The Super Bowl is coming up in three weeks, and Rihanna has the honor and burden of entertaining the world at halftime. The pressure will be amplified if the game stinks, and she’s the only reason to stick around for more commercials in the third quarter.
We won’t know where her show will rank on the all-time list for a while, but Billboard Magazine took a crack at listing the best SB halftime shows of all time.
Like most lists, it is open to interpretation.
Here is Billboard’s Top Ten.
10. They go with Michael Jackson. The King of Pop performed in 1993, and he was a hot commodity back then. He rocked it that year, singing all his top hits, including “Billie Jean, “Black and White,” and “Man.”
9. The Super Bowl in Jacksonville in 2005 wasn’t a classic, but Paul McCartney’s show at halftime kept people in their seats. That was probably the last super safe choice where NBA execs knew nothing weird would happen. Especially after the Nipplegate controversy of a year ago.
8. Lady Gaga in 2017. She put everything into it, and left it all on the field. Or at least the state. Pure energy. Pure entertainment. Tons of her best hits.
7. The Rolling Stones In 2006 put on a fantastic show, hitting their great songs like “Start Me Up” and “Satisfaction.”
6. Beyonce came in at number 6 back in 2013. She got help from her old crew, Destiny’s Child.
5. Another rock legend made the most of his only halftime gig. Bruce Springsteen performed in 2009. Did you think there was a chance he wouldn’t crush it? He’s the Boss. Of course, he did.
4. Billboard is awfully kind, giving Madonna the number four spot. Maybe it’s because she’s become such an insufferable weirdo now, but I don’t think she belongs this high.
3. Last year’s show at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood featured the act that many people thought was the best. Dr. Dre borough some of his friends to his hometown, including Snoop, Eminem, 50 Cent, Kendrick Lamar, and Mary J. Blige. If you missed it, run to YouTube and find it. Incredible on every level.
2. U2 was the group that performed in New Orleans in 2002. They were the eighth choice at the right time — the first Super Bowl since 9-11. Leave it to Bono and The Edge to absolutely kill their set when America needed a great break from a lot of heaviness the past five months.
10. Prince owns the number spot. A one-man wrecking crew of greatness. He simply owned the stage; you couldn’t take your eyes off him as he rocked Miami in a driving rainstorm back in 2007.
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