As Usher entered the Super Bowl Halftime Show, he didn’t have much to prove. With a career spanning nearly three decades, he has garnered substantial goodwill and experienced a resurgence in cultural relevance, notably through a highly successful Las Vegas residency catering to a more mature audience.
However, headlining such an event is like achieving an EGOT for any pop superstar. On Sunday evening, Usher saw it as a well-deserved culmination of his legacy.
“They said I wouldn’t make it, they said I wouldn’t be here today, but here I am,” he declared enthusiastically at the start of his lively performance, giving a shoutout to his mother. For long-time fans who’ve followed him since “My Way” and “U Make Me Wanna,” this moment was truly joyful.
The performance, described as “rated U” per Apple Music, felt chaotic and rushed throughout. Starting with “Caught Up,” it echoed the flashy Vegas vibes with an overwhelming number of background performers: feather-clad dancers, acrobats, stilt walkers, and more. While Usher stood out in his bright, all-white, and sparkly outfit, the fast-paced camera editing detracted from his presence. Additionally, the vocals and sound mixing were lacking.
What came next was essentially a rapid montage of his extensive catalog, sometimes moving too swiftly – a snippet of “Superstar” here, a brief taste of “Nice and Slow” there. The medley excelled when he allowed us to savor his smooth, swaggering choreography and linger with a song for a moment, as he did with his classic ballad “U Got It Bad.” This was the moment he removed his shirt, allowing his vocals to shine, and brought out H.E.R. to deliver a mesmerizing guitar solo. It was pure magic.
As previously mentioned, Usher’s prominent collaborators joined him to highlight his credentials. Alicia Keys performed snippets of her solo hit “If I Ain’t Got You” and their duet “My Boo.” Jermaine Dupri joined for “Confessions (Part II),” while Will.I.Am appeared for “OMG.” Lil Jon and Ludacris closed the show with “Yeah,” a fitting choice for the finale.
Despite the show being somewhat scattered, Usher’s main message remains clear – he boasts numerous hits and currently holds the title of King of R&B with little competition. While his EDM phase may not be fondly remembered, this performance, while not his best, still showcased his star power and was enjoyable. As “Yeah” closed the show with fervor, Usher and his team transformed the stage into a glitzy football game aesthetic, complete with costumes resembling football gear, pole-dancing dancers, a marching band, and the chorus jubilantly celebrating as if they had just won the trophy.
“I took the world to the A,” he repeated several times, nodding to the city where he spent much of his youth. Indeed.
