Posted at 12:00 a.m.
What candy
The Super Bowl halftime was a tasty throwback to the late 1990s and early 2000s. Aside from superstar Kendrick Lamar, worthy heir to the West Coast throne, veterans led the game on Sunday. We’ve reserved a high-level production for hip-hop royalty, in an immaculate setting divided into several stages. The effort was not put on the flashy effect, but rather on a staging where everyone would have their moment to shine. Dre and Snoop Dogg kicked off the show with the legendary track The Next Episodefollowed by the no less legendary title of Dre and Tupac California Love. No new songs on the menu on Sunday. It was out of the question, as we immediately understood, to deprive the public of the classics from the repertoire of the five guests, which allowed them to experience an exquisite moment of nostalgia.
The 50 Cent Surprise
Rumors were rife and his name had been mentioned here and there on a few specialized sites and on social networks. But like any good open secret, 50 Cent’s arrival on the scene, already monopolized by five hip-hop legends, was still resounding. Head upside down, hanging from the ceiling, 50 intoned In Da Club, surrounded by a few dozen dancers. He didn’t steal the show, but his presence alone to complete the group was appreciable. Then place Mary J. Blige, all in glitter and voice, who took over with the classic Family Affairfollowed by No More Drama. The only woman on stage on Sunday, the queen of hip-hop soul was not only there to give the production a good face. The one who released a first new album in five years on Friday, Good Morning Gorgeousmade sure to remind everyone why she was the one who sat on the throne back then and why she still deserves our attention.
Fantastic Kendrick Lamar
He didn’t benefit from more stage time than the others nor from a more elaborate staging, yet Kendrick Lamar stood out (which is no small task when one is surrounded by such great artists). Performing a pared down version ofOK, he knew how to be as imposing as his teammates with such a long track record, while bringing a captivating energy, an incomparable style. The legend precedes the musicians he shared the show with, but Lamar, while paying homage to Dr. Dre with his staging shone like no other on Sunday. Finally, Eminem, with Lose Yourselfcompleted this superb moment of entertainment, accompanied by Dr. Dre behind his “consoles”, the superb Anderson. Paak behind the drums for another nice surprise. The piano notes of Still DRE were the ultimate call for all to come together on the center stage. Just before, Eminem took a knee on stage, a gesture now associated in American football with the protest against racism and police brutality.
Without relaxation
Another never-before-seen moment during the halftime show was announced: artists Sean Forbes and Warren Snipe, both deaf, accompanied the quintet of musicians in sign language on the field. However, it seems that the national broadcasters did not show the two artists on screen once. Co-produced by the ROC Nation, an entertainment company founded by Jay-Z, the show had to leave enough room for all the artists (we don’t invite Dr. Dre to give him only one minute of play) without exceeding the short time allotted. The judicious choice of songs, the no-frills but still impressive staging and the impeccable production made it possible to never let the atmosphere drop and to perfectly dress up this twenty-minute performance.
Focus on the visual
For the third year in a row (and fourth overall), Montreal-based PixMob handled the lighting portion of Sunday’s show. Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium was therefore lit by the company’s immersive technology, which provided 70,000 LED roundels for audience members. The company had to innovate to make its expertise shine while it was still daylight in the California sky at the time of the show. His tools, the most luminous that PixMob has designed to date, brought an additional visual dimension to the sparkling performance of this half.