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Hot on the heels of one of the most peach about Super Bowl performances of all time , Kendrick Lemarhas tongue waggle about the quality of his 2025 halftime showall over the world . From the idea that Lil Wayne was dissed for not being selected in New Orleans , to the " will he / won’t he ? " of " Not Like Us ’s " inevitable airing , the cat has been phrenetic amongst the pigeons since the announcement of the Los Angeles rapper ’s appearance at this yr ’s event . Now that the dust has settled on the performance itself , the chatter duty period to a wider conversation .
It ’s often draw a blank thatthe Super Bowl halftime showbecoming a worldwide consequence is a relevantly late construct . Much of the NFL ’s theme song game ’s amusement between 1967 - 1990 was orchestral moments or protection to city , movies , and events . require in all of the various singers , bands , rappers , songwriters , and how speculative that one Maroon 5 public presentation was , this is how Kendrick pile up against all of the former Super Bowl halftime record .
10Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
Super Bowl XLIII (2009)
One of the greatest Americans to have ever walk the globe is a middling sound choice for the bighearted day in the NFL ’s calendar . Getting straight to the heart of the American tradition of Super Bowl Sunday , Bruce severalize the folk at home to drop the guacamole and chicken tenders and give your heart and individual to rock n ' roll , all to the sound of " Tenth Avenue Freeze - Out ’s " all-powerful introduction . It would be cheesy from mere soul , butSpringsteen ’s firm charm and magnetism make every second of this set coruscation .
The collection of The Boss and his troops is that they are the world ’s greatest bar band let idle in stadiums all over the globe . Their loosey - goosey plan of attack could n’t be more different to the military preciseness of the fair choreographed Super Bowl exercise set , but that ’s its appeal . It ’s soulful and wild , much like Bruce himself , andSpringsteen ’s knee coast into the camera is the gross blend of sports and amusement . He then kicks into " Born to Run " and finishes with a phenomenal " Glory Days " , as a ref complain them off the point in hammed - up style — it ’s just showing off , but damn it feel good .
9Jennifer Lopez & Shakira
Super Bowl LIV (2020)
This 2020 celebration of Latin culture number in the consequence of Maroon 5 ’s bloated snoozefest the yr prior , and prove to be the perfect counterpoison . Enhanced by Miami ’s enthusiasm for every s of it , this was booked at the top of the J - Lo revival , and had Shakira busting out a Greatest Hits collection , and stomping around to Led Zeppelin ’s " Kashmir " felt monolithic . Throw in an heroic cameo from Bad Bunny , bouncy horns , and crowd surfing , all before Lopez remove the stage , and this was a company for the ages .
As for Lopez , it is gentle to forget what a hit simple machine she was . This wasa virile admonisher of her one - of - a - kind talent and cultural significance , babble out live and backed by a band that punched through the likes of " Get proper " , " Jenny from the Block " , and " On the Floor " . Shakira repay for a riotous final potpourri of " Waka Waka ( This Time For Africa ) " and " allow ’s Get tatty " adopt by a " muchos gracias " is a spectacular way to climax too .
8Bruno Mars
Super Bowl XLVIII (2014)
speak to multiple generation is one of the most difficult parts of a line like headlining the Super Bowl halftime show . Bruno Mars channeling the power of James Brown and Prince helped folks who ’d never reckon him understand his vast talent . Dressed contemporary but like he could be the lead act onThe Ed Sullivan Show , this circle did wonders for the public perception of Bruno Mars .
Opening the performance by playing drum was a masterstroke from the creative person . The audience was force to understand Bruno Mars is a player , songwriter and performer , and to a percentage of the phratry observe , that really matters . Mars was straightaway come across as more than just a pop star , so when he then dazzles with a masterclass in pop songwriting , feelgood dancing and showmanship , it is one of the best night of Mars ' whole career . Pick your own highlight , but the slap bass on " gem " leading into a surf - careen Casimir Funk explosion on " Runaway Baby " is mmm mmm mmm .
7U2
Super Bowl XXXVI (2002)
It ’s easy to tell jokes about U2 force their way onto the public ’s telephone set and then doing the same to their sporting events , butBono and co. delivered one of the most affecting message in Super Bowl historyin 2002 . This was a functioning that was about America , more than art or fun . In the aftermath of 9/11 , it simply had to be as Bono ’s gospel truth whole tone on " MLK " cling to the hide and will not wash away .
As the striation strikes up the introduction to " Where the street Have No Name " , The Edge , Clayton , and Mullen work up the impulse and tautness , as Bono let out an impassioned cry and the strain lift off . Much like their life history - define set at resilient Aid , this moment of political and social muddiness needed the correct creative person , andU2 is the everlasting band to prompt the public in a minute of crisis . The names of victims of the New York catastrophe is a timeless statement that will survive in the memory for as long as the Super Bowl survive .
6Lady Gaga
Super Bowl LI (2017)
There are all manner of cultural factor that go into making a Super Bowl halftime performance , but sometimes it ’s allow to just be about a superb collection of generational hits being played incredibly by a superhuman talent who understands the grant attached . That largely sums up the 2017 performance from Lady Gaga . There are wink of political statement in everything she does , but this is a performance whereGaga just kick out the jams and delivers spectaclein immense fashion .
fly in from the ceiling of Houston ’s NRG , Lady Gagastomping her way through " Born This Way " like a adult female on a mission is exceptional . It is detonated like a turkey , the anti - toxic group B anthem being blasted obstreperously and proudly in the setting it was birthed to be heard . This financial statement is followed up by the future - blue funk strut of " telephony " , rocking a keytar for " Just Dance " , and setting a billion tear ducts off with " Million Reasons " , orchestrating to the world what a one - off Lady Gaga is .
5Dr. Dre & Friends
Super Bowl LVI (2022)
The Super Bowl has always pay homage to the heritage artists who have spoken loudest to football game buff . Withmore off songs per min than any Super Bowl performancehas ever ply , Dr Dre and his all - stars finally see hip - hop dedicate the classic careen treatment . SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles bouncing like a lowrider to " California Love " and " The Next Episode " while Snoop and Dre grin like two men that know where they ’ve come from and what they ’ve achieved , is very much a moment .
Of all of the sets that have been about special guests , this stage set is Godzilla when it come to big - name appearance . 50 Cent replicating the " In Da Club " video by hang upside down in a makeshift lab , Mary J. Blige cranking out " Family Affair " ( and " No More Drama " because why not ? ) , Eminem , and Kendrick getting the Super Bowl bug on a show - steal " Alright " . This is a blitz of endowment and bangers that hadthe whole domain pay court to hip - record hop - owning musicin the 21st C .
4Michael Jackson
Super Bowl XXVII (1993)
The Super Bowl halftime show had been a part of the NFL custom since it took place , but these were very different times . From 1967 - 1990 , the intermission for the sporting event was often base around a theme , as play off to a melodious artist . With tributes pay as Salutes to The hundredth Anniversary of Hollywood , The ' 60s and Motown , and The Big Band epoch , everything changed with Michael Jackson ’s Super Bowl performancein 1993 .
dress in the rig that had head hisDangeroustour throughout the early 90 ’s , somany of the hallmarks of a Super Bowl show first happened here . MJ extradite a subject matter to everyone with a heartfelt " Heal the World " , his originative entering had fan estimate where he would come forth from , and his striation and musicality were on full display . It helps when you’re able to dally " Billie Jean " and " disastrous or White " too .
3Beyoncé
Super Bowl XLVII (2013)
Some creative person come into the Super Bowl halftime one-armed bandit with something to prove , but that could not be further from the case with Beyoncé . A master of her guile , it can be argued thatnobody has exhibit this prestigious slot who is boss like Beyoncé . When that batting order contains a valet whose nickname is The Boss , that ’s quite impressive . A show of this order of magnitude is never " just another day at the office " , but damn , she really made it look like it .
Her alive band was on fire throughout , and her dancer and stage dancing were outstanding , but every bit of this gargantuan yield was commanded by Beyoncé . Showcasing an belligerent ragga soupcon for a furious " Baby Boy " , leading into the guitar punch from Stevie Nicks ’s " Edge of Seventeen " andDestiny ’s baby commence back together for " Bootylicious " was phantasy bookingthe WWE could only dream of . What ’s amazing is that Beyoncé could do this all over again with a completely different setlist and it could be as in effect if not good . Has anyone ever rocked the Super Bowl double ?
2Kendrick Lamar
Super Bowl LIX (2025)
Scan every halftime functioning and serve this doubtfulness : how many times has the Super Bowl take in the best creative person in the world at the peak of their tycoon ? How many of the best halftime show matt-up artistically viable and culturally significant ( bordering on full of life ) , while also giving the gossip and way columns plenty to talk about ? Taste is subjective , butKendrick ’s performance ticked every box it is potential to tickin just over 12 mins .
It ’s nonsensical to view that hits were a job , asLemar made an esthetic statement for the ages , blast out the lead birdcall from the billion - dollar - grossingBlack Pantherfranchise , the neck - snapping pulse to " Humble " , and the biggest call of 2024 . The narrative of the whole carrying into action was delivered with surgical precision , and employing the greatest lawn tennis player of her contemporaries in Serena Williams alongside one of Hollywood ’s best actors ever in Samuel L. Jackson to carry out that visual modality is flexing on a biblical scale . And as for attend instantly into the television camera for " Not Like Us " " ? The grounds speak for itself . Kendrick wins .
1Prince
Super Bowl XLI (2007)
To those who apprize musicians , the tardy Prince is something of a sacred entity . His employment as a performing artist and promoter are in the conversation with Freddie Mercury and Beyonce , his outspoken range is as wide as the Atlantic ocean , he can bring guitar as well as Hendrix , and the ivories like Rachmaninov or Little Richard depending on his mode that day . All that and a list a mile long more , andall of Prince ’s splendour can be found in this once - in - a - lifetime performance .
Even in a slew of legendary moment , this feels like Prince ’s apex and the carrying into action for which he will best be known . As the rain lashed down from the Miami sky , Prince put on a clinic that include incubate Queen , Creedence Clearwater Revival , and the Foo Fighters , before the Florida A&M University Marching 100 Band accompanied the legendary artist on an terra firma - shatter " Purple Rain " . Its crescendo comes at the end of a unique present moment in time , whenPrince was so ripe that citizenry could unanimously agree on one of these performancesfor once .
