Super Bowl Halftime Guaranteed to be Lousy

If you think the Super Bowl halftime show this season couldn’t be any worse than what we’ve had in the last several years, think again. This season’s halftime show will be headlined by none other than Madonna. Yes, that’s the same Madonna who the elementary school girls idolized back in 1985 and played on boom boxes when I was in sixth grade. I don’t understand the reasoning behind the selection committee’s decision. It seems they are trying to tone it down from previous years and keep it family friendly. But how does that fit for Madonna who is outspoken politically and pushes the edge of what is and what is not acceptable. Back in the day, she pushed the limits of what is socially acceptable in music on the radio. Now her music sounds rather tame compared to what is available.

Still, the question lingers as to what is the NFL’s target market and demographic. We know that the die-hard football fans will watch the game for the sake of the game. Millions of other lukewarm fans will watch the big game for the spectacle of the halftime show and the advertising. With recent advertisements falling flat and bad halftime shows, we are back to enjoying the game for what it is. But don’t we want an enjoyable halftime show?

Last year's halftime show was the Black Eyed Peas in Dallas of all places. When we think of Dallas and their version of country Texas culture and the legendary Dallas Cowboys, how does that relate to the Black Eyed Peas? In the heart of Texas and down the road from the local country music scene of Texas bands in Austin, they pull in the most commercial pop group currently placing songs on the radio. The Peas’ performance stunk. Stupid costumes and we realized that they have no vocal abilities beyond sing-talking (not even as good as Willie Nelson) and without the help of voice tuning technology. They should have popped in a CD on the loud speaker and it would have been better.

How many die hard football fans are excited to see and hear Madonna? “Hey Brodie, did you get that new Madonna CD yet?” I don’t think that quote has happened anywhere. I can’t envision guys gathered at a sports bar in Green Bay chatting up her latest music. Reports state that she plans to sing a few songs from her new album. We all know that never works when an artist performs songs from a new album. If I go to a Bon Jovi concert, I want to hear “Living on a Prayer” and “Bad Medicine,” not the new stuff I don’t know.

With all the artist choices out there that could put on a decent show and still be maintstream without too mcuh controversy they could have selected Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Lady Antebellum, Rob Thomas, Lifehouse, Darius Rucker (Hootie), Carrie Underwood, to name a few, they just aren’t planning very well. Who can we hope for next season? Maybe Bette Midler and Barbara Striesand?