Super Bowl Favs

Justin Timberlake, Prince, Bruno Mars, and live Anthem performances

“Karma is the guy on the Chiefs”

—Taylor Swift performing “Karma” in Argentina

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Kody lives in Kansas City, so we had to start there. Go Chiefs! This week we’re highlighting some of our favorite Super Bowl halftime performances. Fun fact - until the early 90s, Super Bowl halftime shows were performed by university marching bands. For the Bonus Track - don’t overlook the value of a great live version of the Star Spangled Banner.

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1. Justin Timberlake & The Tennessee Kids in 2018 at Super Bowl LII (Adam)

You’d be hard-pressed to find a more perfect halftime show than Justin Timberlake’s performance in 2018. The moves, the tunes, the Super Bowl selfies, and the Prince tribute made it very memorable. Even after 2018, it took a while to get another memorable performance. It all came back to fruition in 2022, when 50 Cent at age 47 hung upside down remaking the “In Da Club” video opening scene. Since then the shows have been amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed Rihanna and cannot wait to see what Usher does this year.

2. Prince in 2007 at Super Bowl XLI (Mat)

Any time Prince is involved, it’s not a fair fight. He was a generational talent. As a guitarist, vocalist, and more, he had few peers. I don’t think I have ever seen anything cooler than him singing “Purple Rain” in the rain during the Super Bowl halftime show. Only Prince could make something that cool happen.

3. Bruno Mars in 2014 at Super Bowl XLVIII (Kody)

For some reason, Bruno Mars’ SB XLVIII performance left a lasting impression on me. Maybe it was the iconic drum solo at the beginning - yes, Bruno can play the drums. The dude is kind of a savant. Maybe it was the pure swag that Mars exhibited throughout the performance. Maybe it was the joy and happiness with which he performed - so many smiles. Maybe it was the synchronized dancing. Maybe it was the Chili Peppers’ surprise appearance. Whatever it was, that night Bruno Mars pulled off a pure performance. The hero wasn’t some special light show or high-tech effects. It was the music, the dancing, and the showmanship of a true entertainer.

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Bonus Track: Great Live Performances of the National Anthem (curated by the Music Swap text thread and X, formerly Twitter)

Last year’s Super Bowl National Anthem made grown men cry and left us all speechless. So this year we’ve decided to search for some of the top live performances of the Star Spangled Banner. With a little help from X, here’s what we found:

1. Chris Stapleton, 2023, Super Bowl LVII: Chris out here making grown men cry.

2. Whitney Houston, 1991, Super Bowl XXV: This is just stunning! Love the outfit too. Perfection.

3. Boyz II Men, 2020, Kobe Bryant National Anthem Tribute: Watch Lebron get emotional here. We miss you, Kobe.

4. The Grateful Dead, 1993, Opening Day at Candlestick Park: We included this for Adam.

5. Lady Gaga, 2016, Super Bowl L: Classy Gaga!!! She knew she crushed it.

6. Dixie Chicks, 2003, Super Bowl XXXVII: Underrated and so good. Thanks for the rec Cole Armerding

   

7. Luther Vandross, 1997, Super Bowl XXXI: This one shows up on a lot of lists. Silky smooth.

8. Jimi Hendrix, 1969, Woodstock: This performance is a national treasure in and of itself.

We’re out of time! What did we miss? Reply with your favorite National Anthem performances.

Thank you so much for reading the Music Swap! Enjoy the big game, the Anthem (Reba), and the halftime show (Usher). See you next week.

-TheMusicSwap