(Image source from: hearstapps.com)
Each year, the Super Bowl Halftime Show’s tradition is for some of the best music artists in and out of America to perform grand gestures and eye popping spectacles during the half time show. This year, the performances were no less.
During the previous years, we had Lady Gaga diving off the roof of the Houston’s NRG stadium. We also witnessed Katy Perry riding an automatic lion, Shakira and JLO giving an iconic duo performance. To top this off, we also had Diana Ross soaring out of the Arizona Sun Devil Stadium waving to the fans from a Helicopter.
However, with the pandemic is store, this year was a little different but no less spectacular.
Canadian R&B superstar The Weekend was the star performer for the half time show. For the first time in 55 years, the superstar was forced to perform from the stands rather than in the pitch, to follow strict corona-virus protocols.
The Weeknd performed at the Half Time for 12 minutes. The program was broadcast on Television and streaming channels and their was no crowd at the stadium. He performed at the Florida Raymond James Stadium.
The R&B star decorated his set with vertical layers and neon signs. He opened his set with his hit song Starboy. He also induced some Michael Jackson inspired moves. His stage setting was a maze with his dozen dancers moving around in full facial bandages.
Reportedly, The Weeknd spend 7 million dollars on the production of the performance and he funded the performance himself.
The Super Bowl is the most watched event of the year on USA television. Last year, when Shakira and JLO performed, it was watched by 103 million viewers.
His performance ended with The Weeknd being surrounded by his bandage clan dancers on the field.
Some of the hit songs The Weeknd played in his set include Call out my name, Starboy, The Hills, cant feel my face, I feel it coming, save your tears, earned it, House of Balloons and Blinding lights.
One question everyone were asking was, why did all the dancers have their face covered in bandages?
The reason for this began from when The Weeknd dropped the music video for his song Heartless. It shows the singer stumbling around casinos and fountains of Sin city on excess drugs and alcohol, wearing the bandages. The artist also showed up to the American Music Awards in face covered in bandages. The significance of this Bandage is to reflect the absurdity of Hollywood celebrity culture and people manipulating themselves for superficial reasons
So who else performed at the Super Bowl this year?
Miley Cyrus, joined by Billy Idol also performed some classic rock hits. This is the first time Miley is performing since the beginning of the pandemic. Other performers include, James Martin, a celebrated war veteran along with his choir, R&B singer H.E.R who sang the national anthem, and the 22 year old poet Amanda Gorman who read her poem at the Presidential Inauguration for Joe Biden.
Today, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are playing against the Kansas city chiefs.
By Meena Atmakuri
