The Super Bowl 50 Halftime show was incredibly vivid. Fans rushed onto the field, screaming enthusiastically while Coldplay began to sing. The audience held up colorful pieces to form a sun in the seats. Colors were bursting throughout the stage and people were Coldplay and others were doused in colorful clothing. Wherever I looked on the stage more people were dancing, twirling ribbon, or playing musical instruments.
Eventually, Bruno Mars came out and sang “Uptown Funk”, which prompted Beyonce’s performance.
The Huffington Post brought something to my attention about Beyonce and her dancers choices of wardrobe for the show. They discussed that if you took one look at the army of black women rocking leather outfits designed by Zana Bayne, afros and black berets and we were instantly reminded of the revolutionary members of the Black Panther Party. At one point, Beyoncé and her dancers even raised black power fists in the air marking an important public declaration of black pride.
The Black Panthers were known for practicing militant self-defense of minority communities against the U.S. government, and they also fought to establish revolutionary socialism through mass organizing and community based programs.
Her dancers were also dressed in gear that thoughtfully underscored the song’s themes of race, identity and black culture. Plus, Beyoncé even managed to subtly pay tribute to the late Michael Jackson with her custom-made jacket. Beyoncé’s clothing choice for both her and her dancers is significant because it represents a fine example of the power of style. The fashion associated with the Black Panthers helped to define the party just as much as their messages through speech and performance.
Another memorable moment from the show was when while Coldplay was singing and playing “Fix You”, they showed a compilation of many of the past halftime shows. These shows included Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and the Black Eyed Peas. Simultaneously, fireworks and sparks were being set off one after the other at the top of the stadium.
The show ended with every person who was twirling ribbons or dancing during the show coming back out and joining Beyonce, Coldplay and Bruno Mars in the song “Up and Up”.
Similarly to the beginning of the show, at the end of the show the people in the seats who watched the show held up colorful pieces to form a colorful banner that said, “Believe in Love.”
Overall the show was impactful and held many messages and tributes which made this halftime show one of the most memorable.