The history of the Super Bowl halftime show
Jan 26, 2015, 7:09 AM | Updated: Oct 11, 2024, 10:18 am
We're used to being entertained by these larger-than-life, name-in-lights pop singer, like Beyonce in 2013, while the footballers stretch their calves and chug Gatorade. (AP Photo/File)
(AP Photo/File)
This year’s Super Bowl halftime show headliner is Katy Perry. We’re used to being entertained by these larger-than-life, name-in-lights pop singers while the footballers stretch their calves and chug Gatorade.
But it wasn’t always this way. For Super Bowl I, in Los Angeles, the halftime show featured the University of Arizona Symphonic Marching Band, the Grambling State University Marching Band and the Arcadia High School Drill Team and Flag Girls.
Related: Check out the prop bets for Super Bowl XLIX
It was the same for Super Bowl II and III, IV and V. In fact, every Super Bowl halftime show up through Super Bowl X, in 1976, was marching band music. But Super Bowl X was the breakout year when the halftime show introduced the country to the wholesome, children singers and dancers of Up With the People.
Up With the People performed at four Super Bowls over the years, but the NFL still held true to the marching bands, only breaking format in 1979 for some Caribbean music, Chubby Checker and the The Rockettes in 1988.
It wasn’t until 1991, Super Bowl XXV, that modern day pop music made it’s debut. The spell was broken by the New Kids on the Block. But this halftime show was not aired live on TV. Instead, ABC aired news coverage of Operation Desert Storm and the halftime show was aired after the game. This was the same Super Bowl when Whitney Houston sang what is considered to be one the greatest renditions of the national anthem of all time.
After the New Kids, the NFL was like “Marching bands, who?” The next year they went with Gloria Estefan, and the year after that was Michael Jackson. The NFL needed a huge act, because the year before the halftime show lost 22 million viewers to a special live episode of the TV show “In Living Color.”
It worked. Maybe a little too well.
In 2004, 143.6 million viewers watched as Justin Timberlake tore off Janet Jackson’s bra, exposing her breast on national television. Because of the wardrobe malfunction, Paul McCartney’s performance the next year, was the first with a five-second tape delay.
There are many scandals and rumors surrounding the halftime show. After the Red Hot Chili Pepper’s performance last year, viewers noticed that the guitars and bass weren’t plugged in. Bassist Flea responded, saying that while Anthony Keides’ vocals were live, the NFL will not allow for live instrument playing, since it’s so easy for something to go wrong.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Hudson admits she lip-synched the National Anthem at the 2009 Super Bowl.
The hot topic this year? Does the NFL charge performers to sing?
The NFL does not pay the performers, and the “Wall Street Journal” says it is asking for a percentage of the artists tour money because of the exposure they’re given.
Katy Perry said she isn’t the type of girl to pay to play, but maybe it’s not too late to get the University of Arizona Symphonic Marching Band back on board?
