Lady Gaga Set to Slay at Super Bowl LI

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Art credits to Nicole Zhu!

Keri Zhang ’17, Entertainment Editor

Super Bowl halftime shows are a spectacle and Lady Gaga is no stranger to spectacle. Lady Gaga has been handpicked by the NFL to headline the 2017 Super Bowl halftime show on February fifth. At last year’s Super Bowl, Gaga performed the national anthem spectacularly in front of millions.

On Twitter, Gaga herself confirmed the rumors of her show, announcing, “It’s not an illusion! The rumors are true. This year’s Super Bowl goes Gaga!” Referencing her new single, “Perfect Illusion,” Lady Gaga sent fans into a flurry of excitement. Lady Gaga’s return, marked by her newly released album Joanne and the coming Super Bowl, makes 2017 a busy year for the singer.

Last year, Lady Gaga, a purveyor of high drama, surprised Super Bowl viewers with her simple, elegant performance of the national anthem. This year will be Gaga’s chance to headline and to shine, as she inherits the stage from predecessors such as Coldplay and Beyonce.

Halftime shows are serious work and result in elaborate performances that are talked about for years after they happen. Timmy Morrow ’17 enthusiastically relates, “I always love all the crazy choreography and how they utilize the entire field. So, being a classical musician, I guess it’s kind of surprising that I would say I enjoy the halftime show very much!”

Good performances can skyrocket careers, such as Bruno Mars’ performance did, and allow performers to reach greater audiences. The show has always been about star power and the ability to perform.

Super Bowl performances also have the potential to be entertaining online as well, as millions of memes and reviews circulate online afterwards. Shaheer Rizwan ’17 names one of his favorite Super Bowl performances: “I have always enjoyed Katy Perry’s music, but the presence of left shark really made that [Super Bowl] show memorable.”

Regardless of their opinions about Gaga, millions will be watching Gaga as she takes one of the world’s largest stages.

Jasmine Yi ’19 adds, “Honestly, I figured it would have happened sooner. I don’t dislike Lady Gaga, so good for her.”

Hopefully Gaga, infamous for her performances, can wow the critical and meme-making audiences of the Super Bowl. She definitely will keep people talking as she performs. One thing’s for certain: her Super Bowl performance will be one to watch.