Mike Posted February 7, 2011 Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Absurd, gauche and oddly appropriate. Those were some of the begrudgingly positive reviews of the Black Eyed Peas' brief set at the Super Bowl halftime show in Dallas on Sunday. The chart-topping foursome, famed for frustratingly catchy dance tunes such as "Let's Get It Started" and "I Gotta Feeling," took to the stage at Cowboys Stadium accompanied by hundreds of dancers wearing LED-covered suits. Following in the footsteps of such venerable rock acts as The Who, Bruce Springsteen and the Rolling Stones, the Black Eyed Peas were the first hip-hop act to take center stage at America's biggest sporting event. Amid all the glitz, the event was plagued by the inevitable technical difficulties. But at least singer Fergie did not fall victim to the infamous "wardrobe malfunction" that exposed Janet Jackson's nipple during the disastrous 2004 installment. Amid guest slots by former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash and scene-stealing R&B star Usher, critics appeared to give the Black Eyed Peas the benefit of the doubt. "The Peas, love 'em or hate 'em, are the group this game of hype deserves," the Los Angeles Times said. Sure, the band's music is aimed at "mindless partying," and Fergie's glittery top was "absurd and somewhat laughable," but the Peas had more relevance than previous baby boomer acts, wrote the paper's critic Todd Martens. "The Peas of 2011 embrace all things commercial and ridiculous," he said. "Corny? Please. In the world of the Peas, nothing is too silly and everything is built for exaggeration." The New York Times was also full of backhanded compliments, citing the group's "gauche taste" and "anonymous smash hits." A spectacular piece of choreography by Usher, who leaped high over the head of kneeling singer will.i.am, and landed on the stage in a split "only ended up highlighting the headliners' weaknesses," said the paper's critic, Jon Caramanica. The Chicago Tribune's Greg Kot said the Peas were "an oddly appropriate choice" for the big event. "With lyrics like Madison Avenue slogans plastered over relentless beats, the quartet's big, proudly superficial music advertised and celebrated itself," he wrote. But Entertainment Weekly said the foursome seemed "... well, as small as peas themselves," awkwardly static as illuminated, "Tron"-like dancers swirled around them. Copyright © 2011 Reuters Limited. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MindCrime Posted February 7, 2011 Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 Amid all the glitz, the event was plagued by the inevitable technical difficulties. But at least singer Fergie did not fall victim to the infamous "wardrobe malfunction" that exposed Janet Jackson's nipple during the disastrous 2004 installment. I know I said this already, but a Fergie wardrobe malfunction would've been an electrical shortage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLizard Posted February 7, 2011 Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 It sucked. And Slash has lost all self respect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockyRaccoon Posted February 7, 2011 Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 I thought it was funny. Slash and Usher did well. Aside from that, I thought the Peas pretty much sucked. Almost as much as the Steelers did. I thought it was pretty funny that they did "Sweet Child Of Mine" on Axl's birthday. By the way, I'm pretty sure that Slash just thought that was Axl. Or at least, Axl in the last stages of gender reassignment. And I had no idea that Lou Diamond Phillips was in the Black Eyed Peas!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pinkstones Posted February 8, 2011 Report Share Posted February 8, 2011 They were awful, just awful. Christina Aguilera butchering the national anthem sounded better. Who the heck greenlighted them to perform in the first place? I know it's cliche and safe and yada, yada, yada....but I'd rather Paul McCartney again or The Rolling Stones....hell, bring back Bruce Springsteen! When he slid across the stage and went junk-first into the camera, that was awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonJonSurfer Posted February 8, 2011 Report Share Posted February 8, 2011 My guess for 2014 when the SB is in NJ...Bon Jovi. I can't imagine Bruce being excluded, but Bon Jovi is my guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLizard Posted February 8, 2011 Report Share Posted February 8, 2011 If they had any balls they would ask Arcade Fire to do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockyRaccoon Posted February 8, 2011 Report Share Posted February 8, 2011 Sadly, they have to please millions of drunken football fans. And I would say the majority of those drunken football fans have no idea who Arcade Fire is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawna Posted February 8, 2011 Report Share Posted February 8, 2011 but on the plus side, drunken football fans love things even more if they're good. So regardless of if they know who they are, so long as they're good, it'll work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steel2Velvet Posted February 8, 2011 Report Share Posted February 8, 2011 I've always wondered why the Super Bowl halftime performance could not be the national grand prize for the Drum & Bugle Corp competition that is held throughout the USA annually? Those squads are found in almost all larger towns and, along with their corresponding flag teams, are amazing, innovative entertainment. Additionly, their history has some relevant signifigance to football half times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonJonSurfer Posted February 8, 2011 Report Share Posted February 8, 2011 I've always wondered why the Super Bowl halftime performance could not be the national grand prize for the Drum & Bugle Corp competition that is held throughout the USA annually? Those squads are found in almost all larger towns and, along with their corresponding flag teams, are amazing, innovative entertainment. Additionly, their history has some relevant signifigance to football half times. If they are willing to have a few wardrobe malfunctions...they're in! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted February 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2011 They should have had ZZ Top perform! That would have been a show!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viaene Posted February 8, 2011 Report Share Posted February 8, 2011 related Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenacious_Peaches Posted February 8, 2011 Report Share Posted February 8, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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