NFL appointed a pertinent pop act to perform at the halftime show. It used to be groups like The Who, The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and Tom Petty. Now it’s The Black Eyed Peas, Madonna, Beyonce and Nicki Minaj. Legendary rock performers will always have a place in the storied history of contemporary American music, but the country is moving in a different direction. The mainstream now consists of performers like Drake, Miley Cyrus, Daft Punk and Lady Gaga. The NFL is trying to appeal to what’s popular now, which makes sense.
Mars has gained a lot of fame in the last few years. He has sold more than three million albums in the U.S., has five No. 1 singles and is the proud recipient of two Grammy awards. While not the biggest name the NFL has pegged over the years, he’s one whose stock is on the rise — more so than ever after this performance.
From the outset, the 28-year-old Mars reeked of confidence. Dressed in a gold suit jacket and black tuxedo pants, he started his performance with a drum solo. He and his eight-piece band The Hooligans showcased great charisma and dancing ability as they moved effortlessly throughout the three-song melody. They performed “Locked Out of Heaven”, “Treasure” and “Runaway Baby.” Mars, breaking out some James Brown signature dance moves, was the highlight of the show.
Later in the performance, the Red Hot Chili Peppers joined them onstage to perform their 1991 hit “Give It Away.” It was an interesting mix of two groups that are very different in style, but they worked nicely together. Their successful collaboration is a credit to their versatility, and they both looked to be having a ball on stage. Their fast-paced energy drove the show along quickly.
Mars ended the performance with his soothing, Grammy-winning ballad “Just The Way You Are.” It was preceded by deployed troops dedicating the song to their loved ones in a powerful moment and a pitch-perfect conclusion to a great halftime show.
