Top 10 Super Bowl halftimes with '80s acts
Today's guest blogger is Paul Schultz of Albion, Wis. He frequently argues the quality of Beta over VHS, and became music editor at The Trades before his boss discovered he played Simon LeBon of Duran Duran in a high school air band contest.
Bruce Springsteen is a "dream" catch to perform at this Sunday's Super Bowl halftime show, but it took a good quarter-century of NFL championships for big-name musicians to be the main attraction. Perhaps the over-hyped debacle of 1989 was the turning point, as a gaudy extravaganza called Be Bop Bamboozled in 3-D was introduced by announcer Bob Costas, who sarcastically quipped, "This is the single proudest moment of my life."
Since then, stars of the '80s have constituted the bulk of the entertainment showcased for, as any devotee stuck in that decade of excess knows, the personalities don't get any larger-than-life -- a perfect fit for the intermission pageantry beamed across the globe. Now, there's no time to refill the snack bowl or take a potty break or you're likely to miss all-star collaborations or another potential "wardrobe malfunction seen around the world."
So, without further ado, here are the top performances by artists who peaked in popularity during the '80s. The Rolling Stones are really the only act grandfathered (no pun intended) in for this criteria, but they did sing Start Me Up from 1981, so there.
TOP 10 SUPER BOWL HALFTIME SHOWS BY '80s ACTS:
10. PHIL COLLINS (2000) - The sappy Disney balladeer version of the Genesis frontman shows up to sing You'll Be in My Heart from the Tarzan soundtrack during a goofy salute to the new millennium featuring giant lumbering puppets and voice-over narration by Edward James Olmos. [Watch it again]
9. GLORIA ESTEFAN (1992) - The featured singer in Miami Sound Machine would attempt to Turn the Beat Around at 1999's half-time Celebration of Soul, Salsa and Swing, but this first appearance with Olympic figure skaters Brian Boitano and Dorothy Hamill had trouble holding its audience. More than 20 million viewers defected to alternate programming in the form of a special episode of Fox's In Living Color featuring live skits by Damon Wayans, David Alan Grier and a young Jim Carrey.
8. NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK (1991) - When drill teams, dancers and marching bands were the pinnacle of halftime entertainment, NKOTB had the distinction of being the first contemporary pop act featured at the mid-game break. Unfortunately, they were never seen live, as preemption by Operation Desert Storm coverage relegated their performance to an edited after-game postscript. [Watch it again]
7. STING (2003) - An odd mix of performers include Shania Twain and Gwen Stefani, with the latter joining Sting to duet on Message in a Bottle. [Watch it again]
6. JANET JACKSON (2004) - Nobody remembers the infamous show opened with Jessica Simpson, or that Kid Rock, Nelly and P. Diddy also performed. Rhythm Nation also is forgotten from this all-over-the-place production that ends with Justin Timberlake singing "gonna have you naked by the end of this song," popping Janet's top, and "Nipple-gate" being born. [Watch it again]
5. THE ROLLING STONES (2006) - Halftime shows are often choreographed to within an inch of their lives, with musicians often lip-synching to keep things running smoothly. Not the Rolling Stones, with their rip-roaring, unpolished trio of tunes that had twitchy censor overlords turning down Mick Jagger's microphone during suggestive lyrics. [Watch it again]
4. TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS (2008) - A solid performance, as Petty & Co. roll through Full Moon Fever's greatest hits, I Won't Back Down, Free Fallin' and Runnin' Down a Dream, while injecting a little politics into the proceedings with Hillary Clinton’s campaign song, American Girl. Sometimes great music is enough amid the spectacle. [Watch it again]
3. MICHAEL JACKSON (1993) - In retrospect, the Gloved One singing in the midst of thousands of schoolchildren is more than a bit creepy, but the guy can put on a show. Stopping in dead silence for more than a minute during the bombastic production left us in agonizing anticipation, and Heal the World highlighted social justice concerns to a worldwide audience. [Watch it again]
2. PRINCE (2007) - The Artist Formerly Known as an Unpronounceable Symbol turns in an absolutely mesmerizing and eclectic set featuring a medley of hits and covers ranging from We Will Rock You to All Along the Watchtower to Proud Mary to the Foo Fighters' Best of You. The lighting and weather combine to douse the stage in actual purple rain, and Prince ends a fiery guitar performance silhouetted behind a sheet invoking decidedly phallic imagery.
1. U2 (2002) - It wasn't quite the top musical performance (see No. 2), but four months after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the Irishmen engage emotionally with the somber crowd and viewing audience with Where the Streets Have No Name, as a huge backdrop scrolls the names of the victims. Bono opening his jacket toward the end to reveal its American flag lining cements this as an indelibly memorable moment. [Watch it again]
[AP photo]
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
E-mail Steve Spears:
Won't matter who they put on because if you keep with the party mood of the Superbowl you'll be half in the bag by the time it comes on. Anything will sound good then, even the Smiths. lol
Posted by: Mick in Sydney | February 03, 2009 at 11:01 PM
Prince and U2 were solid choices. I hardly think Petty was thinking politics when he did American Girl. That's just silly.
Posted by: Eric S | January 30, 2009 at 02:05 AM
What other 80s bands would we like to see perform at the Superbowl?
Posted by: Jim | January 29, 2009 at 06:01 PM
Prince robbed of his rightful spot on top by Bono and his moment of excessive sentimental drama.
Posted by: Kevy Metal | January 28, 2009 at 05:03 PM
I do not agree about Michael Jackson. He was lip synching and the entire thing was way overproduced.
Posted by: Tara | January 28, 2009 at 04:09 PM
I think that since the Super Bowl is an American Event, all of the half time acts should be American acts as well. Also since the Super Bowl is also a party, then Party Music should be played more often, like George T and the Destroyers or Van Halen. I will be watching the game on EPSN America here in Germany.
Posted by: Derek | January 28, 2009 at 02:14 PM
Nice post. Very topical. Well done.
Posted by: OldSchool | January 28, 2009 at 02:00 PM
the only reason to watch the super bowl, is the commercials. that is, unless the saints are playing. until that day comes, i'll watch for the commercials. the only time all year i'll watch them.
Posted by: CHAD | January 28, 2009 at 12:24 PM
Well, maybe I need to 1. Watch the Super Bowl, 2. Go to Super Bowl parties for more than the mini-sausages and hot wings, 3. Stick around for the half time show rather than refilling my drink.
Ever since they canned UP WITH PEOPLE I've had issues watching. Those kids could rock the house!
Posted by: Marissa | January 28, 2009 at 07:45 AM