From Beyonce at the recent Super Bowl to Train opening up before last month’s NFL Pro Bowl, it seems musicians and professional sports are working more in tandem these days.
With that being said, is that really a good thing?
As many who watched Super Bowl XLVII on Feb. 3 know, Beyonce and her two former bandmates from Destiny’s Child wowed the crowd in New Orleans, that is before the power went out early in the second half. Some reports indicated the amount of electrical effort that went into the halftime show may have eventually knocked out the power, but there was no confirmation of that.
Entertainers performing during major sporting events in the last few decades is nothing knew, as the following examples point out:
* Super Bowl XXXVIII (February 2004) – Who will ever forget the infamous wardrobe malfunction while Janet Jackson was onstage with Justin Timberlake?
* Super Bowl XXXIX (February 2005) – Living Beatles legend Paul McCartney wowed the audience with several classic hits from the world’s most famous group ever.
* Super Bowl XL (February 2006) – The Rolling Stones, still rolling along in their later years, performed for a sold out crowd in Detroit.
Now, turn back the clock a few decades to when the Super Bowl first kicked off, specifically the very first Super Bowl, which was held in 1967 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The entertainment on that day was the University of Arizona Symphonic Marching Band, the Grambling State University Marching Band, musician Al Hirt, and the Anaheim High School (Calif.) Drill Team.
Not only has the level of performers certainly gone up several notches since that very first Super Bowl, but the promotion, on-the-field preparations, and viewer participation has too.
So that leads me to this question…. do we need such fanfare at Super Bowls and other major sporting events each year?
If the NFL and other professional leagues are looking for the total entertainment package, that is sports and music, then the answer is yes. If, however, the true meaning behind a sporting event is just that, sports, then the answer is no.
In today’s day and age of trying to top what was previously done, it does not appear that Super Bowls and other major professional sporting events will shy away from landing big talent to perform at halftime or before the game itself.
The question then begs, will we ever see a football game break out at the Grammy Awards?
No, did not think so….
About the author: With 23 years of experience as a writer, Dave Thomas covers a wide array of consumer topics, including finding the right gutters for your home.
Related articles
- Beyoncé Is More Important on Twitter Than the Super Bowl Itself (newsfeed.time.com)
- Beyonce’s Super Bowl Show in 10 Fierce Photos (mashable.com)
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Twitter: mitch_m
If you watched the entire game then you know why there needs to be entertainment. Remember when the power went out? Suddenly those guys had nothing to do and it really got boring and embarrassing at the same time.
Halftime at the Super Bowl is longer than it is for any other game of the season for a reason; it generates more money. Well, they have to put something in there, and not only for those of us at home but for the people in the stadium.
Back in the early days it used to be high school and college bands; ugh. With the price of tickets these days, no one wants to see that. So we take our chances with the musical acts, and I have to say that maybe I’m an easy audience, but I’ve enjoyed almost every musical act they’ve put on. Gotta keep it entertaining.
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