The Los Angeles Rams received the video game, but the Halftime Clearly show won the Tremendous Bowl.
WTOP’s Jason Fraley assessments the Super Bowl Halftime Clearly show (Portion 1)
The Los Angeles Rams gained the game, but the Halftime Exhibit received the Tremendous Bowl.
At the very least, that was the feeling from Technology X and Y (Elder Millennials), who grew up blaring “Parental Advisory” CDs and are now aged more than enough to be Parentals ourselves.
The full night was built for us — and we smelled what the producers ended up cooking.
The broadcast opened with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson lifting the People’s Eyebrow to quotation his WWF catchphrase, “Finally, the Tremendous Bowl HAS Arrive Back to Los Angeles!” Indeed, I explained WWF on objective, due to the fact Gen. Z would just about absolutely call it WWE. The only minimal letdown was that The Rock did not pause to sniff the air immediately after expressing, “The thousands and thousands.”
After the city modern day gospel duo Mary Mary sang “Lift Each individual Voice and Sing,” R&B soprano Jhené Aiko executed “America the Attractive,” when place star Mickey Guyton delivered a single of the best renditions of the national anthem in new memory, no surprise to individuals following her rise through the state ranks with “Black Like Me.”
The commercials showcased lots of nostalgic ’90s pop-society references, including an electrical Chevrolet Silverado callback to “The Sopranos,” a Peacock trailer for a spinoff of “The New Prince of Bel-Air,” a General Motors advertisement showcasing the cast of “Austin Powers,” and a Verizon professional showcasing Jim Carrey reprising his job from “The Cable Guy.”
Greatest of all, the a great deal-anticipated Halftime Present was the literal soundtrack of our lives, the correct tunes that we burnt CDs of in superior college (“The Continual 2001”) and danced our butts off to in faculty (“In Da Club”) courtesy of MP3s downloaded from Napster on to our iPods.
Consequently, you can consider our ear-to-ear grins viewing the whole functionality revolving all-around the legacy of Dr. Dre, who’s been the architect of West Coastline hip-hop for 35 a long time.
It was only fitting to open with Dre soaring up from a studio console to sign up for his pal Snoop Dogg on “The Next Episode.” “La-da-da-da-dah, it’s the 1 and only D.R.E.” Props to Snoop for creatively cleansing up his lyrics for the young children — “Dr. Dre, small busters!”
“California Love” was ideal for a Super Bowl performed in Inglewood. The only issue missing was a 2Pac hologram, which I wagered $5 on in a loved ones Tremendous Bowl pool. I was hoping the late fantastic would appear digitally from past the grave like prior hologram concert events by way of his estate. Sigh, at least Snoop was a deserving stand-in for Pac.
Dre’s Aftermath protégé 50 Cent was a enjoyable surprise, dangling upside-down like the audio video clip to “In Da Club.” Social media is ragging on his “Dad Bod,” but let us see y’all hold upside-down 20 a long time following your prime. 50 can absolutely take care of the disses. He’s been hit with a several pictures, but he do not walk with a limp. No human body shaming on my watch!
Similar for Mary J. Blige, who crooned atop dollhouse dioramas that resembled ’90s residence events and symbolized Black new music coming into white houses. Blige’s “Family Affair” was the fantastic range (“Don’t need no hateration, holleration in this dancery”), followed by “No More Drama,” collapsing on phase like the Oscar-nominated star she is (“Mudbound”).
Next up was Kendrick Lamar, who plainly had the coolest choreography of them all, relocating in rigid, syncopated actions within a bunch of packing containers marked “Dre Working day.” As Lamar emerged from the sample with his microphone, he sent his signature “To Pimp a Butterfly” keep track of “Alright,” right before repeating the phrase, “Forgot About Dre” as a setup.
Enter Eminem, who rapped a modest snippet of “Forgot About Dre.” I’m let down the prime-advertising artist of the 2000s only got one particular track, but his epic rendition of “Lose Yourself” reminded us of why it is the quintessential underdog rap tale. Eminem proved a Detroit male could earn in L.A. — just like ex-Lions QB turned Rams champion Matthew Stafford.
You will detect Eminem took a knee after his functionality, a little something the Super Bowl folks warned them all not to do. On the just one hand, it is an instance of privilege (Eminem understood he could get away with it, while the others couldn’t). On the other hand, it was a defiant assertion of solidarity with the Black Life Subject motion and Colin Kaepernick.
It all culminated with Dre returning to the stage to enjoy a white piano, tickling the ivories for a bit of 2Pac’s “I Ain’t Mad at Cha” just before likely into his catchiest riff, “Still D.R.E.,” also off “The Chronic 2001,” proving he’s the mastermind at the rear of a technology of bomb beats.
Right after a standing ovation, my joy turned to rage realizing how sad it is that it took this extended for a hip-hop halftime. Every just one of these artists could have effortlessly headlined on their individual a long time in the past. If you have a gut response to cringe at that assertion, I invite you to thoroughly crawl out from less than the willfully ignorant rock you’ve been living under for way far too extended.
Search, y’all know that I protect traditional Boomer tunes and movies all the time on WTOP (it is amazing stuff), but “doing your research” has to go both equally techniques. You cannot pat on your own on the back for defying your dad and mom with Elvis and The Beatles, then criticize your individual children for undertaking the similar. Rather of hating what you never comprehend, lean into it and find out.
To all the “get off my lawn” haters on cable news, permit me remind you that it is not a badge of honor to proudly confess that you haven’t followed well known tunes for the past 30 decades. When you go to write, “Not my tunes,” you may as well declare, “I’m out of touch.” When you feign outrage that Dre mentions law enforcement, you may as perfectly yell at the sky for remaining blue.
This isn’t some newfangled things that aimless teens perform on their phones. These music are 20 to 30 decades previous! Hell, we are practically 40 many years aged. Some folks have a lot of catching up to do, just like the NFL has a large amount of catching up to do with using the services of varied head coaches.
It is not far too late to arrive aboard. We welcome you with open up arms. But the teach is leaving the station before long. We’re transferring on to a much more inclusive upcoming where by we can sing Garth Brooks and DMX in the identical breath. Punch your ticket. Better nonetheless, scan it. All aboard.
WTOP’s Jason Fraley opinions the Tremendous Bowl Halftime Present (Element 2)
