On Feb. 12, Super Bowl LVII took place, with the Kansas City Chiefs defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35. The Super Bowl is arguably one of the biggest sporting events in the world, but it is perhaps an even greater cultural phenomenon. This is mainly due to the numerous celebrities in attendance, the fascinating and entertaining commercials and, of course the extravagant half-time show. In this year’s Super Bowl, it was not only a game for the ages, but an overall enjoyable experience with Rihanna’s singing and variety of commercials.
The famous pop singer Rihanna performed her first ever halftime show. The nine-time Grammy winner continued the streak of big-name artists performing on the big stage, with Eminem and Snoop Dogg last year and the Weeknd in 2021. Rihanna, however, brought a different sense to the culturally esteemed event, as she took a tamer approach.
Rihanna performed twelve songs total, an impressive amount for a relatively short concert-like performance. The most notable of those songs were her final four, which are her older and most popular ones. They were “Run This Town,” “Umbrella” and “Diamonds”. Additionally, she sang “All of the Lights,” which is written by Kanye West, but Rihanna has received high praise for her ability to capture the crowd during this song’s performance.
In addition to her singing performance, with her last true concert being seven years ago, Rihanna and her crew excelled in the choreography and additional dynamics of the show. She entered on a suspended platform, dawning a simplistic bright red dress and bodysuit. This was not only captivating but also impressive with how much Rihanna captured the crowd with very little extras. Finally, the dancing in the show was unique and well-practiced. The dancers dressed in white outfits and did a variety of current popular dance moves along with a few specific styles to really dramatize the fantastic show.
Rihanna’s halftime show was superb according to most. On the other hand, the commercials are always difficult to distinguish which was best. Some notable commercials were He Gets Us (showcasing the power of Jesus Christ), numerous movie trailers (several ones starring dogs) and many appearances by beloved celebrities.
He Gets Us featured two notable commercials, both featuring ideals from the Bible. One was aimed at how the world should change itself into loving our enemies and treating life with one another as a gift.
Amazon and The Farmer’s Dog had two beloved commercials, both featuring man’s best friend. In addition to several dogs, which have been acclaimed as the best commercials, there were many celebrity appearances. John Travolta appeared in a T-Mobile feature depicting the idea of neighborly interaction. Ben Affleck was a “hardly recognizable” drive-thru worker for Dunkin’, and the legendary band KISS was showcased in the humorous, office-centered Workday commercial. Finally, Steve Martin and Ben Stiller showed their great acting for Pepsi, and Jack Harlow displayed his triangle playing abilities for Doritos.
Super Bowl LVII provided excellent entertainment for all, whether it be the commercials or Rihanna’s simplistic yet outstanding performance. Despite differences in who to cheer for in “the big game,” at least audiences can agree that delightfully emotional and funny commercials, along with a top-tier concert, provide for a uniting Super Bowl Sunday.
