The halftime show may be the only event on Super Bowl Sunday that will rival the game in terms of emotion. Some absolutely ridiculous things and viral moments have happened at halftime shows over the years. The intermission performances were not always the complete circus that we know and love, but we had truly wild and strange moments when the artists tried to outdo each other over the years.
Here are 10 of the most bizarre moments ever witnessed at the Super Bowl halftime show.
10. Red Hot Chili Peppers play with disconnected instruments
Listen, everyone knows that many of the Super Bowl halftime shows have been pre-recorded, but it doesn’t seem like I’m asking too much to at least connect the instruments and pretend as if there was a little authenticity in the live performance. When the Red Hot Chili Peppers took the stage in 2014, people were annoyed that they “rocked” without even worrying about hiding that their instruments were disconnected. I think you could say that they are willing to … donate.
In addition, Prince played an electric guitar in the pouring rain. JUST SAYING!
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9. Diana Ross leaves in a helicopter
Many artists seem to concentrate on making a grand entrance to the Super Bowl halftime show, but Diana Ross was more concerned with her leaving in 1996. When she was finishing her performance, a helicopter flew into the stadium, landed, picked it up to above, then flew while sitting in the open bird cabin. Again, the Red Hot Chili Peppers didn’t even turn on their instruments.
8. MIA turns the bird
Kevin Mazur (edited)
If you blinked, you may have missed it, but MIA showed the middle finger to the world during her performance with Madonna and Nicki Minaj in 2012. Many people were not thrilled, including the NFL folks. The league responded by filing a lawsuit that sued the rapper for millions in damages and demanding a public apology. It seems a bit excessive for a quick bird jump, but there is also a hilarious irony in the fact that the league took a risk in the controversial Madonna only to be bitten by one of its guests.
7. Bruce Springsteen power slip
The Boss had his chance to take the stage in 2009 and, man, he always used it all. This incredible slide of energy sent his groin straight into a camera and straight into living rooms around the world. It was truly a dream come true for all sports journalists in America.
6. MJ standoff
In what may be the force movement of all force movements, Michael Jackson kicked off his 1993 show at the Rose Bowl by literally just standing on stage doing absolutely nothing for about two minutes. Keep in mind that performers usually receive only 12 minutes of stage time, so Michael used about 17 percent of his performance just to look at the crowd in silence. This is something that only one of the greatest in the history of the game could get away with.
5. The entire 1991 break show
Have you ever watched an intermission program and thought, “man, would that be much better if it was just made up of young children?” Probably not, but that’s exactly what Disney delivered with their 1991 Tampa show. The show featured hundreds of children singing and dancing, dozens of Disney costume characters and just a general mess of nightmare fuel. The only appearances by real adults came in the form of a message from President George HW Bush and a presentation by New Kids on the Block.
All of this can best be summed up by the reaction of this poor boy.
4. Katy Perry’s Left Shark
The 2015 Katy Perry show can best be remembered as “a trip to the beach after taking a supply of acid for life” and its most famous star was Left Shark. Whoever was wearing that suit seemed to be having a lot of fun and just apparently fumbled with a bunch of random dance moves. But Left Shark crushed them and, more importantly, became an instant viral star. Right Shark, however, was immediately fired and expelled from society for being such a pathetic and boring loser.
3. The jump from the roof of Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga decided to make a bold entry in 2017 by jumping off the roof of NRG Stadium in Houston, or at least appearing to do so. The jump was actually pre-recorded for obvious reasons, but it doesn’t really matter. What matters, however, is that it was the most hilarious leap anyone could have expected. Who jumps like that? Just an incredibly strange and incredible way to take a supposed leap of faith. Viva Gaga.
2. The Indiana Jones show
It is impossible to choose a single moment of this show because it was all a complete insanity … but also a bit of a badass? Five percent Patti LaBelle, five percent Tony Bennett and 90 percent Indiana Jones choreographed fight scenes. (You really have to watch the whole thing. It’s ridiculous.)
Disney, which produced the show, clearly wanted a blatant emphasis on promoting their new Indiana Jones tour to Disneyland and was willing to do whatever it took to make it happen … including LIGHTING A FACE ON THE FIRE.
Oh, and LaBelle and Bennett ended the show by singing “Can You Feel The Love Tonight?” of, yes, ‘The Lion King’.
I imagine the planning of this halftime show was like that ‘Miracle’ scene, but instead of shouting “again!” Repeatedly, Herb Brooks continues to blow his whistle and shout “MORE DISNEY!”
1. Nipplegate
Yes, I mean … obviously. The only way to overcome this is if someone “accidentally” exposes TWO nipples.