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 ...
You are welcome and I understand exactly what you are writing about.
Best FReegards.
Well, I wish it still were a free country, but that is beside the point.
you are correct that you have a right to your opinion. I would never argue otherwise.
I’m sure that my opinion is not better than yours in many, many areas, and may in fact be worse.
But on this particular subject, about which I have a lot of experience and expertise, my opinion remains that your opinion worthless.
Not really a Bruno Mars fan, but found his performance entertaining. Especially fun to see him reflect JB, MJ, and yeah, I can see the Ricky Ricardo refernced by other posters as well. I was also happy to see the RHCP make an appearance and throw down something of entirely different genre yet with equal aplomb to appeal to a whole different set of fans. All the while without anything I’d label offensive (okay maybe you could say Flea and Kiedis could have worn shirts instead of going without them, but for guys in their early 50’s they have some exceptionally well toned and fit physiques so it was far better than strolling on your favorite beach and what’s routinely on display there from the male over 50 crowd). Best halftime show I’ve seen in years from the NFL.
Too drawn out and, IMO, the “operatic diva” took occaision to embellish.
The Anthem should be presented as written and not used as a vehicle for advertising one’s singing ability and/or voice range.
What she did in 5 minutes shoud have been over-and-done-with in 3.5. Color me unimpressed.
I suspect that the Red Hot Chili Peppers were for the older folks to keep them from tuning out Mars.
I hadn't expected much out of the show and will be the first to admit I was plesantly surprised. Mars put on a very entertaining performance. All in all he did a better job than the Denver offence did.
Red Hot Chili peppers disgust me.. hated that band from the very beginning. I think they suck big time. I judge pop music by the songs and their songs are horrible.
so what that they can jump around, big freaking deal.
Agree. Couldn’t have said it better.
My family was shocked by the half-time show:
No occult ceremonies
No crotch grabbing
No sexual humping
No naked body parts flopping out
No pop culture spares trying to shock us
No excessive F-bombing or obscene gestures
Yep, just a throw back to the good old days when artists entertained with class (Bruno). RHCP guys without the shirts unfortunately took away from some of that, but they were not out there long.
Just a totally unexpected half-time show.
We happened to tune in while he was playing that song...and promptly tuned right on out...
Locked out of Heaven lyrics:
Oh yeah yeah
Oh yeah yeah yeah
Ooh!
Oh yeah yeah
Oh yeah yeah yeah
Ooh!
Never had much faith in love or miracles
Never wanna put my heart on the line
But swimming in your waters is something spiritual
I’m gonna get every time you spend the night
Cause your sex takes me to paradise
Yeah your sex takes me to paradise
And it shows, yeah, yeah, yeah
Cause you make feel like, I’ve been locked out of heaven
For too long, for too long
Yeah you make feel like, I’ve been locked out of heaven
For too long, for too long
Oh yeah yeah yeah
Ooh!
Oh yeah yeah
Oh yeah yeah yeah
Ooh!
You bring me to my knees
You make me testify
You can make sinner change his ways
Open up your gates cause I can’t wait to see the light
And right there is where I wanna stay
Cause your sex takes me to paradise
Yeah your sex takes me to paradise
And it shows, yeah, yeah, yeah
Cause you make feel like, I’ve been locked out of heaven
For too long, for too long
Yeah you make feel like, I’ve been locked out of heaven
For too long, for too long
Oh oh oh oh, yeah, yeah, yeah
Can’t I just stay here
Spend the rest of my days here
Oh oh oh oh, yeah, yeah, yeah
Can’t I just stay here
Spend the rest of my days here
Cause you make feel like, I’ve been locked out of heaven
For too long, for too long
Yeah you make feel like, I’ve been locked out of heaven
For too long, for too long
Oh yeah yeah yeah
Ooh!
Oh yeah yeah
Oh yeah yeah yeah
Ooh
I watched the Super Bowl halftime show and I had the sinking feeling that I was actually watching a high school talent show. The viewers of the Super Bowl tend to be post-pubescent - so why do the producers keep booking performers who appeal to an audience that isn’t old enough to drive?
After last night’s “game” maybe the Super Bowl needs to be abolished. Everything went downhill right from the Joe Namath coin toss.
Lol..that's what the Broncos were thinking, too :p
So called “soul music” and well done. Too bad RHCP showed up.
I think the lyrics were overlooked for the *talent*.
The sight of young teens jumping up and down - and reaching up - to those lyrics is not “entertainment”, to me. Again, I hadn’t read ALL of the song’s lyrics, til today :(
Totally agree! Mars is a crooner. This is football, not a 1950’s high school sockhop.
Mars = Broncos
RHCP = Seahawks
Bruno Mars did a great job. RHCP were yet another attempt to keep with the 80’s theme of the superbowl. Mars has appeal for everone. RHCP a very tiny group of gen Xrs. Especially the awful song they played.
Yep, and I’m over 50, and the comments make me feel young!
I liked Bruno Mars. I didn’t like RHCP, but my 19 year old son liked them.
I thought he did a great job because he actually sounded good. many live performances are just bad. I was wondering why he didn’t sing his new popular song Young Girls. maybe it wasn’t approved.
Um... I’ve been listening to music for over 60 years and I wasn’t impressed by Bruno. I couldn’t understand the lyrics. I’ve seen those dance moves before. I was trying find a melody that I thought anyone would remember in 20 years. I didn’t find one.
I was never a Beatles fan, but I can remember the tunes and most of the lyrics to their music, 50 years later. Bruno might have talent, but he’s wasting it on his current material.
That said, this half-time show wasn’t offensive (maybe it was and I just couldn’t understand the lyrics or, should I say I couldn’t understand what they were shouting).
But of course, the meaning and intent of the lyrics matter not as long as the performer is “talented” and doesn’t have a “wardrobe malfunction”.
Another poster posted an image of one of his album jackets...Parental Advisory label on the front...those aren’t for nothing. The guy may be clean cut and be able to replicate some James Brown type moves, but what comes out of his mouth is filth.
But I guess that’s ok...it is afterall, “talent” that matters, not the message being sent forth.
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