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Springsteen joins Super Bowl trend of Baby Boomer acts
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Bruce Springsteen on the cover of Rolling Stone
Ever since the Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction fiasco of 2004, the Super Bowl has turned to the tried and true performers of the Baby Boomer generation to anchor the half-time show.
This year's act -- Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band -- continues a four-year run of acts that have appealed to an older demographic of music lovers.
He was preceded in 2008 by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, in 2007 by Prince, in 2006 by the Rolling Stones and in 2005 by Paul McCartney.
Here is the list of who played when for the last 10 years:
- 2008 - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
- 2007 - Prince
- 2006 - Rolling Stones
- 2005- Paul McCartney
- 2004 - Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Nelly, P. Diddy, Kid Rock
- 2003 - Shania Twain, No Doubt, Sting
- 2002 - U2
- 2001 - Aerosmith, 'N Sync, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige, Nelly
- 2000 - Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias, Toni Braxton
- 1999 - Stevie Wonder, Gloria Estefan, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Savion Glover
The 2004 show was particularly unsettling for Super Bowl viewers, the CBS network and the NFL when Jackson's boob flashed during her performance with Timberlake.
Since the outcry, the Super Bowl settled into performers who are more a part of the DNA of the over 45 crowd, starting with McCartney (the cute Beatle) and rolling onto the Stones and then Prince.
Springsteen's performance in XLIII on Sunday on NBC is part of a publicity tsunami for the 59-year-old singer and his band.
He has released a new album, "Working on a Dream"(to less than glowing reviews, by the way). He performed as part of President Barack Obama's inaugural celebration. He won a Golden Globe for "Best Original Song" for "The Wrestler" for the Mickey Rourke movie of the same name. He's the cover boy on the current issue of Rolling Stone magazine, which (perhaps not so coincidentally) gave the new album a glowing, 5-star review. And he'll be featured in a VH-1 "Rock Docs" presentation on Saturday, Jan. 31, at 11 p.m.
The Bruce blogs are awash with speculation -- and Las Vegas is full of so-called prop bets -- about what songs he'll play on Super Bowl Sunday. E Street guitarist Stevie Van Zandt told a New Jersey newspaper one song is likely to be "Born to Run." And it's a given Springsteen will play "Working on a Dream" from the new album to promote both it and the upcoming tour.
Let's assume he has time for three songs. Vote here on what other song will be part of the mix.
Oh yeah, the actual football game on Super Bowl Sunday is between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals in Tampa.
Rolling Stone cover story
From the game to the commercials, whether you're traveling to Tampa or hosting your own party, Examiners have Super Bowl XLIII covered!
