My concert tickets for The Weeknd sitting in my back pocket might make me a little biased, but his Super Bowl performance was a knock-out.
Although I’m a huge fan of The Weeknd, it was a shock to see him perform at the Super Bowl. Compared to past performers, he is relatively new to the game. He wasn’t put into the spotlight until 2015 with his album, “Beauty Behind the Madness.” Compared to past performers such as Shakira, Beyonce, and Maroon Five have been relevant since the early 2000s, this was a standout moment.
Not only did he perform a hauntingly beautiful set, but he also did it almost entirely by himself being the only halftime artist in years to do so. Besides a church choir in the background, The Weeknd made sure that all eyes were on him while performed songs from his first album to his most recent.
He channeled energy from each of his albums into one collective piece, staying true to himself. Incorporating elements from R&B, pop, and jazz into his set gave him a sound that reminds viewers of past Superbowl stars such as Michael Jackson and Bruno Mars. With his glittery red jacket and black leather gloves in tow, The Weeknd and Michael Jackson’s names started trending together, giving the audience a déjà vu moment.
Bringing on a new, “hip” artist may have been a risk for the Superbowl, but I believed it paid off. Despite The Weeknd’s trend of songs referencing sex, drugs, and partying, he kept the show surprisingly PG.
One of the most memorable parts of the performance was the choir hiding between the set of a fabricated city, giving a haunting twist to many of The Weeknd’s greatest hits. The Weeknd then took the camera into his own hands, taking the audience on a dizzying trip through an array of golden lights that resembled a mirror maze at a carnival. The final set that defined the show was when he took to the field with a hundred background dancers, all masked and clad in his customary red suit. Here, he performed “House of Balloons” which quickly morphed into his newest hit, “Blinding Lights,” which was where his performance came to a close.
Living through a pandemic is a strange situation with COVID, especially for the entertainment industry. Despite the challenges, The Weeknd performed a show to remember. Seeing the performance tonight made many fans reflect on his past, watching him evolve from a homeless high school dropout to a superstar just within a decade. After watching his show, I will be sure to keep my tickets for his 2022 show and am excited to see what other performances he has to come.
Dani Moore can be reached at [email protected].