Spanish.- Either the expectations were too high, or Super Bowl halftime shows definitely aren’t what they used to be. Singer Usher took the stage in this latest edition with the promise that his performance would be remembered by “millions,” but the impact was hardly that significant. For those who watch these performances year after year, there was a lingering feeling that something more could have happened.
The difference with last year’s edition—when Rihanna performed and announced her pregnancy—is that Usher included guests like Alicia Keys, H.E.R., and rappers Ludacris and Lil Jon. That made a difference because otherwise, it would have been a much more lukewarm performance. Still, his 30-year career full of hits that even impacted Latin America should not be underestimated. If there’s one thing the artists who perform assure, it’s that summarizing a lifetime of making music in 13 minutes is not easy.
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There’s a common factor between Rihanna’s and Usher’s performances at the Super Bowl: not only were they boring, but they were also produced by Apple Music and not Pepsi, as had been happening. This is noticeable in the aesthetics, in the quality of the presentation, and this time it even showed in the audio (those who watched it on television noticed that the sound failed at the beginning). It’s much more minimalist, without as flashy resources as Katy Perry’s staging in 2015 or Madonna’s in 2012.
In the end, some say it was “the worst show in history” and that several of his songs were missing, while for others, it met the mark as long as the viewer knows Usher’s career. One thing is certain after watching this edition’s halftime show, where the Kansas City Chiefs faced the San Francisco 49ers: at least for this viewer, when it comes to “epic” performances, there’s a much wider range that’s worth mentioning: like Michael Jackson’s performance in 1993, The Rolling Stones in 2006, or more recently, Jennifer Lopez and Shakira in 2020.