Diversions - Super Bowl Half Time Shows Need To Feature Better Music

Published 2/4/08 (Modified 3/8/11)
By MoneyBlueBook

Warning - alarm - I am about to drive off the personal finance road and head into the entertainment marshes.

Well it's been months since I rambled off topic but I think after having watched this year's 2008 Super XVLII, I feel compelled to comment on the deteriorating quality and excitement of the once highly anticipated half time musical performances. It used to be that I always looked forward to watching the Super Bowl half time shows since they used to feature pretty good superstar performances. But unfortunately, what was once an exciting party bash has in recent years turned into a safe and cautious yawn fest.

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Tom Petty's Performance Was Decent But Too Safe For A Super Bowl Half Time Show

This year's half-time show featured Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, a band that probably caters more to the older generation than today's kiddies, myself included. While I will admit he did pull of a pretty skillful performance and sang some great songs, I've never been much of a fan of his band's music. I wasn't really moved or pumped up by their performance as it wasn't really much of a performance - mostly just a karaoke selection of his greatest hits.

I think future shows need serious tuneups. Ever since the whole Janet Jackson alleged wardrobe malfunction episode of Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004, the quality of the halftime shows have been sliding downhill. We really need MTV to bring back the excitement that the event once had or I think we're going to start seeing many viewers switch channels during halftime to watch some of the other competing shows airing at that time. Some cable network channels have actually started to seize on the waning interest in the half time shows by featuring unique commercial free programs during that very time slot.

I know it was controversial at the time, but I personally thought the whole wardrobe malfunction incident was a great thing for the Super Bowl - an unanticipated oops that generated buzz and front page excitement for an event that by definition should be glorified, edgy, and memorable. I'm not sure what other football fans and Super Bowl followers think, but in my opinion, the best half time show I've seen in the last few years was the one in 2001 - Super XXXV - that featured amazing stars like Britney Spears, N Sync, Nelly, and Mary J. Blige, as well as the ageless, but still sort of hard rocking Aerosmith. Laugh if you want - I would have loved to have been there! :)

The music performers in recent years featured boring artists like the Rolling Stones, and Paul McCartney - two utterly forgettable artists that most people probably didn't even realize were still alive. Of course, it's obvious why the Super Bowl planning committee continues to book such predictably bland artists to cater to the older folks and the family crowd - they are the ones who have the money to pay the exorbitant ticket prices to attend these type of events.

This entry was posted on 2/4/08 (Modified on 3/8/11) and is filed under Entertainment . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response.

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7 Responses to “Diversions - Super Bowl Half Time Shows Need To Feature Better Music”

Peter @ Plan Your Escape says:
February 4, 2008 at 10:43 pm
I have to whole heartedly disagree with you on this one. My main reason is that I'm a huge Tom Petty fan. I also thought the solid rock music was the perfect fit for a football game halftime show. I'm not sure how you can appreciate Aerosmith as an 'ageless but still hard rocking' band and then call Tom Petty, the Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney 'boring artists' ... there's no accounting for taste I guess!
Raymond says:
February 4, 2008 at 11:05 pm
If they played hip hop I'm sure that would appeal to the younger crowd but it would probably turn off a whole segment of viewers. Yeah...I think music is one of those things that we can all agree to disagree on. :)

Perhaps you're right...rock music is the only true middle ground when it comes to music tastes...sort of a bridge between country on the right and rap on the left.
Pete @ biblemoneymatters.com says:
February 5, 2008 at 3:59 pm
I have to disagree - I thought Tom Petty was a classic choice, and that he gave a great show. Of course I might be a bit biased as I am a big Petty fan. Some of my favorite songs are his especially - Free fallin'. ahh, the memories. Does this mean I"m old?
Raymond says:
February 5, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Yes Peter you are ancient.

Just kidding...these days it's hard to say what is young and what is old anymore. 30 is the new 20, and 40 is the new 30.....but I am getting the feeling that I'm in the minority when it comes to my Super Bowl music tastes.
Charles says:
February 5, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Whoa, Prince did not Rock? I am not even a huge fan and he tore it up.. Petty, well, he is still hanging around.. How can you compare the driving force behind wings to the Rolling Stones? I agree... Let us tear it up....
Mimoji says:
February 6, 2008 at 6:18 pm
The trend will continue with the rocked-out rock stars, I believe, because the television powers that be don't need to worry about wardrobe malfunctions from performers wearing suits. They will have to worry about just how those guys are holding their guitar tho...
robert says:
February 1, 2009 at 2:07 pm
no.prince did not rock.if your'e gonna do older rock, at least get Van Halen or Motley Crue.i am 43 and listen to most music from country to metal.some more recent groups like 3 doors down,nickelback,Linkin Park,the SUPERBOWL is adrenalin.get some music to represent it)and they dont worry about what there wearing ,David Lee Roth might though...