Super Bowls are known for their gaudy Halftime shows,
and if one word could be used to describe its performers in recent
years, that word would be, "grizzled." The demographic from the NFL
Office calls for aging, primarily white rockers that no one under 25
really knows anything about. Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, and this
year Tom Petty are prime examples.
These dudes still do know how
to rock, but for such a happening event, the NFL goes all the way into
the time machine, plucking people that look like Aunt Sally to rock the
Super Bowl Halftime show.
I have two theories why this is so.
One, the NFL Lords are panicky ever since Janet Jackson's "tig old
bitty" popped out a few years ago, to shock and/or delight, depending
on your point-of-view. There is not much fear of Tom Petty's goods
falling out all over the Super Bowl Halftime stage.
Also, it is
no secret that tickets to the Super Bowl sell into the high-four
figures, especially when scalping comes into play. That said, the NFL
feels it necessary to provide added value, not just in the Super Bowl
game, but in added attractions such as big-name entertainers to provide
music to rock out on.
Billy Joel, Elton John, The Rolling Stones
(again)--who's next? It is pretty predictable, and the Halftime show
needs to be juiced up a bit if it wants to match up with the excitement
and energy of the game itself. Maybe next year.