Let's Argue About the Super Bowl Halftime Show
I thought the Super Bowl halftime show was very entertaining, as did the group of 45-55 year old suburbanites that were at our Super Bowl party. The teens and tweens who were there enjoyed it, too.
The reaction on social media, however, seems to be split.
I'm seeing younger people complaining about the acts all being old or "washed up."
Also seeing complaints from the type of people who think only classic rock bands should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
What say you?
February 14th, 2022 at 9:41 AM ^
Would have been nice to see Ice Cube, but I was thrilled, nonetheless.
February 14th, 2022 at 10:44 AM ^
One might say it was a good day had Ice Cube performed...
February 14th, 2022 at 1:30 PM ^
Problem is that the stadium was covered. Ice Cube couldn't see the lights of the Goodyear blimp, so he passed on the whole thing. He mainly just wants to know if he's a pimp.
February 14th, 2022 at 1:43 PM ^
I used to like Ice Cube until he started posting a bunch of anti semetic stuff on Twitter. Glad he wasn't there.
February 14th, 2022 at 10:42 AM ^
50 is from Jamaica, Queens but was discovered (somewhat), signed and produced by Dre as well.
February 14th, 2022 at 10:22 AM ^
The Game famously doesnt get along with them
February 14th, 2022 at 10:52 AM ^
That's too bad: if they teamed up with him to do "How We Do" that would've been sick. That would have been an excellent selection for the halftime show. And to a lesser extent "Hate It or Love It".
Also, these guys aren't 'washed up', they're legends. Who do these kids want these days? Billy Eilish, Bad Bunny? Get outta here...
February 14th, 2022 at 9:24 AM ^
I heard that Florida banned the halftime show
February 14th, 2022 at 9:58 AM ^
Flo Rida should have been part of the halftime show. Dude is great!
February 14th, 2022 at 9:24 AM ^
Im 38 and was pumped about that show. Seems about right.
I seriously enjoyed the scaled down production compared to most years as well.
Also loved Em's tribute to Colin.
February 14th, 2022 at 10:36 AM ^
Apparently the NFL asked Eminem not to kneel, asked Snoop not to make a crip symbol, and asked Dre not to say "still not loving police" in Still Dre.
They all did anyway.
February 14th, 2022 at 10:41 AM ^
Sticking it to The Man! I like it.
February 14th, 2022 at 9:24 AM ^
As a 40ish year old, I really enjoyed the halftime show. I thought to myself, "Finally, no washed-up artist(s) that only old people find entertaining, like The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, or The Who."
10 seconds later, it hit me like a ton of bricks.
February 14th, 2022 at 10:45 AM ^
Eminem made big cultural waves as recently as 2018.
Dre's last record was a universal hit, and critically heralded.
Snoop is everywhere.
Kendrick is one of the foremost hip hop artists working today.
Mary J. Blige is in the midst of a renaissance, finally getting the universal respect she deserves for her career.
50 Cent is washed.
February 14th, 2022 at 10:50 AM ^
My observation was less about the artists being washed-up and much more about me realizing that I am old.
February 14th, 2022 at 10:55 AM ^
Oh, yeah. I'm there with you. Luckily, I already booked my colonoscopy.
February 14th, 2022 at 1:06 PM ^
50 has been doing his part for society by bullying Floyd Mayweather
February 14th, 2022 at 9:24 AM ^
It was enjoyable.
As far as the performance aspect, it wasn’t anything spectacular or special.
February 14th, 2022 at 9:25 AM ^
I liked it.
It was fun and most importantly after the past few years just concentrated on being fun and not taking itself too seriously.
I understand not liking it, but for me everytime I have seen a veteran act(as long as they haven't blown out their vocal chords like Martina McBride has, or the guy from Queensryche) they usually show why they're veterans and bring a good show. Which is what I thought this was, a good show.
Also no "Message of Great Importance", which was just lovely.
February 14th, 2022 at 9:25 AM ^
I thought it was well produced. I enjoyed it.
February 14th, 2022 at 10:01 AM ^
It was a decent performance. I liked the scaled-back staging and the 90s vibe.
But whoever was mixing that show for broadcast should be sent back to school. Holy crap were those vocals all washed out and murky. They did Ms. Blige ESPECIALLY dirty, and she was killing it even though they layered on the pitch correction.
February 14th, 2022 at 11:41 AM ^
Agreed, the audio was awful. Had to crank up the TV and still was less than clear.
February 14th, 2022 at 12:51 PM ^
Totally agree on the audio. The vocals either got totally lost or there was way too much echo going on.
February 14th, 2022 at 9:25 AM ^
Personally, I loved the show, and I am definitely of the generation that had Big Hair Heavy Metal playing at the high school dances. The only thing I *didn't* like about the show was that the singers sounded very washed out by the backing rhythm. Really poor audio balancing by the sound crew.
As far as Eminem taking a knee and Dre saying, "Still don't love the police?" I really don't give a shit.
February 14th, 2022 at 9:42 AM ^
I had the TV up to 85 so I could hear the lyrics. When they went to commercial, the noise nearly blew my ears out.
February 14th, 2022 at 9:26 AM ^
It's a little jarring to see the target audience for the halftime show become GenX and early millenials instead of boomers. Not surprising, just feels odd.
I appreciated the fact that it was relatively brief. Although this is the music of my generation, it's not something I particularly care for or celebrate.
February 14th, 2022 at 9:26 AM ^
As a millenial I loved it, same with my wife. That was the music from HS and it was cool to see it again. Looking at the past decade it was nice to watch a non-pop music halftime show.
The Weeknd
Shakira and JLo
Maroon 5
Justin Timberlake
Lady Gaga
Coldplay
Katy Perry
Bruno Mars
Beyonce
Madonna
February 14th, 2022 at 9:27 AM ^
I was just waiting for the sexual anarchy I was promised
February 14th, 2022 at 10:14 AM ^
When 50 was on and the old line "I'm to having sex, I ain't into making love" came on, I just imagined a good segment of this country feigning outrage that this could be on their wholesome super bowl show... despite the fact that they probably got down to this same song at a 13 year old's birthday party not too long ago.
February 14th, 2022 at 11:16 AM ^
That would require them to actually watch the show, and listen to (and understand) the lyrics. The sound quality was pretty bad.
Anyone that offended probably wasn't watching.
February 14th, 2022 at 12:04 PM ^
ehh, I doubt anyone cared. people that would take offense to that song being played on TV probably didn't watch the halftime show.
there was ample warning about who was doing the halftime show. they would have had to literally sit down, say "i am totally going to hate this and be offended" then sit through 5 minutes of other artists saying things that, in all likelihood, also offend them, just to get offended when 50 did his part.
February 14th, 2022 at 9:27 AM ^
Late 50s dude who missed the glory years of rap, but I thought it was a great show. I normally don't give a crap about the halftime show, but my wife was excited for it so I paid attention. The choreography was spectactular.
Someone on Twitter made the comment that "Gen Xers are excited because the show this year will not be some up old musical act that nobody remembers like Paul McCartney or Springsteen, and then they thought, oh wait..."
February 14th, 2022 at 11:51 AM ^
Ha, yeah, those performers are the new McCartney and Springsteens and we're the old people reminiscing about our youth 20-30 years ago!
February 14th, 2022 at 9:28 AM ^
there's never been a good halftime show and there never will be unless Slayer comes out of retirement and performs
February 14th, 2022 at 10:13 AM ^
I would pay good money to watch the looks on my in-laws faces(both are in their 80's) as Raining Blood started.
February 14th, 2022 at 10:33 AM ^
"There never been a good halftime show" is Prince erasure and I simply will not stand for it! lol
February 14th, 2022 at 9:32 AM ^
I have never been much of a fan of hip hop; but it was fine and thankfully didn't have writhing bodies all over the place which has made prior halftime shows problematic for the smaller children present. I think it is healthy to expand the genre and demographic beyond....you know.... people like this guy...
February 14th, 2022 at 9:33 AM ^
I looked for a larger Keith Richards picture but just couldn't find one!
February 14th, 2022 at 10:56 AM ^
Jesus! I didn't know an mGoPost could startle me like this!
February 14th, 2022 at 9:33 AM ^
Hip hop is not a genre of music I've ever listened to or enjoyed. But I thought the show was fun and I did recognize the songs from Eminem, Dre, and Snoop. Mary J Blige sounded terrible (I'll echo Njia's post above) and the general background music was mixed awfully. That little guy, who was that? Was that Kendrick Lamar? Is he that short? He straight up sucked.
I wasn't looking for much from that show because it's not the music I listen to, but I liked it.
February 14th, 2022 at 9:53 AM ^
800M views: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvTRZJ-4EyI
1.4B views: (w/ Taylor Swift) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcIy9NiNbmo
Diversify your music tastes.
February 14th, 2022 at 10:06 AM ^
I like everything except the crassest rap/rock, Muzak and opera, and I had/have no idea who he is either. My wife grew up in the 90s, and knew every act other than him.
Diversifying your tastes sounds great until someone points out music you just don't happen to like or listen to.
February 14th, 2022 at 10:20 AM ^
Kendrick has >1B (1,000,000,000) views on YouTube and performed a #1 song with Taylor Swift, so I'd argue (and neg bomb away) that you don't like everything music.
February 14th, 2022 at 10:42 AM ^
I like all types of music, but I still don't know who he is. I've heard the name a bunch, but he must not have done anything I liked enough to remember him.
I also don't pay much attention to artists outside their music. They tend to say and do very stupid things, and I'd rather not color their music with that.
There is a metric ton of great music to listen to and only so much time to do so. If a song or artist isn't interesting to me, there is a bunch more in whatever genre to listen to that is.
February 14th, 2022 at 12:06 PM ^
Kendrick Lamar is a more recent artist. He's only 34 so 20ish years younger than everyone else that performed last night. He is "next (current) generation" hip hop.
I also grew up in the 90s listening to Dre, Snoop, Biggie, Tupac and am not familiar with Kendrick Lamar's music because I've spent the last 15 years being not cool and working and getting married and having kids and stuff.
February 14th, 2022 at 10:30 AM ^
Yay for Kendrick - he has a billion hits on Youtube!!!
Most of those are going to be rewatches, and none of them say I have to like it. Nor can you make me like it just because you do. You would probably say that someone I do like it straight up sucks - have at it, we are all entitled to an opinion.
But dude, find a way to settle down. Seems like you spiked your blood pressure over the opinion of some rando on the internet about music neither of us made.
February 14th, 2022 at 10:47 AM ^
I don't get the hate for Kendrick. I thought his part was incredible.
February 14th, 2022 at 10:52 AM ^
I'll upvote... I just didn't like his song selection, and didn't think he sounded all that good. He has a couple of songs I do like, one with Beyonce and another with U2. But otherwise, it's just not a genre I listen all that often (we've all listened to Eminem, Dre, and Snoop...) because I'm not a fan of it. If you are, that's great!
February 14th, 2022 at 12:46 PM ^
Popular doesn't equal good.
I saw Kendrick at a festival a few years back and he was not good, pretty awful performance.