This year’s halftime show was disappointing, which is a shame because Kendrick Lamar is an insanely talented artist, and his songs matched that, but the atmosphere did not. However this disappointment is nothing new, halftime shows have been on the decline for nearly a decade, and this year was just one of many underwhelming shows.
The drop in quality started in 2018, when Justin Timberlake was the featured artist. This performance lacks personality compared to previous performances by artists like Prince, Madonna, and Lady Gaga. The stage seemed very generic, and it wasn’t personalized to Timberlake’s “bad boy” aesthetic at all. This lack of flare detracts from the performance because the visuals are a big part of what draws the audience in.
In contrast, Gaga performed for the Super Bowl just a year before and the difference was astounding. Gaga took her budget and stretched it as far as she could to put on an unforgettable show. She had props, fire, wires to appear like she was flying, backup dancers, and so much more. Gaga made sure that every part of the arena exuded her energy, which is what recent halftime shows are missing.
Lamar’s show wasn’t a total dud. He had the dancers, the choreography, the symbolism and the voice. Lamar’s performance was still very impactful with its message of how the United States should be coming together right now. Lamar could’ve been going with a more minimalistic approach as an artistic decision, but that choice ended up making the performance look dull and uninteresting. They could have been a middle ground between simplicity and the necessary pizazz to captivate audiences.
Overall halftime shows aren’t what they used to be and it’s a shame to see them deteriorate like this. There needs to be a revival of halftime performers bringing the drama that the show calls for. The lack of personality is killing halftime shows and the key to saving them is bringing that personality back.
