12/03/24
September 09, 2013
Bruno Mars to Play Super Bowl Halftime: Bruno Mars will play this season's Super Bowl halftime show on Feb. 2, 2014, the singer announced on Fox NFL Sunday. The 27-year-old Mars, the fastest male artist to score five No. 1s on the Billboard Hot 100 since Elvis Presley, began performing as a child Elvis impersonator. He's performed at the Grammys, VMAs and Saturday Night Live. Madonna's 2012 Super Bowl performance currently ranks as the most-watched event in U.S. television history, with over 114 million viewers tuning in.
Mars' at the 2012 Grammys:
More details on USA Today.
I love how when Bruno starts to do his James Brown footwork the director says "this would be a great time to cut to a wide shot!" and you miss it all.
I might actually deliberately watch the halftime show this year for the first time.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 11:54 AM on September 09, 2013
Madonna's 2012 Super Bowl performance currently ranks as the most-watched event in U.S. television history, with over 114 million viewers tuning in.
That still puts it way behind the last few Super Bowls themselves, as well as the M*A*S*H finale.
posted by Etrigan at 12:14 PM on September 09, 2013
I like Bruno, but I am thanking my stars that I don't have to sit through explaining to my elder relatives what twerking means via a Miley Cyrus performance - at least this year.
posted by dfleming at 12:19 PM on September 09, 2013
So we've reached that time in my life where a Super Bowl performance leaves me saying "Who?".
I will fully admit that I don't listen to the radio any more, and any new songs that percolate through to me are always through other sources.
(Example: that catchy tune "Get Lucky" by Daft Punk caught my attention when Stephen Colbert's show had fun with it one episode this summer.)
It's probably my loss that I know nothing about this artist (except having heard his name mentioned before in context of "musical success"), and could not name a single song of his.
I'll watch the attached video when I get home.
posted by grum@work at 12:43 PM on September 09, 2013
So we've reached that time in my life where a Super Bowl performance leaves me saying "Who?".
Because Elvis Presto was big back in the day?
posted by Etrigan at 12:46 PM on September 09, 2013
So we've reached that time in my life where a Super Bowl performance leaves me saying "Who?".
I find I'm in the awkward period of my life where I go "who", then I hear the song, and then I realize that oh, it's that guy.
This to be followed by not actually recognizing the song at all, to eventually calling it noise and not at all like the music when I was a kid.
posted by dfleming at 01:12 PM on September 09, 2013
You may be in luck Grum, watching the video, he seems to be pretty "old school". I'm in the same boat as you. I still hear songs here and there, but I never know the title artist, or to be honest, the lyrics.
posted by Mothball at 01:19 PM on September 09, 2013
It's probably my loss that I know nothing about this artist ...
Watch the Grammys. There are always 4-6 terrific live performances and it slows the onset of who-itis.
Mars, like Justin Timberlake, channels a lot of old-school greatness in some of his songs and performances. He reminds me of Ricky Ricardo. I keep expecting to see Lucy watching in the wings.
This is a good choice. He's a showman who will really put on something good.
posted by rcade at 01:34 PM on September 09, 2013
Watch the Grammys . . . it slows the onset of who-itis.
Oof, grampa, time for a nap.
posted by yerfatma at 02:11 PM on September 09, 2013
He's a showman who will really put on something good.
Agreed. I got a case of the olds when he got tapped to host and music-guest on SNL last season, but he acquitted himself quite well.
posted by Etrigan at 02:14 PM on September 09, 2013
explaining to my elder relatives what twerking means via a Miley Cyrus performance
Twerking? Now I'm confused as well. I thought they referred to her act as twerping which seemed an odd but appropriate description.
posted by cixelsyd at 02:35 PM on September 09, 2013
... I don't have to sit through explaining to my elder relatives what twerking means ...
Don't tell them. Show them.
posted by rcade at 02:53 PM on September 09, 2013
Grum ... same here, "Who?"
I understand the NFL and networks wanting to keep viewers during halftime, but I guess I'm "old school" and would prefer the 20-minute halftime, let the studio folks analyze the first half, and get back to football instead of waiting 40-45 minutes (counting set-up and breakdown).
posted by jjzucal at 06:06 PM on September 09, 2013
Women are from Madonna.
Men are from Bruno.
Beyond that, I know less than Sgt. Schultz about any of this shit.
posted by beaverboard at 07:15 PM on September 09, 2013
So we've reached that time in my life where a Super Bowl performance leaves me saying "Who?".
Turn on your local top 40 station and I promise you'll hear 30 of his songs in 5 minutes.
posted by justgary at 08:52 PM on September 09, 2013
The NFL just couldn't find any geezers to play outdoors in Jersey in February
posted by NEPABob at 09:26 PM on September 09, 2013
If you don't like Bruno Mars, there's somethin' wrong with ya. The guy is talented, funny and can channel Michael Jackson at the drop of a sequined hat. He'll put on a helluva show.
posted by wfrazerjr at 10:42 PM on September 09, 2013
The guy is talented, funny and can channel Michael Jackson at the drop of a sequined hat. He'll put on a helluva show.
That's all you can ask for, really.
posted by grum@work at 11:22 PM on September 09, 2013
Side note:
Did anyone notice that an unbreakable record was set on Sunday?
The quickest points scored in an NFL game from the start of the game.
1 second, when the Titans kick returner kneeled down in the end zone after fielding the ball at the 1-yard line, giving the Steelers a safety at 14:59 of the 1st quarter.
It's impossible for a team to score a point any quicker, and it's pretty doubtful that it'll ever happen again.
posted by grum@work at 11:28 PM on September 09, 2013
I'm not sure the Superbowl crowd is the type to get up and get moving, but Mars has a bunch of really catchy hooks and can really do it live. If anyone can breathe some life into a cold crowd, he can.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 11:29 PM on September 09, 2013
It's impossible for a team to score a point any quicker, and it's pretty doubtful that it'll ever happen again.
Ditka once scored 16 points the day before a game against Green Bay. True fact.
posted by Etrigan at 11:43 PM on September 09, 2013
That's all you can ask for, really.
As a parent-to-be, I'd like some clarification on clause number 3 before agreeing.
posted by yerfatma at 07:56 AM on September 10, 2013
Bruno Mars? Since when did the NFL feature a WWF performer at the Super Bowl? What? Bruno Mars is a music act? Who the hell is Bruno Mars?
So we've reached that time in my life where a Super Bowl performance leaves me saying "Who?".
Welcome to the wonderful thing called "old age", grum.
he seems to be pretty "old school"
To me, "old school" is anything composed prior to 1900, with a few exceptions for some of the later Russian and American classical composers. It's also nearly all of the music I listen to. I suppose old fogies who insist on listening to long-hair music are not the target audience for the TV networks, but the inclusion of those who are nearing has-been status or are those whose name does not cause instant recognition leaves me questioning the selection. Since I may or may not even watch the game, depending on what else is going on that day and which teams are involved, it really makes no difference who the halftime act might be. If I do watch, halftime will probably find me putting the heavy hors d'ouevres into the microwave. Such is life for an old fart.
posted by Howard_T at 02:13 PM on September 10, 2013
I'm in for this. Getting GWAR to the Super Bowl
posted by tselson at 10:50 PM on September 18, 2013
He and his band sure do seem to put on a hell of a show. Interesting to see them go with a younger, more relevant act as opposed to a "Lifetime Achievement Award" type choice. My daughter (12 years old) was watching football with me yesterday for a little bit, and she was very excited about this news.