By Jilian Geer
Usher’s halftime performance on Sunday, Feb. 11, during the 2024 Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers left viewers divided, with some praising his dance number and guests, while others found his vocals and dance numbers lacking.
The halftime show, sponsored by Apple Music, started with Usher sitting on a throne surrounded by a marching band and dancers, leading into an electrifying performance of his hit song “Caught Up,” which set the mood for the rest of the number before he moved into “U Don’t Have to Call.”
A lineup of highly anticipated guest appearances was featured throughout the performance. Alicia Keys kicked off her appearance in an eye-catching red jumpsuit on a red piano while singing a soulful rendition of “If I Ain’t Got You” before she joined Usher for their hit duet, “My Boo.”
Jermaine Dupri made a short appearance, leading to Usher singing “Confessions Part II.” During “U Got it Bad,” Usher removed his shirt before he was joined by H.E.R., who impressed the audience with her electric guitar skills during a powerful solo that transitioned into “Bad Girl.”
Usher rejoined the stage in a set of rollerblades as he sang “OMG” and even slid in between Will.i.am’s legs, making it a full circle moment since Usher guest appeared at will.i.am’s Super Bowl show in 2011 with the Black Eyed Peas. The crowd was wild as he closed out the nostalgic performance with “Yeah,” while Lil John, Ludacris, and Will.i.am joined for the final moments.
”I really liked the performance, I grew up listening to Usher, so it was nice to see him, and I loved the guests,” said Morgan McAuliff, senior at the University of Tampa.
Despite the impressive lineup and dance numbers, some viewers criticized Usher’s vocal performance and the lack of memorable moments. People believed his performance focused more on choreography and guest appearances than the vocals and music.
“I’m not really a fan of Usher and was just interested in the game, but it seems like he cared more about his dancing than his singing,” said Ryan Shanian, Senior.
While Usher’s performance had many special guest appearances, fans were still disappointed. After Justin Bieber was rumored to be appearing and was spotted at the game, viewers expressed their frustration on social media due to his absence from the performance.
“I was really upset that Justin Bieber did not perform with Usher, especially after all the rumors I heard about it,” said Layla Campbell, a junior at UT. “I kept waiting for him to come out, but it didn’t happen.”
With mixed reviews, Usher’s Superbowl halftime show undoubtedly demonstrated his talent, but missed opportunities stopped it from reaching its full potential. As Super Bowl fans continue to debate and compare Usher’s performance to past halftime show artists, there is no denying that it was a memorable moment for everyone involved.
The Super Bowl isn’t the only big event in Usher’s life. He also released his ninth studio album, “Coming Home,” on Feb. 9 and is expected to begin his “USHER: Past Present Future” tour on Aug. 20.
Looking to the future, now that Super Bowl LVIII is over, people are already wondering who next year’s Super Bowl star will be. Performers like Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift are popular predictions, but only time will tell.