Usher delivered a jam-packed performance during his halftime debut at Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas on Feb. 11. Appearances by Alicia Keys, Ludacris, Lil Jon, and H.E.R maximized the R&B superstar's 13 minute appearance to execute a medley of his greatest hits against a background of choreographed dancers, contortionists, and the Jackson State Marching Band.
The greatest-hits format of the show had Usher operating solo for the majority of the runtime, putting his showmanship on full display. Cameos from guests were employed for each of his outfit changes, which were numerous, and the extravaganza of background performers constructed a captivating display. He performed popular songs including “Love in this Club”, “My Boo”, “Get Low” and “Yeah!”, all while alternating between bedazzled Off-White ensembles, matching sets and rollerblades.
While undeniably impressive, this year’s show has garnered mixed reactions from audiences. Microphone malfunctions, rapid song turnaround, and an excess of ensemble performance was overstimulating for some viewers. Others were simply left disappointed that stars present at the game including Justin Beiber, Lady Gaga, Jay-Z, and Gwen Stefani were not brought on stage despite popular social media speculation.
“There was just way too much going on for me to concentrate,” said Ellie Muñoz, a sophomore majoring in animal science on the pre-professional track. “He switched songs way too fast, there were dancers everywhere, he was on roller skates one second and then dancing with Alicia Keys the next. He could have cut a few things out and it would have been easier to watch.”
A self-proclaimed “Swiftie,” Muñoz was more excited about the presence of Taylor Swift in the stadium cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs than she was concerned with Usher’s halftime performance.
“I’m probably a bit biased, because the only celebrity I really wanted to see was Taylor [Swift],” she said. “But I was expecting him to bring out Justin Beiber for ‘Somebody to Love’ and that didn’t happen. That would have sold it for me.”
These sentiments were echoed by Lauren Gustafson, a sophomore majoring in architecture, who had been looking forward to the performance since Usher was announced as the headliner in September 2023.
“I love a lot of Usher’s songs and was really excited to watch,” she said. “I don’t even watch football, but turned on the TV for the performance. I appreciated the effort, all the dancers and guest stars, but for me it was just too much. He should have done a few less songs so he could’ve sung each song for more than 30 seconds. Everything happened way too fast and it just wasn’t my favorite.”
Whilst some were left unimpressed, others praised Usher as an authentic entertainer and preeminent beacon of the R&B industry. Among these proponents is Babatunde Gbadegesin, a sophomore majoring in electrical engineering, who credited the performance as one of the standouts of the past decade.
“I thought it was awesome,” he said. “People always complain right after halftime shows, then a year later they’ll look back and say how great it was. I remember everyone saying Rihanna was boring last year, and now they’re saying Usher is doing too much. Never makes any sense.”
Despite the array of opinions, Usher’s legacy as an R&B legend has long been solidified within the entertainment industry, with the 45-year-old artist referring to the halftime show as the “honor of a lifetime.”