From the "Must Be Getting Old" Dept: XXXIX Halftime Show

[Overpaid Slacker]

I thought it was pretty damned good, and I'm not a huge McCartney fan.

It was immeasurably better than the usual pyrotechnic parade of "stars" and has-beens (like the pre-game Charlie Daniels/EWF/Black Eyed Peas montage and blatherpalooza) and much better than any "Hooray for EVERYthing" saccharine sell-abrations.

In fact, a lot of the folks at the ginmill I attended for XXXIX were singing along with McCartney (he may have been "singing along with himself" but I don't care so much). And, no, said ginmill is not a hangout for geriatrics or other "old" folk. It was a teens to 60's crowd. And a number of people said it was the best show they'd seen. Personally, I can't remember any of the others I've seen (Ms. Jackson's few seconds of infamy not withstanding) so this was the best show I remember.

But all I'm seeing on the Internet is how bad/boring/lame this halftime show was. Guess I'm old already.

JP

[pwd72s]

JP, I'm with you...but hey, I'm old! Overall, I think Fox did a great job on the superbowl, far better than the fiasco See-BS put on last year.

[RickM]

I skipped the show expecting the usual junk. Now everyone is telling me it was the best they remember. Seems you have lots of company JP.

[legion]

My parents were in grade school when the Beatles broke up...

I thought it was a great show. I've never enjoyed the ones where they parade the latest "it" star. They even refrained from having a "special surprise guest". This is the first halftime show that I have actually watched....ever.

[hardflex]

I loved it, and so did my 20yr old son. I don't know how you could satisfy a wider range of audience than McCartney does. A class act all the way.......

But I'm sure there's a few on this board who will disagree.

[gaijindabe]

Four classics, including "live and let die". And it sounded so good, I was sure it was canned. But then again, Sir Paul has been at this a while and still tours.. We are so used to talentless Pop-Tarts, when we get a real star out there, it is amazing to see.

Next year? I am taking the odds for Billy Joel and Elton John.

PS: Alisha Keyes is a babe. But the last key is not over and they are cutting to a promo.. Disgusting.

[david914]

Big ditto here. I actually enjoyed the half-time show for once. Hope this sets a new trend...

[zachsbug]

My wife & I have seen McCartney twice in concert & he really puts on a good show. Yeah he plays a lot of the older Beatles tunes but he also plays his own stuff as well. Live & Let Die is a super concert song, it will really wake the neighbors up!

[Overpaid Slacker]

Cool!!!

I hoped my Pelican brethren (at least some of them) would be more enthusiastic about the show than it seems the "typical" Internet poster is.

I thought the stage was cool, the limited use of pyro (Live and Let Die!) was well done and it was a good playlist. Though, following L&LD with "Hey Jude" seemed a bit off-tempo ... until you saw that they were getting everybody in the stadium into the song. That was cool.

When it ended and Sir Paul left the stage, a lot of people -- in the BAR -- started chanting "one more song". It really was great.

The only duff note was, right after the show was over, pimping the halftime show's production company in that manner seemed a little crass.

JP

[Eric 951]

I also enjoyed it--had more of a "traditional" football halftime feel, I was surprised by "Live and Let Die".

I was wondering--what did the placards that the audience held up read? I saw the letters "AN" and a red, white, and blue, flag motif--but had no idea what it all was supposed to say?

[legion]

NA NA NA

As in the end of "Hey Jude".

[CJFusco]

it was "NA" as in in the final lyrics to "Hey Jude": "na na na nanananah, nanananah, hey jude."

[}{arlequin]

I liked the show but while he is a great musician I think he was hired because there was a *very slim* chance that he would be showing any tit

[12own911]

And would you really want to see his tit?

[}{arlequin]

LOL, no, I'm saying he was hired b/c he is considered a "safe" class act.

[targa911S]

I thought it was great ..and I'm not a fan of "Sir Paul". It was I think the best half time show ever. I thought the band was really tight and the drummer was great! Then someone told me it was all prerecorded and they were just going through the motions like Millie Vanillie. No truth in the world I swear!

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

the halftime show has always sucked... You think John Lennon would be up there if he were alive?

[targa911S]

NOT ON YOUR LIFE!

[Superman]

I thought, and still think, that this was the halftime show against which all future halftime shows will ge judged. Unfavorably, I might add. It makes sense to use a format like this. One artist. multi-generation music. Singalong. But unfortunately......we only have one Paul McCartney.

[targa911S]

thankfully