After Sunday’s impressive and chaotic performance by Usher, guest starring Alicia Keys and other singers like H.E.R., Will.i.am, Ludacris, and Lil Jon, we must reevaluate the order in which the best Super Bowl performances go down in history.
At the moment, Beyonce’s performance in 2013 is ranked the top performance based on Entertainment Weekly. Her fireworks as she sang her hit song “Halo” shook the stadium with emotion and exhilaration.
Second is Prince, who performed in 2007 with his dramatic purple guitar. He sang hits including Queen’s “We Will Rock You”; his hits “Let’s Go Crazy” and “Baby, I’m a Star”; Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Proud Mary”; Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower”; and, oddly enough, Foo Fighters’ “Best of You.” This unforgettable show left the stands up on their feet and grooving to the beat.
Thirdly, U2 is ranked third as the band touched the hearts of many with his tribute to those whose lives were lost in the attacks on 9/11. The group performed “Beautiful Day” and “MLK” before launching into a touching rendition of “Where the Streets Have No Name” that featured backdrops scrolling the names of the 9/11 attack victims into the sky. In addition to the beautiful message through their songs, Bono’s outfit also spoke volumes. He had his suit tailored to have an American flag sewn on the interior so that when he held it out, the crowd was seeping with patriotism and emotion.
Although Usher’s performance may not fit in Entertainment Weekly’s top three rankings, I thought the roller skates and acrobatics reflected a classic Las Angeles performance, and were definitely entertaining. It brought me back to my childhood as he began with his 2004 hit “Caught Up,” then played “U Don’t Have To Call,” “Lovers And Friends”, ” Love In This Club”, and “Turn It Down for What.” His return to the Super Bowl did not disappoint.
