Dubba G’s Favorite Super Bowl Halftime Shows

Super Bowl XL, (that's 60), is coming up fast and ... as usual ... there's unrest in the universe over the halftime show. Or, "lack thereof"; depending on who you ask.

The Super Bowl is about to be played for the 60th time and will feature not only the usual, (fantastically expensive), advertising but also over the top halftime entertainment.

Do 60 years of Super Bowls equate to 60 great halftime shows? Not even close ...

The first Super Bowl was played in 1967 and a couple of college marching bands did the halftime show. For the first 20 years or so, the halftime shows were dominated by marching bands and tributes, aka "salutes". A salute to the 60's, a salute to the big band era, a salute to Hollywood, etc, etc.

When Was The First Big Super Bowl Concert?

In my opinion, the first, "real", halftime performance was in1993 - Michael Jackson did a bit with 3,500 kids. (Keep the jokes to yourself.) From then on, the shows got more musically intense and the production got more epic with each passing year.

Gimmick Heavy Super Bowl Halftime Shows

There have been shows, there have been mini-concerts, there have been special effects, there has been audience participation; the Super Bowl halftime shows have done just about everything that can be done.

I think the halftime shows ultimately come own to the music of the featured performer. Lip synching dancers, computer imagery, pyro, stunt people, skydivers and animatronics don't count.

What Were The Best Super Bowl Halftime Shows?

I'm a rock guy so, I'm totally biased but there have been some non-rock acts that did a good job bringing other genres to the stage. In 1994, big country stars, (big at the time, anyway), Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, Wynonna & Naomi Judd took center stage.

READ MORE: In 60 Years, Texas Has Only Hosted 4 Super Bowls

in 2014, Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chili Peppers got the "funk" out. Snoop Dog killed it too and The Blues Brothers, ZZ Top and James Brown brought the blues, R & B and soul together for one of the best halftime performances ever.

Again, rock will always win with me and, while a minority, (rockers have only been the featured act or made an appearance at a Super Bowl 13 times out of 60.), I still think the rock halftime shows have been the best ones.

Rock Super Bowl Halftime Shows

Of my top 5 favorites, the Blues Brothers/James Brown/ZZ Top video is above and you can watch The Rolling Stones do their thing below.

The freakin' NFL has the videos for the other 3 locked down. To watch U2's 2002 Super Bowl performance, click here. To see Paul McCartney do his thing in 2005, click here  and for The Who's 2006 show, click this link.