Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show Performance Review

Story posted February 3, 2020 in

A few words to describe this year’s Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show are energetic, Latin and fierce.

Shakira and Jenifer Lopez took the stage to represent Latin pride in Miami, along with guest appearances from two of the most popular Spanish performers in the industry at the moment, J. Balvin and Bad Bunny.

Shakira kicked off the performance with her fan-favorite song, “She Wolf,” and really knew how to pump up the crowd. The rhythm and energy she brought to the show was unbelievable and it was obvious the singer felt that she was in her element.

She performed other great songs like “Hips Don’t Lie” and “Whenever, Wherever” to keep the energy high. Shakira surprised the crowd when she began a cover of “I Like It.” When the singer began her rendition of “I Like It,” she paid tribute to the original version but also to Cardi B’s version with an appearance by Bad Bunny. It was an iconic moment to see and it was even more incredible to see so much Latin representation on one stage.

Watching a Super Bowl Halftime Show performer is similar to watching a timeline of that performer’s life unfold and one could feel that with Shakira. There was a sense of nostalgia while watching her.

The second performer was Jenifer Lopez and it’s easy to say she is one of the best entertainers of all time because of her amazing stage presence. Not only can she sing but does challenging choreography all while trying to keep the crowd engaged. She started her set with the infamous “Jenny From The Block,” and performed her hits including “Waiting For Tonight,” “Ain’t It Funny,” “On the Floor,” and she also performed “Mi Gente” with J. Balvin, which was a fun addition to the performance.

Later on, Lopez’s daughter Emme performed a snippet of “Let’s Get Loud” featuring a children’s choir while her mom joined later on in the performance. One of the most powerful moments was when Lopez lifted up the coat she was wearing to unveil a Puerto Rican flag, while the top of the coat was an American flag. During this, they sang an upbeat version of “God Bless America.” This was an important moment because it showed that she has never forgotten where her roots are, but appreciates the home she lives in.

Shakira then joined Lopez on stage again to perform “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” which was the Official 2010 FIFA World Cup song. Lopez then did a salsa routine with a few of her male back up dancers, which really showed her great skill.

At the end of the performance, it looked like both of them couldn’t have been happier with their performance. It was unsure how two main acts would split up the little amount of time allotted to perform but they did an amazing job with having an equal amount of spotlight. It genuinely seemed like they enjoyed each other’s company on stage and were most importantly, having a good time while doing it.

 

 

Emily Mugno is a senior majoring in Broadcast Journalism. To contact her, e-mail esm6@psu.edu.