Articles and blogs about the 2012 Super Bowl’s halftime show sprouted on the web like wild mushrooms breeding in an abandoned yard hours and days after what everyone dubbed the greatest show on Earth had been concluded.
According to CNN, the halftime show featuring Gen X controversial pop icon Madonna was not just watched by the record-breaking 111 million viewers who tuned in to the Super Bowl but it also generated an incredibly unbelievable 8,000 tweets every second.
The 53 year old singer did not disappoint the viewers when she promised a grand production for her stage performance as she strutted on the humongous platform with a hundred or so back up dancers and singers including contemporary artists Nicki Minaj, the now infamous rapper M.I.A. who many thought did a disrespectful gesture not only to probably millions of disapproving viewers but to Madonna herself who earlier in the show assured everyone that the show would not be scandalous, The Voice’s Cee Lo Green and Sky Blu and Redfoo of LMAFO. True to Madonna’s flair for theatrical and elaborate productions, the halftime show was a visual spectacle.
However, a lot of critics and fans were disappointed with the Material Girl’s stage performance as she appeared nervous and subdued as compared to her energetic and vibrant self during her previous concert performances for which she is known for.
Maybe it’s the live performance in front of a stadium of rowdy football fans, the TV viewers amounting to more than a hundred million in the US alone, the outdoor effect which may potentially affect the sound system or practically anything that has to do with the overall production including the performers’ mental jitters or maybe, just maybe, Madonna’s age has already caught up with her.
There was one point in the halftime performance when the 80’s legend wearing high heeled boots missed a few steps as she appeared to be struggling to get up a ramp. As she danced and sang during the show, she seemed to be catching her breath and appeared a little bit overwhelmed. She smiled broadly though a few times just enough to still elicit some faith in her less than captivated audience.
In the 80’s when Madonna wowed the world with her charming image albeit wild and “different”, enigmatic character and show stopping musical performances, nobody thought Madonna would ever grow old. For the kids of Generation X who grew up with Madonna, the singer had always exuded timeless beauty, strength, power and most of all, youth.
Born in Michigan, Madonna Louise Ciccone known all over the world as Madonna has more than 25 years of showbiz success on her belt. From her 80’s classic and Billboard hit Borderline, Madonna’s music became a mainstay on MTV generating a global following of huge proportions. She topped the chart with her upbeat pop songs that became instant Gen X favorites including Like A Virgin, Like A Prayer, Papa Don’t Preach and Vogue. Since releasing her first album in 1983, Madonna has moved on to become the most successful solo artist in the Billboard chart’s history selling over 300 million albums worldwide. Her fashion, style and dance moves seen mostly on MTV became a huge influence to many young girls in the Gen X era who idolized her. Her big headbands, short skirts over leggings, lace gloves, fishnet stockings, big cross necklaces and her platinum blonde hair were 80’s staples.
Apart from her musical success, she also reaped honors and recognitions from her critically acclaimed performance in her role as Evita Peron in the 1996 musical film Evita including winning the award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) from the Golden Globe.
On top of the accolades, Madonna is also a successful businesswoman, product endorser and most importantly, a fulfilled mother.
Of course, like most of us, she also had her down moments including her divorce from first husband Sean Penn years after her Cinderella-like wedding, her unsuccessful romantic relationships, her provocative image, promiscous lifestyle, vulgarity, wild character and irresponsible behavior which included “disrespectful” references to religion embedded in her videos and concert performances during her prime that were shunned by critics and fans alike.
In short, Madonna is a very colorful public figure so successful and known that people could not help but notice her every move. Consequently, when she shows a hint of substandard performance, she will get criticized.
The Super Bowl halftime show was of course, her biggest “audition” in front of a hundred million judges, so to speak. And somehow, she did not ace it.
But who cares?
For a 53 year old woman, Madonna looked extremely young, beautiful and healthy. She did cartwheels and difficult dance moves wearing her high heeled boots on an unleveled stage while doing her best to look like she wasn’t nervous at all. She only slipped once and was graceful about it. She picked up her energy on her last song and blended with her guest artists well and she delivered a grand production that everyone anticipated she would.
But best of all, earlier in the Super Bowl show, she gave an interview where she assured everyone that her show would be clean and not scandalous unlike the Janet Jackson fiasco which she even did not make a comment on. Her outfit during the entire halftime show was not revealing at all disappointing some who probably were expecting her signature 80’s swimsuit outfit with lights blazing from her bosom.
Could it be the Wild Child of the 80’s has finally aged and in a very classy way?
Really.
Well, if that’s the case, then her career is far from over.
The aging Generation X has always been her original followers, anyway. Together they can promote and celebrate the beauty of aging gracefully and wisely while still rocking the stage and blasting the modern boom boxes of today’s generation.
Well done, Madonna.
Source :
http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/06/showbiz/ent-super-bowl-halftime-show/index.html?iref=obnetwork
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