Halftime shows are sacred to US culture, along with the actual Super Bowl and the famous Super Bowl commercials. However, many people who don’t watch football usually are excited either for the halftime show. Halftime shows can be remembered for good and bad, but people are glad they exist. Here are the Top 10 most memorable halftime shows, both good and bad.

10. Aerosmith, Britney Spears, NSYNC, Nelly and Mary J. Blige (2001)

“The more the merrier” really summed up this halftime show. Once one singer or group would finish singing, another artist would show up on stage and fans would go crazy. Back when Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears were still the couple of the year and before 9/11, it was a simpler time.

9. Lady Gaga (2017)

This halftime show has many mixed emotions and many people making fun of the performance on social media. Personally, this was one performance to kind of giggle at. From saying the Pledge of Allegiance to jumping from the roof onto the stage, with a harness, to performing some of her greatest hits, Lady Gaga’s performance was not a halftime show to forget.

8. Beyoncé (2013)

Beyoncé is no other than one of the most famous and well-liked celebrities, no arguments about it. To hear that she was even performing in the Super Bowl just had fans going crazy. What makes this specific show memorable is not because she’s Queen Bey, but because of the surprise guests that joined Beyoncé on stage. None other than Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland, or as the three were called in the iconic trio, Destiny’s Child.  

7. Bruno Mars, Red Hot Chili Peppers (2014)

With the Destiny’s Child reunion the year before, a question stirred the fans to see if Bruno could top the iconic performance. After the halftime show, everyone was pleased with Bruno’s performance and surprise guest, the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Although there was some controversy that the RHCP didn’t actually play their instruments on stage, it wouldn’t be the first time someone prerecorded before a halftime show, and everyone still enjoyed it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2i0Bc3f7jk&feature=youtu.be

6. Madonna, Nicki Minaj, M.I.A, LMFAO, CeeLo Green (2012)

This halftime show was considered a hot mess to some people, including myself. From Madonna coming to the stage in a Cleopatra costume, to sitting on LMFAO’s shoulders, to Nicki Minaj and M.I.A with cheer poms. M.I.A had some behavioral issues before the performance while a camera was rolling, which caused the NFL to sue for $1.5 million.

5. Paul McCartney (2005)

Following the year before with the unforgettable scandal between Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake, the NFL decided to play it safe by having the great Paul McCartney the year after. By starting off with “Drive my Car” and signing off with “Hey Jude,” the once was Beatle was one laid back performance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqFIc-NeHSk&feature=youtu.be

4. U2 (2002)

While the US was mourning over the tragedy that was 9/11, the heart-shaped stage contained emotion from the historical event that would take its toll on American history forever. While playing “Where the Streets Have No Name,” the names of all of the victims appeared on a backdrop while the lead singer, Bono, opened his jacket to show the American flag on the inside of his jacket.

3. Katy Perry, Lenny Kravitx and Missy Elliott (2015)

From when she entered on the animatronic lion while singing “Roar,” to changing costumes right before almost every single song, if not every single song, to the incredibly famous left shark? Who could forget the time where everyone made fun of the poor guy in the costume for the next three or so months.

2. Michael Jackson (1993)

Michael Jackson was the most famous person around this time, and his legacy will always live on. With standing on the stage for 90 seconds without moving, when you get 13 minutes overall, with kicks, fedoras and leg spins, and to close it all off, singing “Heal the World” while everyone in the audience created giant portraits of children while the King of Pop sang with children as he made sure everyone of them feel important to be there. There was nothing to hate about this performance, but it will certainly make you tear up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idg8TNknvDU&feature=youtu.be

1. Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, P. Diddy, Kid Rock, Jessica Simpson and Nelly (2004)

Yes, this is the one that people talked about the most. This is the performance that got Janet Jackson blacklisted from MTV and radio, the FCC more than 200,000 complaints and networks having to do a longer delay for live broadcast. Jackson’s career never fully recovered from the incident known as nipplegate.