Kat Piantka | News Editor
February 15, 2024
With the closing of football season and the celebrations of Super Bowl LVIII on February 11 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, the chaos that overwhelms the media relating to opinions and reviews on the game and performances, as well as predictions for coming future Super Bowls, has arrived. An average of “123 million people tuned in throughout the game” (NPR) to watch the spectacle of the event.
The announcement of Usher headlining the Super Bowl raised mixed opinions, as many were skeptical since his biggest hits and peak of his fame was in the early 2000s. However, the eight-time Grammy winner pleased all audiences with his 13-minute setlist which celebrated all of the eras of his career with hits ranging from “My Boo” to “Yeah!” and of course “OMG.” He entertained all of America with his exciting choreography which highlighted the Vegas culture, dynamic sets, the addition of a marching band, and dancing on roller skates. Not only was his performance exceptional but his numerous featured artists only elevated the show, as the crowd was overwhelmed with nostalgia from the hits of the prior decades and additions of more recent songs.
Alicia Keys shared the floor with Usher as she sang her classic hit “If I Ain’t Got You” and dueted with Usher to their song “My Boo.” He even got a little intimate with her on stage which received cries of judgment and questioning from all fans alike, although the disclaimer warned that it “may cause relationship issues.” Usher also tied together the newer generations of R&B when he brought H.E.R. on stage to perform “U Got It Bad,” where she amazed the crowd with her legendary guitar solo. When viewers believed that the performance could not get any better, Usher danced across the stage on roller skates as he showed off his hidden talent as he performed “OMG” alongside Will.I.am. Ludacris and Lil Jon were brought out as Usher neared the end of his setlist to perform two of his biggest hits, “Yeah!” and “Turn Down For What,” ending the halftime show on the right note.
Although Usher’s halftime show received a wide range of reviews, the majority of viewers only had positive remarks on behalf of the performance for Usher and his featured artists; some even believe that it was “one of the best Super Bowls [they] have ever seen,” as argued by sophomore Noah Santana. His audience appeal, exciting choreography, and memorable setlist “transported [his] mind, body, and soul to another dimension” with the unexpected additions to the show.
While many shared the same opinion as Noah in regards to the halftime show, sophomore Landon Weaver had other thoughts on Usher’s performance: he expected more and found other years even better in comparison. Landon believed Usher’s performance “was not very good” and even a “little disappointing,” as the sound quality of the performance did not do Usher any favors and made it difficult to hear his voice at times through the chaos of the crowd and music, which was a common complaint about the halftime show.
Whether or not you were a fan of Usher’s halftime performance in Super Bowl LVIII, all viewers can agree that it tied together the R&B artists of the 21st century excitingly and tastefully which incorporated all of Usher’s hits from his thirty years in the music industry as he made his career debut at age 16. His tribute to Michael Jackson with the white glove on his left hand, the lineup of featured artists, and Vegas flair made millions of Americans wonder if the Super Bowl was just the Usher concert.
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