Prince's Super Half Time Show

Super Bowl Sunday, sports fans everywhere are glued to a television rooting for one team or another. Yelling, eating chips, spilling beer, ignoring their significant others and using the halftime break to refill the snacks and beverages. As far as I'm concerned they are missing the best part of the whole game.

I didn't watch the game. For all I know it is still on but I did watch the halftime show. I thought I was impressed a few years ago with Aerosmith. They appeal to me now as they did in the eighties and watching them can bring me back to those days. Tonight however was a horse of a different color. Tonight it was a dark horse, a dark purple horse that would take the stage and go down in history as one of the most energetic, family friendly, musically superb shows of all time, at least in my estimation.

Tonight belonged to the Prince of Pop, the Purple One. I remember where I was the first time I heard Little Red Corvette. I get a tickle in my solar plexus when I hear the guitar chords that mark Purple Rain as a stand out song for all time. The stage lights up, his symbol, and there he is. Prince. As I live and breathe. Dressed to the nines as always. Rain pouring down he broke into Lets Go Crazy. I found myself wishing he would lose the scarf from his hair and just let it rip. He unbuttoned his coat changed his guitar and ripped into All Along The Watch Tower. He is without a doubt one of the most underrated guitarists, indeed all around musicians, of our time. Just to prove he was still hip and up to date he transitioned into The Best Of You by Foo Fighters.

Finally, as if reading the mind of every child of the eighties and the crowd that had flooded the field, Purple Rain. The scarf abandoned, guitar changed again and joined by the full musical accompaniment of the FAMU Marching 100 it was to prove an overwhelming experience. The synchronized fireworks, the respectfully clad dancing twins and amazing backup singer were as integral to the show as the change of the stage lights from white to purple. Forever the showman he paused, music silenced, stepping away from the microphone, hands cupped to his ears, he invited the crowd to sing along. Amazing. Enthralling. Just when I thought it was more than I could stand up flew a yellow silk and a spot light brought the larger than life silhouette of his majesty, mid guitar solo, up off the stage and into the sky.

The NFL will be hard pressed to top this show in the future.