Male singers cannot put on a Super Bowl halftime show to the same degree female singers do.
Since 2015, women have consistently outperformed men in every aspect because they are willing to put on a more well-rounded show full of theatrics, good costumes, excellent dancers and upbeat music.
Let’s compare.
2015: That year, Katy Perry kicked off her performance by riding in on a 20 foot tall lion. Combined with colorful sets, costumes and live music, Perry put on a performance USA Today called “what a Super Bowl halftime show should be.”
2016: This year, on the other hand, had a forgettable Coldplay performance with guest stars Bruno Mars and Beyoncé.
2017: It was a dramatic improvement by Lady Gaga when she opened up her halftime performance by zip lining onto the stage.
The halftime performance of 2018, on the other hand, was just bad enough to create the meme of the year. The “Who is Justin Timberlake?” meme goes to show that the committee picked a performer way past his time.
2019: It had a chance to be better with Maroon 5; however, the boring, live music performance left something to be desired.
2020: We kicked off the new decade with powerhouse singers Shakira and Jenifer Lopez. The two did a fantastic job showing off their Latina pride in a performance that rocked the nation. Some say they were too scandalous, but this performance was not out of the ordinary for either singer making the show hard to top in future years.
In looking at the comparisons between halftime performances since 2015, there are three ways in which women singers have outperformed male singers.
One, women singers are more willing to go all-out on their performance. Good sets, solid choreography, excellent costumes and powerful vocals are staples of any women’s performance.
Two, the women’s songs are more timeless. Katy Perry’s “Firework,” Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” and Shakira’s “Hips Don’t Lie” and “Waka, Waka” are all pieces everyone knows and dances to. Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk” was the one thing the men had going for them, and he wasn’t even a headlining act.
Three, women singers do a better job at hyping the crowd up. Nothing against Coldplay, Justin Timberlake and Maroon 5, but none of them are that type of performer. When you miss that crucial part, it feels like there is something missing from the performance.
With that in mind, you may be asking, “What man can actually put together a solid half time show?”
Honestly, I’m not sure there is very many who can. Shawn Mendes and guest star Camila Cabello could do it because they both put out good, timeless music consistently. Also, John Bellion singing “All Time Low” would be a welcome change to the slow pieces men have sung recently.
Finally, the Jonas Brothers’ return to stage brings star power, solid pieces, big personalities, solid vocals and that hyped-up vibe fans look for in a performance.
All things considered, the Jonas Brothers would be the best shot men have at a halftime show to a similar caliber to that of women.
Could the male singers do it? Maybe. It all depends on how far they’re willing to go to put together a solid performance.
