While most of us were sitting back enjoying a cold Coors Light on Sunday evening, Usher was prepping for the performance of a lifetime. One that will go down in history, in homage to the black artists that came before him. The performance ultimately featured a range of artists from his past including Ludacris, Lil Jon and Alicia Keys and was one to remember.
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Throwback
When Usher kicked off his Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII halftime show performance with ‘Caught Up’, we knew it was going to be an ode to Usher when he was king of the world. It’s been nearly two decades since most of the mega hits but Usher’s style and moves are timeless. His ability to perform not just at the mic but with his feet remains captivating all these years later. What he also does is pay homage to Black artists who came before him and helped shape the career he built. The R&B star said as much in an interview with Good Morning America back on February 2.
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Non-belieber
When people found out that Usher was performing at the Super Bowl naturally everyone started speculating who would join him on stage. A popular theory was that Usher would bring on Justin Bieber. After all, it would only make sense considering the role Usher played in Bieber’s career and let’s not forget about their song Somebody to Love. The Super Bowl would have been a great time for Bieber to announce he is possibly ready to start performing full-time again but sadly Beliebers were disappointed when the camera panned to Bieber and his wife Hailey Bieber sitting on the sidelines. A damper on the performance? Slightly, but not the end of the world.
The fits
Usher made a splash with his wardrobe during the Super Bowl halftime show. Starting with a custom Dolce and Gabbana wool coat adorned with Swarovski crystals, pearls, and intricate motifs, he then transitioned into an asymmetrical bomber jacket with a dazzling phoenix pin, layered over sculptural pants.
The third look featured a Swarovski-crystal-embroidered vest atop a Marcello ribbed tank top. Usher’s grand finale included a bespoke Off-White™ ensemble, a fusion of five pieces adorned with a staggering 394,000 crystals, perfectly capturing the high-energy “roller-cross” essence of his performance at Allegiant Stadium. The Off White team worked with costume designer Tanja Caldwell, fashion director Brooklyn Styles, and creative director Aakomon Jones on the singers’ looks.
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Overall, the Super Bowl came as advertised and the half time show continues to be among the top topics leading up to and afterwards. Usher gave us a trip down memory lane and we’re not complaining, in fact, quite the opposite. So pick up a 2-4- of Coors Light, and let’s continue to raise a toast to yet another iconic Super Bowl halftime show and for the rest of February. Cheers!
Football - NFL - Super Bowl LVIII - Half-Time Show - Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States - February 11, 2024 Usher performs during the halftime show REUTERS/Brian Snyder
