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Ranking the best Super Bowl Halftime Show performances

20. Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye, 1995: Other performers: Patti Labelle, Teddy Pendergrass, Tony Bennett: The Vince Lombardi trophy was stolen and Indiana Jones and Marion Ravenwood had to recover it while Tony Bennett and Patti Labelle performed songs in a fictitious “Club Disneyland.” This was the actual premise of the Super Bowl halftime show in 1995. Nineteen ninety-five! It would stand as most embarrassing moment in Indiana Jones history until “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” was released. It’s still the most embarrassing halftime show.
20. Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye, 1995: Other performers: Patti Labelle, Teddy Pendergrass, Tony Bennett: The Vince Lombardi trophy was stolen and Indiana Jones and Marion Ravenwood had to recover it while Tony Bennett and Patti Labelle performed songs in a fictitious “Club Disneyland.” This was the actual premise of the Super Bowl halftime show in 1995. Nineteen ninety-five! It would stand as most embarrassing moment in Indiana Jones history until “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” was released. It’s still the most embarrassing halftime show.
David James, AP
19. The Blues Brothers, 1997: Other performers: ZZ Top, James Brown: Before his groundbreaking work in According to Jim, James Belushi would further sully the family name with this cringe-inducing ode to New Orleans.
19. The Blues Brothers, 1997: Other performers: ZZ Top, James Brown: Before his groundbreaking work in According to Jim, James Belushi would further sully the family name with this cringe-inducing ode to New Orleans.
Lenny Ignelzi, AP
18. Phil Collins, 2000: Other performers: Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias, Toni Braxton, Edward James Olmos: The singers performed five songs. More than a decade later, I doubt Collins or Aguilera could name one of them.
18. Phil Collins, 2000: Other performers: Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias, Toni Braxton, Edward James Olmos: The singers performed five songs. More than a decade later, I doubt Collins or Aguilera could name one of them.
Sebastien Feval, Getty Images
17. Wynona, Clint Black (pictured), Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, 1994: Wavy Lays sponsored this halftime show, which is just about the most 1994 thing ever.
17. Wynona, Clint Black (pictured), Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, 1994: Wavy Lays sponsored this halftime show, which is just about the most 1994 thing ever.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
16. Chaka Khan, Gloria Estefan, Stevie Wonder, Kiss, 1999: Not even Gene Simmons and Peter Criss could save this “Celebration of Soul, Salsa and Swing” that featured Gloria Estefan’s second Super Bowl performance. (She was the headliner in the 1992 show that featured Brian Boitano ice skating.)
16. Chaka Khan, Gloria Estefan, Stevie Wonder, Kiss, 1999: Not even Gene Simmons and Peter Criss could save this “Celebration of Soul, Salsa and Swing” that featured Gloria Estefan’s second Super Bowl performance. (She was the headliner in the 1992 show that featured Brian Boitano ice skating.)
Mark Duncan, AP
15. The Who, 2010: The same people complaining about NBC cutting away from The Who’s Closing Ceremony performance at the Olympics were probably the same ones wondering why The Who was playing Super Bowl halftime 30 years after their prime.
15. The Who, 2010: The same people complaining about NBC cutting away from The Who’s Closing Ceremony performance at the Olympics were probably the same ones wondering why The Who was playing Super Bowl halftime 30 years after their prime.
H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAY
14. Tom Petty, 2008: One of the best Super Bowls in history (Giants-Patriots I) had one of the most bland halftime shows.
14. Tom Petty, 2008: One of the best Super Bowls in history (Giants-Patriots I) had one of the most bland halftime shows.
Streeter Lecka, Getty Images
13. Madonna, 2012: Other performers: Cee-Lo Green, M.I.A., Nicki Minaj, LMFAO, dozens more: The Material Girl was an anticipated headliner and could have put on a fine show if she hadn’t cluttered the stage with multiple drumlines, female rappers and former members of Goodie Mob turned reality-show stars.
13. Madonna, 2012: Other performers: Cee-Lo Green, M.I.A., Nicki Minaj, LMFAO, dozens more: The Material Girl was an anticipated headliner and could have put on a fine show if she hadn’t cluttered the stage with multiple drumlines, female rappers and former members of Goodie Mob turned reality-show stars.
Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY
12. Shania Twain, 2003: Other performers: No Doubt, Sting: This is the only performance we didn’t check out on YouTube. Shania’s outfit was memorable enough to land her at No. 12.
12. Shania Twain, 2003: Other performers: No Doubt, Sting: This is the only performance we didn’t check out on YouTube. Shania’s outfit was memorable enough to land her at No. 12.
Dan Macmedan, USA TODAY
11. Black Eyed Peas, 2011: Other performers: Slash, Usher: There was nothing cool or musically important about BEP’s performance at the 2011 Super Bowl. It was merely watchable and entertaining. Is that so bad?
11. Black Eyed Peas, 2011: Other performers: Slash, Usher: There was nothing cool or musically important about BEP’s performance at the 2011 Super Bowl. It was merely watchable and entertaining. Is that so bad?
Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY
10. Rolling Stones, 2006: The Stones got three songs from a historic, multi-decade career and they selected 2005’s mediocre “Rough Justice” to be one of them.
10. Rolling Stones, 2006: The Stones got three songs from a historic, multi-decade career and they selected 2005’s mediocre “Rough Justice” to be one of them.
Daniel J. Powers, USA TODAY
9. Motown Salute, 1998: Performers: Boyz II Men, Smokey Robinson, Martha Reeves, The Temptations: The NFL saluting Motown with a performance in San Diego is a little like Exxon saluting Disney with a performance in Toronto. Still, Martha Reeves and Smokey Robinson are awesome and so is “Motownphilly.”
9. Motown Salute, 1998: Performers: Boyz II Men, Smokey Robinson, Martha Reeves, The Temptations: The NFL saluting Motown with a performance in San Diego is a little like Exxon saluting Disney with a performance in Toronto. Still, Martha Reeves and Smokey Robinson are awesome and so is “Motownphilly.”
Gareth Cattermole, Getty Images
8. Paul McCartney, 2005: The setlist was strange ("Drive My Car," "Get Back" and "Live and Let Die" were featured -- what "Band of the Run" was busy?) but it's freaking Paul McCartney. He could have played "Chopsticks" and it'd still have made the top 10.
8. Paul McCartney, 2005: The setlist was strange ("Drive My Car," "Get Back" and "Live and Let Die" were featured -- what "Band of the Run" was busy?) but it's freaking Paul McCartney. He could have played "Chopsticks" and it'd still have made the top 10.
Roberto Schmidt, AFP
7. Bruce Springsteen, 2009: The worries that playing a truncated setlist would be difficult for a man who routinely plays three-hour shows were well-founded. The Boss takes 45 minutes to get into his groove. With 15 minutes, it felt too quick. It didn ’ t help that he threw an unknown new song into his four-track setlist. But if those are the downsides to hearing “ Tenth Avenue Freeze Out ” and “ Born to Run ” during the biggest game of the year, we ’ ll take it.
7. Bruce Springsteen, 2009: The worries that playing a truncated setlist would be difficult for a man who routinely plays three-hour shows were well-founded. The Boss takes 45 minutes to get into his groove. With 15 minutes, it felt too quick. It didn’t help that he threw an unknown new song into his four-track setlist. But if those are the downsides to hearing “Tenth Avenue Freeze Out” and “Born to Run” during the biggest game of the year, we’ll take it.
Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY
6. Diana Ross, 1996: The Motown superstar performed a medley of hits live, then helicoptered out of the stadium at the conclusion of the performance. Like a Ross.
6. Diana Ross, 1996: The Motown superstar performed a medley of hits live, then helicoptered out of the stadium at the conclusion of the performance. Like a Ross.
Ida Mae Astute, ABC
5. Prince, 2007: “All Along the Watchtower” into “Best of You” capped by “Purple Rain” was the best closing in halftime show history.
5. Prince, 2007: “All Along the Watchtower” into “Best of You” capped by “Purple Rain” was the best closing in halftime show history.
Jack Gruber, USA TODAY
4. U2, 2002: Five months afte the tragedy of 9/11, Bono was at his emotional, preening best when U2 paid tribute with “Where the Streets Have No Name.” It was great theater but odd timing; going from football to “Beautiful Day” to a scrolling list of the fallen, then back to football in a span of 25 minutes was disorienting.
4. U2, 2002: Five months afte the tragedy of 9/11, Bono was at his emotional, preening best when U2 paid tribute with “Where the Streets Have No Name.” It was great theater but odd timing; going from football to “Beautiful Day” to a scrolling list of the fallen, then back to football in a span of 25 minutes was disorienting.
Anne Ryan, USA TODAY
3. Aerosmith, ‘N Sync and Britney Spears, 2001: Scoff if you want (and we’re sure you will), but only one Super Bowl featured performers at the height of their popularity: ‘N Sync and Britney Spears in 2001. The joint performance of “Walk This Way” is one of the few memorable Super Bowl songs played over the past 20 years.
3. Aerosmith, ‘N Sync and Britney Spears, 2001: Scoff if you want (and we’re sure you will), but only one Super Bowl featured performers at the height of their popularity: ‘N Sync and Britney Spears in 2001. The joint performance of “Walk This Way” is one of the few memorable Super Bowl songs played over the past 20 years.
Eileen Blass, USA TODAY
2. Janet Jackson, 2004: Janet and Justin Timberlake’s wardrobe malfunction is one of the most famous moments in Super Bowl history (on or off the field), but we bet you don’t remember which song Janet and Justin were performing during the incident. (It was “Rock Your Body.” We had to look it up.)
2. Janet Jackson, 2004: Janet and Justin Timberlake’s wardrobe malfunction is one of the most famous moments in Super Bowl history (on or off the field), but we bet you don’t remember which song Janet and Justin were performing during the incident. (It was “Rock Your Body.” We had to look it up.)
Awout David Phillip, AP
1. Michael Jackson, 1993: MJ was in the final stretch of his reign as King of Pop -- sexual abuse allegations would hit later that summer -- when he shot onto stage at the Rose Bowl. There, he stood in motionless triumph for 90 seconds while 100,000 fans cheered and awaited his five-song set. Jackson started off with “Jam,” then went into “Billie Jean” and “Black or White” before closing with a mass sing-along of “Heal the World.” It was the birth of the modern-day Super Bowl spectacle.
1. Michael Jackson, 1993: MJ was in the final stretch of his reign as King of Pop -- sexual abuse allegations would hit later that summer -- when he shot onto stage at the Rose Bowl. There, he stood in motionless triumph for 90 seconds while 100,000 fans cheered and awaited his five-song set. Jackson started off with “Jam,” then went into “Billie Jean” and “Black or White” before closing with a mass sing-along of “Heal the World.” It was the birth of the modern-day Super Bowl spectacle.
H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAY
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