Bruno Mars may only be 5-foot-6-inches tall, but at this year’s Super Bowl halftime show, he proved that he is a giant in his own right.
Following in the footsteps of world-renowned entertainers like Paul McCartney, Prince and Beyoncé, Mars faced enormous pressure to prove he was worthy of assuming the stage. The show, which opened with a line of children singing hand-in-hand, quickly escalated into a kinetic yet polished performance with undeniable energy and power.
“My favorite part of his performance was his fancy footwork,” fourth-year College student Alice Hong said. “Not only was I impressed by his surprisingly good dancing, I was also impressed by how good he was live. He sounded almost identical to his recordings.”
Ultimately, however, Hong said she thinks Mars felt short of his Super Bowl halftime predecessors.
“However, although his performance was my favorite part of the Super Bowl this year, Beyoncé’s performance from last year was, hands down, the best,” she said.
The spectacle, full of dancing, drumming and a downpour of gold, was enough to quench the thirst of the cheering crowd. The Red Hot Chili Peppers might have been an unexpected choice for guest performer, but, in sharing the stage with Mars, the performance united the broad spectrum of football and music fans in MetLife Stadium and across the country.
Mars performed a medley of his greatest hits — including “Locked Out of Heaven,” “Treasure,” “Runaway Baby” and “Just the Way You Are.” The medley also included a short interlude by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who interpolated their track “Give It Away.” Mars further lured the crowd into his performative style with his dance moves, which sizzled with James-Brown-meets-Michael-Jackson appeal.
But it was not only Mars’ musical performance that made the show so amazing; his storytelling was equally captivating. Footage of American soldiers sending messages of love to their families back home was proudly broadcast right before he started singing “Just the Way You Are.” The footage added a touching, emotional component to the performance.
“I think whoever was planning the show made a really good point,” first-year College student HeeSeok Joo said. “They proved that they didn’t need half-naked or visually flashy dancers to make a good performance. When you put on a flashy presentation, it becomes a show. But when they showed the footage of the American soldiers, it became a story instead.”
The Super Bowl halftime shows are usually performed by one of the most famous, popular and well-accepted singers of the year. The singers come out and command the attention of millions of people — trying to impress the audience with their own flashy dance moves and star quality. But Mars proved himself able to buck this trend. He told other people’s stories rather than displaying his star power. Ultimately, this tactic paid off — making it a powerful and wholly entertaining experience.
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