As we approach the Superb Owl we end up in the now yearly discussion of the halftime show. This year we are treated to Bad Bunny. Apparently he is very popular among certain demographics, which is awesome. He makes music that people like and listen to, more power to him. However, that raises the question regarding what the purpose of the Superb Owl halftime show really is. To start to answer that question, you'd have to look at the demographics of who watches the game. Then you'd have to try to match the halftime to the demographic in one strategy. Cater to the primary viewers. Or, you could try to use the halftime performer to create a draw that would increase demographics that otherwise might not watch the game. Bad Bunny might hit the first of those, but seems unlikely to draw new viewers.
(Let's not forget that it is all about viewers, ratings, and ad rates. Nothing else.)
Personally, I'm not a fan of Bad Bunny and am unlikely to watch the halftime performance. I'm also not a fan of anyone at the alternative halftime show and probably won't watch that either. In all honesty I don't know if I'll watch much of the game this year, but that's something else entirely. But, I like the idea of a competing halftime show and of being able to measure which one gets more viewers.
As an aside, it seems like the NFL could (through streaming or broadcast partners) offer several performers of different styles and genres during halftime.
Having said all of that, my first thought on halftime performances for the Superb Owl is that local is better. In this case, I would have looked first at bands from the Bay Area. Green Day (who's doing pregame), Metallica, Santana, Journey, or a combination thereof. Strangely enough there aren't many more options beside John Fogarty that have been popular. Can you imagine Kirk Hammett shredding Don't Stop Believing?
Beyond that, I would argue that the better option is to find an artist (or combination) that are hugely popular and have wide appeal. While I'm not a fan, Taylor Swift is the most obvious choice for obvious reasons. Foo Fighters are another, again not a huge fan. While I'd prefer that they target music I like, I'm not stupid enough to think that doing so makes sense. I do think that broader appeal is better than narrow appeal.
I also think that style matters. Some styles of music just work better as a big production than others. Also it's probably a good idea to switch genres regularly to maintain broader appeal.
In short, I think that Bad Bunny is probably not the best choice and realize that I could be proven wrong Ultimately it's just not a huge deal to me and It's highly unlikely that I'll watch. On a personal note, I tend to focus on lyrics and when I can't understand the lyrics, I tune out. I appreciate musicianship, but I don't want to see Joe Satriani shred for the halftime show.
It might be fun to come up with a list of who we'd like to see at the halftime show. For starters, let's stick to bands that are living.
Right now, I think that the band that Sammy Hagar (who does have some SF roots) has put together for his retrospective tour/residency would be a good choice (especially if he could get Wolf to hop in). Some combination of Styx, and Cheap Trick could be interesting as well. Taylor Swift is the no brainer, and Chris Stapleton (who did an amazing job on the anthem) could be good as well. Earth Wind and Fire are still amazing, as is Queen/Lambert. Would I personally love some sort of old school rap thing with Sugarhill and Run DMC, absolutely, maybe throw Chic/Nile Rogers in for some funkyness.
12 comments:
Ever since the exposure of Janet Jackson's boob, I've not cared much about the half-time show. I did like Paul McCartney, the Who and Aerosmith because I like those artists. While I'm not particularly a fan of Janet's songs, like her brother, she dances really well and I enjoyed watching them both for that (though they're both good singers, particularly Michael).
But overall, while I don't necessarily want them to go back to featuring college/high school marching bands, what they do while I'm using the facilities and grabbing more food doesn't really concern me. I can imagine an act might be chosen I'd be interested in seeing, but no one in particular comes to mind.
I think that’s the problem. I could absolutely put together halftime shows that I would like. But that’s about my music taste and not what will engage viewers.
Prince was also pretty epic. Right now I think it’s bizarre that they don’t lean more into country. Stapleton and Lainey Wilson could be great.
Not country, but Bon Jovi could be good also.
To me, it comes back to picking artists who cross demographics rather that those that “exclude” demographics.
I think it’s an interesting exercise to think outside of the box of just what i enjoy, while maybe exposing a new artist to a huge audience.
Never been a Bon Jovi fan and get heat from the women folk around here for it. I thought of Prince after I posted my comment, but I don't know if I watched the whole show. He does put on a good show.
I don't expect that I'll be interested in every selection for the HT show, and most of the new artists these days are totally unfamiliar to me. It's an age thing. If there's someone that does interest me, then it conflicts with the time needed for the facilities and replenishment of food and drink.
I almost forgot: I do enjoy the commercials. Some of them, anyway.
Again, I'm not a huge Bon Jovi fan, but he's got enough huge hits to fill the halftime show. For some reason he has pretty broad appeal as he's gotten older and I think it'd be a fun show. Again, that should be the point, a good/fun show not personal like or dislike.
I've heard that one's musical taste are formed young, and I suspect that is mostly True. However, I've picked up a few newer artists/bands over the past few years that I really enjoy. I also follow some people that I respect when it comes to music and have gotten some good recommendations from them. I check out new music when I drive, mow, and fly.
I also don't think I'd be particularly interested in the half time shows going forward, but I have hope. They need some guidelines around genre so that you don't get one genre year after year.
To some degree. The problem is that they preview the commercials early and then run them incessantly after the game. The quality of commercials has definitely dropped on the whole, but there are still some good ones. Fortunately, other people will watch them for me and post the good ones elsewhere.
I'll probably miss most of the game because of work, and I'm not that invested anyway.
Once my team is out, I look for story lines. I like the Maye/Vrabel NE story line and have mostly gotten over my dislike of the Pats. I love the Darnold storyline after the Vikings let him go and the weeping and gnashing of teeth from Vikings fans is hilarious. I love the fact that Josh Allen couldn't win in a year when Mahomes, Burrow, and Jackson were all out (and that Jackson didn't get in) and that the Broncos beat the Bills while losing Nix on a meaningless play at the end setting up their loss.
I think I'm leaning toward wanting Seattle to win, but I'm not invested in it.
I don't have a dog in this race, either, but I've always enjoyed watching the SB regardless.
Last year's good commercials were few, and it's disappointing when there aren't more of them given how pricey it is to run them. The companies generally go to greater lengths to be imaginative and entertaining. They often fail, but when they hit, it's fun to see for the first time.
I don't either, except the joy I get from hearing Vikings fans weep and gnash their teeth. FWIW, it's a lot more enjoyable to have a dog in the fight than not.
I think that the ads, in general, are not as good as what they were in the past and therefore, I'm not even that excited about them. Depending on work, I might watch some when I get home. I'll probably keep track on my phone as well.
I miss my DVR. Wish I had one and/or knew how to record streamed shows.
We don't use ours very much, but it's nice to have. The problem with a DVR is that you can't save what you've recorded beyond your attachment to whoever your provider is. We've got the Super Bowl wins recorded, but if we ever ditch Comcast, they go away.
That is a problem. New tech leads to less benefits. Back in the day, anything I recorded the the old VCR was mine forever.
That is True, although anything on video tape doesn't have the picture quality of digital. It'd make more sense to allow DVR recordings to be saved to another medium.
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