The Top Five Half-Time Performances of the Super Bowl

The Super Bowl is known to be one of the biggest sporting events each year, with two teams eager to win the championship. Fans of football gather around the television to watch two teams make spectacular plays in hopes they will make the play to win their team the game. Another great thing about the Super Bowl over the years has been the half-time show, a 30 minute break from the game to watch some entertainment. Being a Super Bowl half-time act is something very special, and only the best get this opportunity. As the year is coming to an end, I have put together a list of my personal top five half-time acts of all time.

The year was 2004 and the place was Houston, Texas where one of the most infamous half-time performances occurred. I am talking about the AOL TopSpeed Super Bowl XXXVIII Halftime Show featuring Jessica Simpson with University of Houston and Texas Southern bands, Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Nelly, P. Diddy, and Kid Rock. Nelly and P. Diddy were great although I do not like rap music that much, but the attention was clearly on Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake. This was the time that Justin Timberlake was going solo and just starting to come into his own, so who better to perform alongside than Janet Jackson. This Super Bowl performance is best summed up as "the wardrobe malfunction." Yes, Janet Jackson showed us a little too much of herself when Justin Timberlake grabbed her costume near her breast and it ripped which caused her breast to come out. I rank this in my top five list not because we all got to see a little too much of Janet Jackson, but because of the crazy media attention it got. Whether this was a staged incident or it really was an accident, it sure helped boost the popularity of both Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake. This accident stirred so much attention and people were so angry about it that it just became a spectacle to watch it unfold. Janet Jackson is a very good performer and seems to always be pushing the limit, and this Super Bowl half-time show was no different and I applaud how she handled the situation.

Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan 2006 also makes my list of the best Super Bowl half-time performances ever. In 2006 the Rolling Stones performed for the Super Bowl Half-Time show and it was amazing. Not only are the Rolling Stones living legends in rock music but they also have overcome many troubles and years of drug-related mishaps. This was the year the National Football League made a five second delay of the half-time performances due to the whole Janet Jackson incident, and also they had to cut off the microphone on Mic Jagger due to language for a couple songs. This was a great performance by living rock legends and it showed that no matter how old you might be, you still can rock and sound just as good as you might have 20 years ago. This also makes my list because it caused controversy due to no Detroit, Michigan performances and people were outraged that no one from the Motown era was included. If it is the Rolling Stones, no matter how old they might be now or how big the event, this performance proved that you can still be a great live band.

In 2002 one of the most memorable Half-Time shows occurred in New Orleans, Louisiana which was filled with emotion and togetherness. It was called the E*TRADE Super Bowl XXXVI Halftime Show and the musical guest was U2. Now I am not a big U2 fan or anything but this being the Super Bowl Half-Time show after the terror attacks just made it seem fitting. U2 has always been a band about religion and freedom and also they are very into the world and issues within it. When U2 got up and sang songs about coming together, freedom, being American, and not letting anyone knock you down it just was a very patriotic moment. U2 had a set that they made which was very patriotic and they used that during the Half-Time show as well as for the rest of their tour following the terror attacks. U2 has always been a band about serenity, peace, love, and change so it only seemed fitting that our first major event after those attacks be with the musical honor of U2.

The 2005 Ameriquest Mortgage Super Bowl XXXIX half-time show in Jacksonville, Florida is also another great performance. Paul McCartney was the musical act, a former member of The Beatles. Paul McCartney sang songs that he sung when he was with The Beatles as well as his own songs, and during "Hey Jude" everyone was singing along the chants with him. I do not know that much about Paul McCartney but I do know he can put on a show and make everyone smile. This performance is one of the best ever in my opinion because Paul is a living legend and was a part of our rock history which seems so long ago. Paul McCartney is a living legend and is one of the best musicians out there, and his dedication and love for music is why he is always a great choice for Superbowl shows.

The year 2008 also brings up a good Super Bowl half-time show, which was played in Glendale, Arizona. The Bridgestone Super Bowl XLII Halftime Show featuring Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers was also one of the best musical performances in my opinion. I have always enjoyed Tom Petty and used to listen to him all the time when I was growing up. I think this was one of his best shows because he still showed that after all of these years, he still has it and can rock with the young crowd. No matter how old you are, you can always relate to the music of Tom Petty and it will take you away to another place. Tom Petty is a true legend and is very talented and I was glad that he got to perform again, and I think everyone at the stadium enjoyed seeing him on stage again.