Why the Halftime Show was really about Unity
What do Beyoncé, Coldplay, and Bruno Mars all have in common? Lots of money? Musical talent? And that’s about it. Yet, somehow, they all performed together at this year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show and it was kind of incredible.
It was Coldplay’s show, but Beyoncé and Bruno Mars added some sprinkles to the already colorful cupcake. Coldplay couldn’t have been more themselves. Lead singer, Chris Martin pranced onto the rainbow lit stage as their foot stomping hit “Viva La Vida” started to play. A pounding drum lead this halftime show to be one of the best I’ve ever seen. “Whoever you are, wherever you are, we’re in this together,” Martin happily shouts to the camera as he hops to the infectious beat. Watching Coldplay perform is a truly enlightening experience.
More marching bands take the field as the band goes into a quick run of their song, “Paradise.” Rainbow umbrellas, dancing fans, and a jacket-less Martin guide “Adventure of A Lifetime” into the dance-y track it is.
Bruno Mars swiftly enters continuing the dance vibe to his most popular song, “Uptown Funk.” He wears what looks to be a pleather suit with backup dancers to match and makes us think, “Bruno, where have you been?!”
Mars always brings high energy with his hip thrusts and grunts, along with someone else you may have heard of….
Enter Beyoncé singing her new single, “Formation” released just one day before the Super Bowl. “Okay ladies, now let’s get in formation,” and get in formation is what they did. With heavy choreography and sassy lyrics, Yoncé reclaims her halftime show crown. She has a quick dance battle with Bruno Mars (very Step-Up-y) then the duo plus Martin finish up the lyrics to “Uptown Funk” bringing us past the halfway point of the performance.
Martin sits back down at the piano and plays the beautiful intro to their 2002 song, “Clocks” as the stage shows iconic footage of other musical icons who have graced the 49 football fields before them. Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, Katy Perry, U2, Stevie Wonder…etc. “Fix You” is next, building up so much needed emotion in the stadium. “Tears stream, down your face, when you lose something you cannot replace,” will go down as some of the greatest lyrics ever sung.
Beyoncé and Bruno grace the stage one last time and come together with Coldplay to sing the closing track off their latest album, called “Up and Up.” All three in unison sing, “We’re gonna get it, get it together somehow” as they each drape their arms around each other, surrounded by dancers, the marching bands, and adoring fans. After the final notes, the cameras pan to the stadium which is now draped in rainbow colors with the message “Believe In Love.” Something so simple, The Beatles wrote about it in the ‘60s, and Coldplay sings about it in the 2000’s. Now THAT is musical unity.