Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Super Bowl 2014: Bruno Mars stands — and delivers — in halftime show
Los Angeles Times ^ | 02/03/2014 | Mikael Wood

Posted on 02/03/2014 7:23:53 AM PST by SeekAndFind

Review: Young charmer Bruno Mars brings fresh energy to familiar styles during his brief but snapped-tight set. Too bad L.A.'s own Red Hot Chili Peppers crashed the stage.

The question dominated much of the nonfootball-related chatter in the run-up to Sunday's Super Bowl: As the featured act of this year's halftime show, was Bruno Mars really up to the job of entertaining a television audience of approximately 100 million people?

The answer, it turned out, was yes. But before he could prove it, Mars had to weather a storm of skepticism. He's only 28, decades younger than other artists who've played the show recently, such as Prince and the Rolling Stones. And Mars has released only two albums, a puny songbook compared to the deep troves of Bruce Springsteen and the Who.

The singer himself seemed to acknowledge his inexperience at a news conference last week, saying the call to perform "definitely came soon" in his career. (Wary of arming his naysayers, he quickly added, "I ain't scared.")

Yet after several halftime extravaganzas touched by controversy — including the appearance of M.I.A.'s middle finger during Madonna's 2012 show and last year's performance by Beyoncé, who just weeks prior had caused an uproar by lip-synching at President Obama's second inauguration — it's easy to see why the National Football League chose Mars to headline Sunday's halftime show at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

An old-fashioned charmer with old-fashioned talent, Mars is probably the most wholesome star in Top 40 pop right now, not to mention the one whose skill set most readily overlaps with that of the legends of yesteryear. He's also deeply unlikely to flash any skin — a reassuring prospect to NFL brass still haunted by a glimpse of Janet Jackson's nipple 10 years ago.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Music/Entertainment; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: brunomars; superbowl2014; whocares
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-100 next last
To: southern rock
No ... real comment

I have no idea who Bruno is and all I know about TRHCP is .. I've heard the name.

I watched/listened to Bruno a couple of minutes and I liked the music and his presentation.

The rest is in my previous post.

41 posted on 02/03/2014 7:53:18 AM PST by knarf (I say things that are true .. I have no proof .. but they're true.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Dr. Bogus Pachysandra

I still think the Cactus Cuties should do the Anthem for the Super Bowl.


42 posted on 02/03/2014 7:53:56 AM PST by hoagy62 ("Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered..."-Thomas Paine. 1776)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

Yea. Tipper Gore’s Parental Advisory Labels. /s


43 posted on 02/03/2014 7:53:58 AM PST by MD Expat in PA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

We saw Bruno Mars “LIVE” at the New York State Fair. We had great seats for this show. It was outside and seating was metal benches inside what looked like a corral or cow pen. The ambiance was cow manure and throngs cackling.

Bruno Mars came out and gave a great performance to the screams of teeny boppers who wouldn’t know real talent while they were witnessing it.

He gave it his all as if he were performing for 100,000,000 sophisticated people. It was fantastic! He is the REAL deal. No one, who had seen him live, would have any doubts about his being selected for the Superbowl.

Bruno Mars is REAL talent, something rare in today’s pop music.


44 posted on 02/03/2014 7:54:03 AM PST by faucetman ( Just the facts, ma'am, Just the facts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Never heard of Bruno Mars before but put on a great performance. Red Hot Chili Peppers were quite a contrast but I like them and the overall energy of the show was great. Much more entertaining than the game


45 posted on 02/03/2014 7:55:57 AM PST by skyman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: VA_Gentleman

My opinion precisely (although I still long for the days of the half-time “Butt-Bowl). I also enjoyed the brief performance by the Chili Peppers. Flea is a “hoot” and a decent bass player.


46 posted on 02/03/2014 7:55:59 AM PST by glennaro
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: GeronL

Never heard of him, so my day is fine without knowing who or what he is.


47 posted on 02/03/2014 7:56:46 AM PST by RetiredArmy (All that call upon His name shall be saved! HE is the ONLY way to heaven. Only HIM!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

I thought it was a great performance. James Brown meets early Michael Jackson. I’m not a fan of either, or of Bruno Mars, but it was a good show. I always wonder how much is to a recorded track, and how much is live. If that was all live, it was impressive.


48 posted on 02/03/2014 7:57:39 AM PST by cdcdawg (Be seeing you...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Maceman

If that is talent...we’re in trouble....


49 posted on 02/03/2014 7:58:05 AM PST by illiac (If we don't change directions soon, we'll get where we're going)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: thefactor

agreed....Red Hot Chili Peppers ruined it...my 10YO daughter is an accomplished dancer and when he did the James Brown moves i heard “oh- wow!” from her...


50 posted on 02/03/2014 7:58:16 AM PST by God luvs America (63.5 million pay no income tax and vote for DemoKrats...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Beowulf9

RE: I listen to Siriusly Sinatra all the time...these guys...no.

So, how do you think Frank Sinatra would do in a Superbowl Halftime show?

Singing New York, New York maybe...

:)


51 posted on 02/03/2014 7:58:54 AM PST by SeekAndFind
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: llmc1

I thought I was at a Jackie Wilson concert and a prison riot broke out.


52 posted on 02/03/2014 8:00:25 AM PST by csmusaret (Will remove Obama-Biden bumperstickers for $10)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

I had never heard of Bruno Mars before.

The drum solo at the start got my attention. So I watched all of it.

The lighting was cool.

The music wasn’t offensive and wasn’t too bad.
The performance was cool.

First time ever that the halftime show was better than the game.


53 posted on 02/03/2014 8:02:21 AM PST by kidd
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

I have never heard any of Bruno Mars songs and was skeptical that he would put on a good half time show. But he won me over with his James Brown dance moves. I thought is was a good show.


54 posted on 02/03/2014 8:04:01 AM PST by Ticonderoga34
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Wouldn’t it be great?!

Wonder how Sinatra Jr. would’ve done?


55 posted on 02/03/2014 8:10:11 AM PST by Beowulf9
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: Michael.SF.

Bruno: good
RHCP: BAD!


Got that right. My wife was quick to point out how sharply dressed Mars and his band were, while the RHCP plausibly looked like homeless guys picked-up on some corner in Newark.

RHCP is getting WAAAAAY too long in the tooth for that act.


56 posted on 02/03/2014 8:10:44 AM PST by Buckeye McFrog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind; dfwgator
I couldn't tune into the game until the last half, but as far as the halftime show goes, it doesn't seem like I missed much.

Bring back marching bands for halftime shows.

57 posted on 02/03/2014 8:15:10 AM PST by Fiji Hill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: knarf

I really think I need to avoid threads like this. Reading down the replies about Sinatra, marching bands, and the “clean cuts” (no offense), it really makes me thing that , politics aside, I really don’t belong here ;)


58 posted on 02/03/2014 8:21:26 AM PST by southern rock
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: southern rock
Over here to flesh it out a little
59 posted on 02/03/2014 8:24:03 AM PST by knarf (I say things that are true .. I have no proof .. but they're true.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: kidd

Yep ... what’chu sed


60 posted on 02/03/2014 8:25:06 AM PST by knarf (I say things that are true .. I have no proof .. but they're true.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-100 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson