The 5 biggest talking points from Super Bowl 2024, from Usher’s skates to Taylor Swift’s drinking games

Sign up to Roisin O’Connor’s free weekly publication Now Hear This for the within observe on all issues music

Get our Now Hear This electronic mail without cost

This yr’s Super Bowl halftime present by R&B star Usher has been hailed as “electrifying” by viewers on social media, even when Justin Bieber followers had been left broken-hearted after the Canadian singer’s rumoured visitor look failed to materialise.

By distinction, The Independent’s Mark Beaumont was much less impressed. In his three-star assessment, Beaumont wrote that “in the end, Usher’s show seems like a fun, half-memorable mess. But, with the likes of Justin Bieber, Paul McCartney and Lana Del Rey watching on from the luxury boxes, it could have shifted so many more tour tickets.”

Here are probably the most talked-about music moments from the biggest night time in American sports activities:

Usher will get his skates on

Usher’s crowd-pleasing set featured enormous performances of hit singles like “Caught Up”, “Love in this Club” and “Yeah!”. However, arguably probably the most memorable a part of the efficiency was when the R&B singer, who had stripped off his preliminary all-white outfit piece-by-piece, abruptly reappeared to be part of his backing dancers in curler skates and a brand new black-and-blue look seemingly impressed by sci-fi basic Tron.

Truly, an electrifying second – and he didn’t slip! At least he didn’t strive to ice skate – having discovered the lesson of Frank Ocean’s botched Coachella set.

Taylor Swift joins within the drinking sport enjoyable

Prior to the Super Bowl, the frequency with which NFL protection has lower to footage of Taylor Swift supporting her accomplice, Kansas City Chiefs tight finish Travis Kelce, has been broadly reported on and even joked about on the Grammys. Swift’s many on-screen appearances even impressed a drinking sport – and Swift herself appeared to get in on the motion. When she appeared on the massive display, she shortly downed her personal drink.

Beyoncé breaks the web (once more)

The pre-game musical dialogue across the Super Bowl could have targeted on Swift’s look as a fan and Usher’s nostalgia-filled halftime present, however Beyoncé was not to be outdone. A collection of teaser trailers revealed that the pop celebrity will return subsequent month with a brand new, country-themed album, Renaissance Part II. She additionally dropped two model new singles, nation ballad “16 Carriages” and boot-scooting occasion tune “Texas Hold ‘Em”.

Stars came out in force in Vegas

It wasn’t simply Taylor Swift and her crew, which included Lana Del Rey, Ice Spice and Blake Lively, who drew the eye of the cameras in Las Vegas. Jimmy Kimmel, Lady Gaga and LeBron James had been all in attendance, whereas Jeff Goldblum was noticed dancing for the group.

Jay-Z and Beyoncé had been additionally on the sport. Then there was Paul McCartney, who appeared on the Nickelodeon stream with a caption to assist out youthful viewers: “He was in the Beatles!”

As regular, the victory is Swift’s

The (English) footballer Gary Lineker as soon as quipped: “Football is a simple game. Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans win.”

Perhaps an up to date model would work for American Football: “Twenty-two men chase a ball for four-and-a-half hours and at the end, Taylor Swift wins.”

After an unbelievable, record-breaking, award-winning yr for the pop celebrity, there was no approach her boyfriend was going to find yourself not profitable the Super Bowl – even when the Kansas City Chiefs did want time beyond regulation to do it.

Follow all the newest updates from the Super Bowl 2024 halftime present right here.