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 ...
Part James Brown, part Michael Jackson. It was a great performance.
I don’t like James Brown or Michael Jackson. I think these half-time shows need to be abolished. :p
Bruno: good
RHCP: BAD!
For those who missed it, here’s his full 14 minute halftime show performance at the Superbowl:
http://www.justjared.com/2014/02/02/bruno-mars-super-bowl-halftime-show-2014-video-watch-now/
The performance wore its sources well, doubling as a history lesson in song.
The songs Mars offered represented a virtual pop nexus of the last 40 years, touching on bouncy ‘60s Motown (Reminding me of the Temptations), fun ‘70s disco funk, slick ‘80s pop and a hint of modern hip-hop-flash. At one point, he even referenced James Brown’s fast-footed dance moves.
For those who missed it, here’s his full 14 minute halftime show performance at the Superbowl:
http://www.justjared.com/2014/02/02/bruno-mars-super-bowl-halftime-show-2014-video-watch-now/
The performance wore its sources well, doubling as a history lesson in song.
The songs Mars offered represented a virtual pop nexus of the last 40 years, touching on bouncy ‘60s Motown (Reminding me of the Temptations), fun ‘70s disco funk, slick ‘80s pop and a hint of modern hip-hop-flash. At one point, he even referenced James Brown’s fast-footed dance moves.
Most of all, it was well... decent, old school entertainment.
I was surprised when I heard Bruno Mars was going to be the halftime performer. I must admit I think he did an excellent job. I’m not a fan of his music, but he put on a very good performance.
Bruno Mars has grown on me, and a lot of that is because he draws on classic soul and R&B.
I concur with the authors opinion in regard to the Red Hot Chili Poopers.
He did great. They could’ve done without the other group that showed up on stage though.
Yep, so "wholesome" his CD has a Parental Advisory sticker on it.
I’ve become a Bruno Mars fan over time. He is a heck of a performer. His early songs were hokey, but his newer stuff is pretty good.
i thought the halftime show was really good... Bruno Mars was quite the performer... a lot of times the performances flop... and being a RHCP fan, i enjoyed them too :)
Bring back "Up With People!"
He sucked!
The clean cuts lost points, IMO.
RHCP own, dude.
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