NFL SuperBowl Halftime Shows

National Football League's history of SuperBowl halftime performances, and Janet Jackson

NFL SuperBowl football fans come in all kinds. Generally, they all live to see the games. That aside, there are those who live for the home team, or one and one NFL team alone; those who live for the sports betting and sports wagering, armed with NFL SuperBowl football sports bets, odds, futures, and betting propositions via sportsbooks; and then those who live for America’s most over-indulgent TV moments every year, the SuperBowl ads and commercials, and SuperBowl halftime shows. In 2004 alone, a record 144.4 million US viewers were glued on to the SuperBowl, each with his own personal reason for not doing anything else.

The yearly anticipated SuperBowl halftime shows do give every other entertainment production a run for its money. Each season, colossal stars and eye-popping special effects rock the SuperBowl halftime shows, leaving audiences floored with ecstatic wowing. Stars the likes of Sting, U2, Aerosmith, and Paul McCartney have been there, done that, some, more times than others.

What is widely considered to be the best of the SuperBowl halftime shows is 2002 with legendary rock artists U2 at the helm. It was the first SuperBowl following the events of September 11. U2 dominated the stage with a heartfelt tribute to the 9/11 victims. Even Sir Paul McCartney said the show was "fantastic." A "Beautiful Day" indeed. In 2003, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Sting collaborated with No Doubt on a Police classic. A dominatrix-dressed Shania Twain came onstage and cast doubt on whether her vocals were live or lip-synched. At SuperBowl 2001, Aerosmith brought Nelly, Mary J. Blige, NSYNC, and Britney Spears to chip in with "Walk This Way". Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, and Adam Sandler starred in the halftime mini-movie to boot.

SuperBowl Halftime 2004 with Janet Jackson

Last year, there was Janet Jackson. SuperBowl 2004 was made doubly memorable, New England Patriots beating Carolina Panthers notwithstanding, by Jackson's own halftime super show featuring her sun-adorned boob. Halftime started with an armada of Abercrombie and Fitch models dirty dancing at the fifty-yard line. It ended with the blasphemous bump and grind of Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson. Jaws dropped. Stomachs turned. All at once, FCC president Michael Powell, CBS CEO Les Moonves, and NFL leader Paul Tagliabue, synchronously shouted “I want my Up With People!”

NFL SuperBowl halftime 2004 featured pop stars Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake appearing onstage to do a half-time song and dance routine to the song "Rock Your Body." By the close of the routine, as the two sang, "Gonna have you naked by the end of this song," Timberlake would snatch off part of Jackson's bustier on stage, revealing a breast clad only in a sun-shaped "nipple shield" before a record-breaking number of SuperBowl viewers in the US. It was the second SuperBowl halftime show produced by MTV. The halftime incident also made the all-time Internet record for “most searched event over one day”.

SuperBowl Halftime 2005 with Paul McCartney

Legendary rocker Paul McCartney will perform in the Ameriquest Mortgage SuperBowl XXXIX Halftime Show on FOX at ALLTEL Stadium in Jacksonville on February 6, 2005. Emmy-award winning Don Mischer Productions will be producing. Apart from the annually top-rating US viewing, the game will also be broadcast in more than 200 countries worldwide.

"There's nothing bigger then being asked to perform at the SuperBowl," said McCartney. "We're looking forward to rocking the millions at home and in the stadium."

NFL SuperBowl halftime 2005 will be McCartney's second SuperBowl appearance. He provided a memorable pregame performance at SuperBowl XXXVI in New Orleans in 2002, the first SuperBowl after the tragic events of Sept. 11. As the climax to the pregame show and immediately prior to the singing of the two traditional anthems, "America The Beautiful" and "The Star-Spangled Banner," McCartney performed "Freedom," a new anthem reflecting the spirit of freedom.

"We are extremely pleased to work again with Paul McCartney, one of the greatest musicians of our time, to create a memorable show," said Steve Bornstein, the NFL's executive vice president of media, adding, "As one of the world's most beloved artists and incomparable live entertainers, Paul McCartney will deliver an inspirational performance."

SuperBowl Halftime History

When the first NFL football championship game dubbed as the "SuperBowl" took place on January 15, 1967, its halftime show featured the University of Michigan and University of Arizona marching bands, an entirely different scenario than the SuperBowl halftime we know today. Both NBC and CBS decided to air the event, splitting the audience, and making it the lowest rated SuperBowl ever. The early years of SuperBowl halftime history were dominated by marching bands; the last had been the US Air Force Band performing "Tops in Blue" at the halftime show of SuperBowl XIX in 1985.

SuperBowl X in 1976 marked the halftime debut of Up With People, who would go on to perform in a total of four SuperBowl events during the next decade, holding the record for most halftime performances. Their last SuperBowl halftime performance were at SuperBowl XX in 1986. Tied for second place, incidentally, are Justin Timberlake (who first performed with NSYNC) and The Jacksons (Janet and Michael), with two appearances each.

It was in the 1980s, the advent of MTV, that the SuperBowl halftime shows really started to evolve with the times, opting for MTV stars over marching bands, drill teams, dance troupes, and Up With People, who had once been familiar sights at halftime. At SuperBowl XXVI in 1992, a Winter Olympics theme prevailed in Minneapolis as Dorothy Hamill and Brian Boitano performed at halftime. SuperBowl XXVII in 1993 featured a “Heal The World” halftime performance by Michael Jackson accompanied on the field by 3500 local children.

MTV produced their first halftime in 2001 for SuperBowl XXXV, featuring Aerosmith and NSYNC, giving way to Justin Timberlake's first halftime appearance. On February 1, 2004, SuperBowl XXXVIII made possible the second MTV-produced halftime show, and with Janet Jackson's breast baring at the fore, made NFL SuperBowl halftime and TV entertainment history.

Also See:

• NFL Football History
• NFL SuperBowl Wins 2004
• NFL SuperBowl Winners
• NFL SuperBowl TV Commercials
• NFL SuperBowl History main

SuperBowl XXXIX at Jacksonville, Florida on February 6, 2005 culminates another pro football season for the NFL (National Football League). Score a touchdown in SuperBowl bets via reviewed and recommended NFL SuperBowl sportsbooks offering pro football betting propositions, odds, contests, and bonuses. Bet on favorite NFL teams like the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts, and more. Move the odds to your favor with the best of NFL SuperBowl football history, winners, players, halftime shows, commercials, and advertising. Let the NFL SuperBowl football games begin!

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