Singer Beyonce performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl XLVII Halftime Show at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
(Ezra Shaw/Getty)
Millions of viewers got to see Beyonce do her thing on the big stage at yesterday’s Super Bowl halftime show last night. But the halftime show wasn’t always a showcase for solo-artists with attitude. Once upon a time, halftime at the Super Bowl meant one thing and one thing alone: Up With People.
Jonathan Mahler, New York Times magazine writer and columnist for Bloomberg View, traces the history of the androgynous singing-dancing horde of youngsters who dominated Super Bowl halftime shows in the 60s, 70s, and 80s.
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The show is a co-production of WNYC Radio and Public Radio International, in collaboration with New York Times Radio and WGBH Boston.
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Comments [3]
With all respect due for her efforts (and dozens of dancers, pyrotechnics, and whatnot), Prince's halftime show will go down as the greatest. He didn't phone it in, and needed little to no artifice as he performed in the rain. Try that in your heels, Beyonce!
The NFL has been incredibly smart to get big acts for their Halftime show...Though I love rock-n-roll, I hope they continue to bring new acts on...A lot of rock and roll heroes who they have had on for the Super Bowl are starting to look like my Rabbi and don't sound as good as my Cantor...
I did not like the half time show for me not so entertaining. IMO U2 was the best half time show
BTW I tried out for Up with People. It was a great show you had to be talented to get on that show!
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