For some people, the halftime show during Super Bowl Sunday is what they look forward to the most.
There is a lot of anticipation working up to these shows and people get excited since it might be an artist that has not performed in a while, the possibility of surprise guests, and getting to sing and dance with your family.
There have been so many amazing performances done by so many artists, but I will be doing a deep dive into the top 10 best halftime show performances.
Some of the categories of this rating will include the overall performance, how well the performer caught the audience’s attention, and the visuals the performance brings.
#10 The Weeknd (2021)
Coming in at number 10 would be The Weeknd’s performance in 2021. The weekend has many iconic songs that people love to listen to.
I wish that he had a little bit more energy and had possibly had a special guest to bring up the energy but it was still a great performance.
His visuals of the performance were great and his backup dancers brought a nice touch and the crowd did seem excited over him.
For example, when he sang the song “Can’t Feel My Face” and all the dancers had bandages on their faces, it added a nice contrast to the song and lyrics.
#9 Madonna (2012)
In 9th place would be Madonna performing at the 2012 Super Bowl with special guests LMFAO, Nicki Minaj, M.I.A and CeeLo Green.
This was not one of my favorite performances due to some song choices and special guest performances.
LMFAO did bring some energy to their performance and was exciting, but with Nicki Minaj, I feel I have seen much better performances from her.
The ending of Madonna’s performance would have to be my favorite part with the performance of “Like a Prayer” with CeeLo Green. It had an amazing vibe to it and the vocals were on point.
#8 Michael Jackson (1993)
In 8th place might be an unpopular opinion as some people might have ranked him higher but it would have to be Micheal Jackson.
Micheal Jackson is one of the most iconic artists in history but this performance of his was not my favorite.
During this time he did know how to get the audience’s attention and everyone went crazy for him.
My favorite part was when he sang “Billie Jean” and the crowd work he did with children’s drawings was cool.
The overall message of his performance was also very touching. Showing how much he cared for children around the world and also hoping for peace among everyone when singing the song Black or White.
#7 Katy Perry (2015)
In 7th place would be Katy Perry who performed in 2015 with special guests Missy Elliot and Lenny Kravitz. This halftime performance was truly a big stepping stone for Katy Perry.
I believe that this performance was very good, but definitely would not be my number one choice.
I can remember watching this performance with my family for the first time and being so intrigued watching her perform.
Katy has so many hits and there is a moment when Katy was singing “California Girls” and she asked the crowd to sing back to her and you could hear the whole crowd sing back to her which was another iconic moment.
I did not enjoy her special guest as much as I enjoyed watching her. But the beachy vibe of this performance was very cool for her visuals and she had some amazing dancers alongside her.
#6 Coldplay (2016)
The performance in 6th place would be Coldplay in 2016 with Beyonce and Bruno Mars. These performances had a lot of energy and the mix between the artists was awesome.
Coldplay had some amazing songs and the audience seemed to enjoy their opening performance.
Then Beyonce came with so much energy and brought the performance to another level. Her part in this performance was truly iconic and she knows how to grab an audience’s attention and her backup dancers were great as well.
Bruno Mars also played an important part in making this performance amazing since he has amazing vocals as well and knows how to perform.
#5 Lady Gaga (2017)
In 5th place would be Lady Gaga’s 2017 show. Starting her performance by being at the top of the stadium and then jumping down onto the stage was such a way to make an entrance.
One thing about Lady Gaga is her performances have a lot of energy and it does feel like a party. She started with “Poker Face” which I thought was a perfect choice to get things started.
The visuals, the stage, her costume, and the dancers were amazing. It is awesome what she stands for as an artist as well as prompting people to be who they are no matter what other people think.
My favorite part of this performance would have to be the part where she sang “Telephone” and the crowd was very hyped up by her.
#4 Rhianna (2023)
In 4th place is a more recent one – Rhianna’s show in 2023. This was a very exciting one for lots of people since we had not seen her perform in a while.
It was off to a shocking start with her showing off her pregnancy to the crowd which made it even more powerful since she put on a whole performance by herself while pregnant and suspended in mid-air on a small platform.
She performed many of her hit songs and had incredible backup dancers who had so much energy and added to the show she put on.
My favorite part was in the beginning when she sang “Only Girl in the World.” It is such an amazing song and her vocals were definitely out of this world and she put on an amazing performance.
THE TOP 3
#3 Jennifer Lopez and Shakira (2020)
Coming in 3rd was Jennifer Lopez (JLo) and Shakira’s performance in 2020 with artists Bad Bunny and J Balvin.
This was a moment for Latino artists to shine and with the location being Miami as well, there was so much energy behind it.
In my opinion, this halftime performance was able to show a mix of Spanish music and English music which so many people enjoyed that we had not gotten to see in a Superbowl yet.
All the performers were amazing and the audience was so into the stage. The dancers and the costumes of everyone participating were amazing.
Both Shakira and Jlo were amazing in the performance. They both put on a show and showed everyone they could do some amazing choreography.
I do wish we had a part of the show where Jlo performed “My Love Doesn’t Cost a Thing” in full, but we did get a pretty good mashup with J Balvin.
#2 Beyonce (2013)
In the number 2 spot is Beyonce’s performance in 2013 featuring her former Destiny’s Child members Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams.
Beyonce is just a performer that never gets old and she can grab an audience’s attention. In this performance, my favorite part was when she sang “Baby Boy.”
She is so fierce when it comes to her moves and when Kelly and Michelle came out, you could hear the crowd in the video. With all three of them, they played some of their best songs.
It was such an iconic moment since they were a big group in the 2000s. They set their performance together off right by singing their song “Bootylicious.”
Their vocals were amazing together and they sang some of their most iconic songs.
#1 Dr Dre (2022)
Finally, in what may seem like a controversial choice, coming in 1st place is Dr. Dre’s performance in 2022 which featured Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar.
This show had so many iconic artists and they all blended so well.
The beginning with Dr. Dre and Snoop Dog was what caught my attention. The energy they had together while performing could not be matched and the crowd seemed so excited.
When Dr. Dre and Snoop Dog performed “California Love” together it was an iconic moment. They rapped together so well.
Performing in LA at Sofi Stadium together made it even better. The energy in the stadium and on the stage could be felt through the screen. It was probably so exciting to watch them all perform together in person.
Mary J. Blige came out singing “Family Affair” which is an amazing song and she looked beautiful while performing with her backup dancers as well.
50 Cent started his set by hanging upside down. Then there was even more to come with Kendrick Lamar who had an amazing part as well with cool backup dancers who all were so in sync while dancing.
Lastly, Eminem came out singing “Lose Yourself” which brought even more energy onto the stage and the musicians in the back also caught my attention with their energy and excitement as well.
They ended the show by singing “Still D.R.E.” which is an awesome song to end off with.
This was one of my favorite performances due to the energy, the artists, and the songs they sang, and will forever be truly iconic.
Do you agree with this list? Who would be your top 3? Add your opinion in the comments.
