Where is the love? A Super Bowl halftime review
February 18, 2026 1:53 PM
The Super Bowl halftime show over the years has gained the reputation of a not-to-miss live music performance of the year, rivaling the hype of award shows like the Grammys.
Fans often anticipate a full on showcase of the best the music industry has to offer. “So what the hell happened this year?” was the sentiment that was echoed by many immediately following this year’s performance.
For the millions of people who only tune in to watch the halftime show and could care less about the game itself, it was a major let down, and arguably caused the most negative feedback since the infamous Janet Jackson/ Justin Timberlake scandal.
This year’s performance featured The Black Eyed Peas, with cameos from Usher and guitarist legend of Guns N’ Roses fame, Slash. While Usher and Slash were met with neutral to positive reviews, it was the peas who drew all the negative reviews from critics and fans alike.
The show kicked off with the group descending from the roof to the beginning of “I Gotta Feeling” followed by a somewhat awkward transition into “Boom Boom Pow”. This began to expose what some who have gone to a live show of the Black Eyed Peas may have already known. Without the assistance of auto tune and studio enhancement, the Black Eyed Peas struggle to maintain strong vocals during a live performance, and often sound strained and out of tune.
After the first two numbers, as if sent as an act of mercy, Slash ascended from beneath the stage. Despite the classic guitar riffs we all know and love, Fergie’s rendition of “Sweet Child O’ Mine”, while valiant, was doomed to be compared to the original sound of Axl Rose’s falsetto, and just did not match up.
Praise was given to the artistic direction for the halftime show, in contrast to the performances. The stage, costumes, lights, and sound seemed to be taken directly from the recent big budget film Tron: Legacy. It set a visually interesting and technologically modern atmosphere full of energy.
Many viewers praised the numerous glowing dancers surrounding the stage, dancing complex choreography to each new song. However, the constantly flashing lights did not manage to mask the noise coming from the Black Eyed Peas.
Usher definitely stepped up the show with his and Will.I.Am’s mega hit “OMG”. With dance moves reminiscent of Michael Jackson, it harkened back to 1993 when Jackson himself took the stage, in a performance that forced artists to this day to try and top the standard he set.
Despite Usher making the female fans swoon, it was not enough to dispel their frustrations.“People get so distracted by the lights and the “coolness” of the show that they don’t care about the talent. It is really hard to find a purely talented group in the main spot light anymore,” said Natalie Goodine, a first year science student.
The show began to wind down with their first mainstream hit “Where is the Love”. Many viewers said the song lost its tenderness and message in the live version, with Fergie yelling the lyrics, appearing to be enraged.
It should also be noted that the lyrics of the song were changed for the performance, referencing today’s economic situation the U.S. and President Barack Obama.
The closing number, “The Time (Dirty Bit)” was arguably the most impressive and entertaining of the night, if for nothing more than seeing all of the dancers surrounding the stage and the peas stepping in perfect synchronization.
Following the disappointing show, and the conclusion of a satisfying football game for all the people who tuned in to actually watch the game, many took refuge in the performances of the cast of Glee. It could be argued that they offered the best vocals of the evening. Along with Christina Aguilera’s, Star Spangled Banner fiasco, the 2011 Super Bowl will most certainly be remembered for its music, but for all the wrong reasons.
