R&B star Usher headlined the half time show for Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas last Sunday, Feb. 11, and what a show it was.
“One performance. 30 years in the making” was the tagline for this year’s show, and in honour of Black History Month, Usher’s performance was an homage to Black artists who came before him.
The performance was multifaceted and featured many nods to Black culture, specifically in Atlanta. The marching band, whose brass spelled out “USHER” was comprised entirely of students from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and rollerbladers were incorporated into the dance numbers to pay homage to Atlanta’s roller-skating scene.
The show included appearances from iconic Black artists from various genres and eras. Usher brought out Alicia Keys to sing their iconic hit collaboration, “My Boo.” The show included five-time Grammy-winning artist, H.E.R., as well as rap legends will.i.am and Jermaine Dupri. Finally, fan favourites Ludacris and Lil Jon came out for a legendary rendition of their timeless hit “Yeah!”
Usher paid tribute to the late Michael Jackson by incorporating some specific elements of Jackson into his performance, including a single white glove, smooth footwork, and even a brief snippet of the Jackson 5 song, “Can You Feel It.”
The energy was fun and electric, and overall, the performance was very well executed. Many are saying this performance solidified Usher’s place as King of R&B.
Despite the lively, energetic performances, many fans on social media were upset Usher’s performance didn’t include Justin Bieber, his long-time friend, and once protégé and mentee. Fans took to X , previously known as Twitter, to express their disappointment. Rumours have swirled online that Justin Bieber was offered a spot in the performance but “wasn’t up for it” after a year of health issues.
As a Belieber myself, I would’ve loved to see Usher and Bieber perform their 2010 collaboration “Somebody to Love” in 2024. However, given the entire concept was a showcase of Black excellence in the music industry, including Bieber would’ve been weird and ill-fitting.
This year’s halftime show was a hit, and paid tribute to the decades of contributions the Black community has made to the music industry.
Black music history has deep roots, with Black artists carrying the game in many genres from country to R&B and rap. With the history, talent, and passion showcased at this year’s halftime show, I hope to see more people and shows highlighting the world of Black musicians not only during Black History Month, but all year round.
Tags
Alicia Keys, BHM 2024, Football, Super Bowl, Usher
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