Half-time Hip Hop
When this teenager of the 90’s heard the line-up for this years Super Bowl half-time show, I got more excited than I’ve been in a while and proceeded to tell every music lover I know, all about it; who all had the same gobsmacked reaction I did.
If you’ve not heard, the billed line-up included - Snoop Dog, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar. What a bevvy of hits they’ve racked up between them over the years. And who better to pull them all together, than the puppet-master himself: Dr Dre.
It opened with Dre on top of what looked like a street … presumably because he’s “…still got love for the streets…” In front of a giant mixing desk, accompanied by Snoop singing ‘Na na na na na’ (no sound required for you to know what song this is!) from the other end of the street - both on the roof tops. It was clear from the get go that the showman ship was gonna be on point.
Cramming in the hits, with dancers all over the place, giving us different characters and visuals; I particularly enjoyed the staging of the dancers for Kendrick Lamar; cars parked up outside for everyone to climb over, street wear, glamour, brass bands and generally high energy, feel good party vibe everywhere.
The links between songs that made our favourites move into each other were absolutely seamless, showcasing incredible musicality, all over. The transition between 50 Cent (yeah, he was there too!) and Mary J. Blige was perfect. Still holding her own with the dancers at 51, she gave us the fitting ‘Family Affair’ … the song we all want! As a vocalist, she was the artist I was most excited about: growing up, it was her and Aretha who taught me how to sing from the soul. Then she did; giving us ‘No More Drama’ … from the pit of her stomach … vocalists take note; this is what I’m talking about when I say “use everything!”
Next up was the uncompromising Eminem. Our drum coach Jess got so excited about seeing him, she recorded the below this week! A perfect example of a music event, inspiring a musician!
And the keen eyes amongst you, will have spotted Anderson .Paak on the drums, playing for Eminem!
The pinnacle of the whole piece was from the puppet master himself. Dr Dre sat at the piano to play the start to a hit by Blackstreet, moving into the unmistakable ‘Still Dre’. He moved centre stage, where he was joined by the other five artists and they all brought the house down. It was amazing to see these heavyweights together like this and what is now difficult to see, is where the Super Bowl go next!
Quiz
All of their hits are so iconic, I thought you might enjoy a ‘name that song’ from the show. Below are lyrics from each of the nine songs they performed; can you give me the title for all of them, without Googling, etc…?!
Na na na na
Let me welcome everybody to the wild wild west
Yo, yo, yo, it’s your birthday
Come on everybody, get on up
Broken heart again.
We gone be alright
Nowadays everybody wanna talk
Mom’s spagetti
If you take your love away from me