Usher’s Halftime Show | A Review
After having a career as a dancer and choreographer, I have always wanted to blog about the Super Bowl Halftime Show. So this year, I am finally going to do it!
I was excited to hear that Usher was performing at the Super Bowl because I enjoyed dancing to his music when it came out. The show opens with my personal favorite, “Caught Up.” I was surprised to find that right from the beginning, the vocals were really weak. I’m guessing his voice is not the same as it used to be, but it almost sounded like he was already winded before he started. Perhaps the mic that he was wearing wasn’t quite catching the sound well enough, however, I expect such kinks to be worked out by the time such a big performance is ready to take place. If you have heard the song before, you know it is a catchy tune with vocals that give off a rich feel, as you can see below. To be honest, this song never gets old for me. I have and could play it over and over again.
Regardless of the sound quality, the production was exquisite. Usher begins all dressed all in white, clearly separating him from all of his dancers behind him. His dancing was on point, hitting every pop and lock. The choreography was original and fabulous.
To me, what makes a successful halftime show is maximizing the use of such a grand venue. I think it should be filled with performers, lighting, sets and props that match the scale of the space. The performance should be an experience that fills every sense and is a visual masterpiece from every level. What I mean by this is that it should be captivating whether you are on the field, the stands, the press box, flying overhead and from every camera angle you might see on TV. There should be movement and choreography that use the space well and the audience should be left feeling exhilerated. The best performances leave a person feeling so enveloped, that it is almost overwhelming to experience so many emotions all at once.
The first number of Usher’s halftime show was a blaze of diverse performers surrounding him as he made his way across the field. The ladies in the gigantic purple feathered costumes well and truly matched the grand scale of the show. Usher stepped onto a stage platform that was lit with a warm glow of flames with a full marching band backing him up. In my opinion, a marching band is always an excellent choice, especially in a stadium, because that is what they are made for! The audience was fully engaged as they waved red lights in the air and bands of red-lighted banners on each level of the stadium illuminated the entire space, highlighting the full breadth of the show.
The transitions in this show were seamless, never losing the energy as it flowed from one set to the next. Usher motioned to Alicia Keys, whose bright red dress that seemed connected to a massive red fabric flowing behind her made it so easy to spot. She sat at a matching bright red piano, a profoundly colorful sight popping broadly in the center of the dark stadium. The visual aesthetic for this was very well done. As the camera zooms into her up close, you can see the dress is structured with broad bedazzled shoulders draping over her arms, a unique look I would love to have for myself! I think it was here, as Usher came in to harmonize with her that the vocals found more strength.
As the show moved on, Ms. Keys dropped her cape to unveil a red full body skin tight bodysuit. What I find remarkable is that in the era that this music was debuted, there would have been full conversations about her body, and honestly, in her current size, if she had worn such an outfit, it would have been a bit of a scandel. When the music came out, there was a general expectation that one needed to be ultra skinny and otherwise covered up. As a full figured woman msyelf, I drank up Ms. Keys confidently dressed, healthy body. Against the backdrop of nostalgia, a sign of the changing times was made starkly obvious.
Following the elegant duet, Jermaine Dupri came out leading the crowd to “bounce” their arms up and down. This emphasis on the rythm set the tone for the song “Confessions.” I always thought the lyrics to the song are a little off color, but never the less, the song threw me back in time when it was a popular one in my own life. I appreciate the audience engagement, keeping the energy going as the changes in the music took on a more subtle tone. Usher centered himself on the stage which lit up like a clock as he meandered through a selection of some of his slower hits, continuing on the nostalgia train. Meeting anticipation from fans leading up to the day, he tore his shirt off revealing a six pack causing the crowd to go wild which was immediately followed by a dramatic guitar solo by H.E.R., a femenine symbol of strength to compliment his masculine move. At this point, a group of skaters came out on stage, with Usher joining them on skates too. The skates were a fun and different addition as he moved into “O.M.G.” It was so fun to see Usher skating in a circle as he sang.
Usher and his group of dancers moved into an ensemble where they performed on skates in unison creating a sense of wow factor. The white backlighting against the dark blue and black costumes created a an added layer of shadows from each of the performers. At this point, the energy level goes into high gear as Will.i.am pops up in the crowd and starts singing, a prelude to the final song, Usher’s “Yeah.”
When the song “Yeah” began, my heart sunk. I don’t understand how time and time again, the artistic directors make such poor choices for the overall vision. This epic song was expected to be accompanied by a stunning dance performance, but the caliber of the performance was lost to the sea of black and blue costumes against a black and blue set, making it unable to decipher the movements. If I were the choreographer, I would have been truly dissapointed. I think for this type of production, the dancers should have been made to contrast with the background, highlighting the excitment of the dance moves. Perhaps it was a creative choice to help cater to insecurities Usher may have had about his aging dance abilities, but if that were the case, then why was he contrasting in white at the very beginning? And, of all the things worth critiquing, I don’t have any for his dancing! Not only were the costumes dark, but the dancers jumpsuits were composed of large blocks of shapes seemingly put together randomly, making it impossible to make sense of what they were doing. Usher was adorned in a sparkling black and white suit that, at the very least could have been nicely contrasted by dancers dressed in white. At this point, Usher was once again struggling to maintain the vocals, missing words. I suppose the lighted stage provided a nice contrast for those sitting in the stadium, but from the tv angle, it was a bit of a let down.
The energy was high as the show came to a close. It looked as though every person in the entire stadium was dancing. You can hear the sound of the horns from the marching band, adding a festive embelishment, while the baseline carried the production. You could see the stage visibly shaking, and we worried that it was going to give way and collapse. Fortunately it did not. The music stopped at the end and gave way to Usher and friends chanting, an underwhelming end to such a high energy song.
Overall, the halftime show as entertaining with a consistent flow of energy throughout. With the exception of some rough vocals, a lacking visual direction during “Yeah,” and an unresolved ending, it was an exciting throwback to a nostalgic time for those of us who came of age during the rise of Usher.