The Best and Worst Super Bowl Halftime Shows

Super Bowl halftime shows certainly have been home to a variety of performers. Everyone from the Rolling Stones to Beyoncé have entertained the millions of sports fans who watch the biggest football game of the entire year.

The stage this year will be home to Justin Timberlake, who once created controversy when he performed at a halftime show with Janet Jackson. The NFL is certainly taking a risk by inviting the singer back, especially at a time when the league has a questionable standing with millions of fans.

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Timberlake is likely smart enough to stay away from any controversy that’s similar to his last stunt. But there’s always a chance he could cause waves by going political from the stage, something increasingly common for celebrities as they rail against President Donald Trump, his supporters and his policies.

The Super Bowl halftime stage has been exploited for political purposes before and it could be again. That would no doubt irk fans already fed up with the NFL’s national anthem kneeling controversy.

Even if he avoids politics and headline-making stunts, Timberlake still has some very big shoes to fill when it comes to the halftime show. That stage has hosted some great musicians and a wide variety of acts.

Some of the shows were just plain great — while others were just plain bad. Timberlake will belong to one of those categories after Sunday night. There doesn’t seem to be an in-between when it comes to halftime shows.

Here’s a look at three of the best and three of worst Super Bowl halftime shows ever.

The Best
The Rolling Stones: Few musical acts seem as fitting for a stage in the middle of a football field than the Rolling Stones. A regular kickoff jam is the Stones’ very own “Start Me Up.” The classic band may have been in its twilight years while on stage in 2006 — but that didn’t slow down lead singer Mick Jagger and his signature dancing, or the belting out of hit songs like “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.”

Prince: The late star was an odd fit for the Super Bowl, but he didn’t seem to mind that when he took the stage in 2007. Performing original songs and covers of hits, Prince was long past the height of his career at that time, but he proved with ease that he hadn’t lost a step. That year’s audience was probably one the most satisfied and interactive crowds at a halftime show for the Super Bowl. They didn’t even seem to mind the rain.

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Bruce Springsteen: The singer-songwriter played the Super Bowl in 2009 and hit all the right notes. Playing all of his classic tunes of blue-collar American life with The E Street Band, Springsteen put some more recent attention-grabbing pop performances at the big game to shame. He may irk many when he starts talking politics — but few can match Springsteen’s early work or his continued stage presence.

The Worst
Disney: Disney has hosted the Super Bowl halftime shows a few times — and it’s been a disaster every time. The worst was perhaps in 2000, when the show was just downright confusing. Poorly planned and requiring a narrator for some reason, the performance also included songs nobody knew. Disney and football mixed like oil and water that year.

The Black Eyed Peas: Sometimes you need more than shiny costumes and bright lights. The Black Eyed Peas were certainly popular when they played Super Bowl XLV in 2011 — but they were a real disappointment when it came to their live presence. Nobody could hit any notes and the actual music paled in comparison to some previous performances. The lights were cool, though.

Elvis Presto: You’ll likely never see a Super Bowl halftime show like this again. When the Super Bowl looked to do something different in 1989, that was a little before big stars began viewing the halftime show as a prestigious venue. Entitled “Bee Bop Bamboozled,” this halftime show was just plain bizarre, and various documentaries have recounted the odd behind-the-scenes drama that went into this show headed by Elvis Presto, an Elvis Presley impersonator.

The performance was certainly ambitious. It included motorcycles, trampolines, and a strange magic show that made little sense. Oh, and parts of it were able to be seen in 3D with glasses that came with six packs of soda. Like we said — just odd.

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PopZette editor Zachary Leeman can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter. This piece originally appeared in LifeZette last year and has been updated.