Madonna Pulls It Off, M.I.A. Flashes Middle Finger: Best Super Bowl Halftime Show Ever?

by SodaHead Slideshows Posted February 06, 2012 14:45:40

Related Topics: Madonna Half Time Show, Halftime Show, M.i.a., M I A, Super Bowl Halftime Show 2012, Madonna, Middle Finger, Best, Super Bowl, Halftime Ever, Cee-lo, Rolling Stones, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Green, Band, Michael Jackson, Tom Petty, Boy, Performance, Nicki Minaj

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Madonna

Despite one little slip, Madonna is mostly getting raves for her Super Bowl halftime performance.

Madonna

Despite one little slip, Madonna is mostly getting raves for her Super Bowl halftime performance.
Michael Jackson

Jackson's legendary 1993 Super Bowl performance marked the first time the audience increased during the halftime show, which was viewed by 135 million Americans.
U2

SI.com ranked U2's 2002 performance as the best halftime show in Super Bowl history.
The Rolling Stones

The Stones' 2006 performance proved that Mick Jagger still has the moves -- but lyrics from "Start Me Up" and "Rough Justice" were censored for the telecast.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

Most critics loved Bruce’s 2009 performance, saying he delivered on his promise of a "12-minute party."
Paul McCartney

In 2005, McCartney was considered a "safe" choice the year after Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction."
Tom Petty

Some critics said Petty's 2008 performance was a little "soft," but you can't deny his all-"American" appeal.
The Who

Fans loved The Who's impressive energy and pyrotechnics at the 2010 Super Bowl, but some complained that the sound was off.

Madonna Pulls It Off, M.I.A. Flashes Middle Finger: Best Super Bowl Halftime Show Ever?

7,297 votes
Read all 267 opinions
Lightning Report View Results and Demographics View Demographics

	Madonna
	Michael Jackson
	The Rolling Stones
	U2
	Paul McCartney
	Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
	Tom Petty
	The Who

Loading Demographics... Click an icon to see demographic results Display unknown and private
	Madonna	1,565 votes	21%
	Michael Jackson	3,776 votes	52%
	The Rolling Stones	289 votes	4%
	U2	538 votes	7%
	Paul McCartney	296 votes	4%
	Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band	357 votes	5%
	Tom Petty	235 votes	3%
	The Who	241 votes	3%

Despite one little slip, Madonna is mostly getting raves for her Super Bowl halftime performance. She looked beautiful, performed hits like "Vogue" and "Like a Prayer" like it was 1990 again, provided amazing sets complete with ancient Romans and Cirque du Soleil acrobats and invited a few more current stars to make the whole thing younger and hipper.

However, one of those younger stars was responsible for the show's only significant "malfunction." During Madonna's performance of her new song "Give Me All Your Luvin'" -- featuring Nicki Minaj and rapper M.I.A. -- M.I.A. flipped her middle finger at the camera, forcing NBC to issue an apology.

"The NFL hired the talent and produced the halftime show," NBC said in a statement. "Our system was late to obscure the inappropriate gesture and we apologize to our viewers."

However, the NFL issued a statement saying M.I.A. had not rehearsed flipping the bird, so they had no knowledge of what she was going to do. "The obscene gesture in the performance was completely inappropriate, very disappointing, and we apologize to our fans," said spokesperson Brian McCarthy.

Nevertheless, the consensus seems to be that nobody puts on a show like Madonna -- especially when she has a little help from Cee-Lo Green and Nicki Minaj. From Madonna to Michael Jackson to U2, click through our slideshow and let us know: Who put on the best Super Bowl halftime show of all time?

+18

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Add a comment above

hereshopin February 06, 2012 16:54:33

Tom Petty

+16
You should really have an "other" category especially when you left Prince off the list

>> See Replies

naty.jacksonscruse April 28, 2012 22:12:11

Michael Jackson

let's go 4michael jackson he is the king of pop comon jacksonnatics

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DizziNY☮ RP ☮ 2012 ☮ April 27, 2012 11:20:00 (edited)

U2

I guess if you like the Illuminati

http://beforeitsnews.com/stor...

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Shae April 04, 2012 21:17:07 (edited)
DizziNY... to Shae April 27, 2012 11:11:54

Um, Jackson has nothing to do with how the Superbowl is today.

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luksis to DizziNY... May 06, 2012 06:49:19

+1
Um, he has. He was the first one of the big-stars who saw possibilities there. Other famous artists followed him afterwards.

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lucaina jackson March 24, 2012 09:02:36

Michael Jackson

michael e' il re!! e lo sara' sempre e anche se non c'e piu' ora noi fan lo faremo salire in vetta!! peerche' noi fan di michael siamo migliaia e migliaia un esercito !!

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NOEMIERAZO1 March 22, 2012 00:12:18

Michael Jackson

MICHAEL JACKSON IS THE BEST FOR THE WORD,I LOVE YOU MICHAEL JACKSON FOR EVER

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annette.early February 18, 2012 13:07:40

Michael Jackson

Madonna was great and I love her dearly but Mivhael was the best ever!

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Artemis February 17, 2012 22:13:35 (edited)

Madonna

Excellent. I doubt that most people can begin to notice let alone appreciate the symbolism used, and its utmost relevance to something like the sport of football, and the power of the holding of such a ritual performance in a packed stadium, broadcast live so far and wide. It's positively brilliant, and reveals that informed, educated minds together created this glorious tribute to The Goddess. Madonna was beautiful as Her avatar. The show was splendid and a wonderful expression of culture, of history and of human physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, technological and creative potential.

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hope February 17, 2012 19:30:11

Michael Jackson

+1
A performance de Michael Jackson foi a melhor de todos os tempos.
Sempre criativo e genial,o Rei do Pop brilhou intensamente.
A música,a dança e a mágica de Michael no palco é maravilhosa .
Nós amamos você,anjo Michael.

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shine_jackson February 17, 2012 13:51:44

Michael Jackson

+1
Michael Jackson is the best!
Madonna should retire.
She's embarrassing her fans.
Madonna forgot the magic of music.

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G K February 13, 2012 17:31:13

U2

Madonna had her "reunion" moment with this performance. It was great to hear some of her older tunes once again, performed live and updated a little. However, her newer work is crap in comparison. Her moment in the spotlight has passed long ago. Although I still prefer her to Lady Gaga, she's just not singing to the right audience anymore. Periodic performances like this are great, but stick to what made you famous Madonna... unless, you can really author something compelling and not that boring drivel you put us through.

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largo1 February 09, 2012 22:25:11

U2

Really it's a tie between everyone that I didn't have to watch

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Leah February 09, 2012 19:46:51

Michael Jackson

+2
He is a LEGEND! I <3 Michael Jackson :)

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Michaelene February 09, 2012 17:54:10

The Rolling Stones

The Stones are the best. Some of my friends were part of the performance. I would have been there too if I wasn't recovering from surgery.

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disclaimer February 09, 2012 16:04:56

Michael Jackson

+1
I'm pretty sure Madonna lip-synched her way through this one.

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PeterHenderson February 09, 2012 15:01:33 (edited)

Michael Jackson

+1
I'm not a Madonna fan but her half-time extravaganza reminded me of those Cecil B. DeMille biblical epics I remember from youth. I'm amazed she could remember the sequence of everything. The D-Day invasion was child's play in comparison. Of course it was intended as kitsch and it succeeded. Where I was watching people were in stitches at the absurdity of it all.

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Hebsi February 09, 2012 12:36:55

Paul McCartney

+1
How did Madonna get over 1300 votes? Were were those people watching? Perhaps they were distracted by all the lights and acrobats while Madonna just stood there pretending to sing. All of the other performances listed in this poll were WAY better than Madonna's.

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PeterHe... to Hebsi February 09, 2012 15:05:45

Ya know I personally think it would be a nice change of pace to ditch the smoke bombs and have high school marching bands. A little Twilight Zone trip into 1959. It would be refreshing, to me at least.

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the fuze February 09, 2012 12:07:32

U2

I thought the U2 performance was well thought out and a nice tribute to the victims of 911, and if I recall the focus wasn't on U2. Unlike the Madonna "Luv-Fest".

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jrtmanmd February 09, 2012 02:46:45

Michael Jackson

+2
She couldn't even lip synch a show properly!

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W E E D February 09, 2012 01:51:10

Madonna

+1
I <3 her...

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Krissy February 08, 2012 23:22:52

Tom Petty

+1
I love you too paul...XD

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Angus February 08, 2012 21:42:18

The Who

+1
Madonna was embarrassing. Reminded me of a bad Metamucil commercial. Poor lip sinking as well. Best part was when she was done.

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pies_Guy to Angus February 09, 2012 09:13:24

lip SINKING!!!???????? LOL! Duh!!!!!

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Angus to pies_Guy February 09, 2012 14:15:59

Guess you actually believed it was live??? LMAO

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pies_Guy to Angus February 17, 2012 06:54:33

it's lip SYNCH...NOT lip SINK....hahahahahahaha

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Angus to pies_Guy February 17, 2012 18:25:42

An it took you that long to research that? I was wondering if anyone would pick up on that. LOL

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ronbo February 08, 2012 21:14:47

Paul McCartney

+1
While I think Madonna is still attractive at her age, I,m not crazy about the image she projects onstage. She actually toned it down so as not to anger the NFL and it still came across as a little over the top.

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John Minatree Jr February 08, 2012 20:13:28

Tom Petty

+1
No one that lip synced 90% of the vocals deserves the best ever. I love Tom Petty, I loved the Prince on as well, but it wasnt a choice. The Black Eyed Peas one was by far the worst one I ever saw.

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American Nate February 08, 2012 19:08:48

Madonna

The Black Eyed Peas, The Prince, Bruce Springsteen, and Madonna.

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coach k February 08, 2012 18:34:45

Madonna

+1
i thought it was great

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Elton Joao February 08, 2012 18:30:36

Michael Jackson

+1
Madonna is Just Old and Dumb. Shes Not Important. Give Me 1 Reason!?

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Everi Mann February 08, 2012 17:49:14

The Who

+2
"Despite one little slip, Madonna is mostly getting raves"

Oh please, get her a crutch!
No one wants to admit they screwed-up voting for Obama either. Denial isn’t just the longest river on the planet Liberal; it’s thinking that her performance was worth even 10% the ticket price.

I’d almost rather see Cher hobble around the stage, at least she would sing LIVE!

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harry February 08, 2012 14:37:23

The Rolling Stones

+3
All the half time shows are great. Its hard to decide which is best. Frankly I have a difficult time remembering them from year to year. I like the Rolling Stones, but Madonna has a much better shaped Tookus than Mick.

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Pug For Huck February 08, 2012 14:27:38

Tom Petty

+1
Tom Petty and Paul Mccartney can put on a "show" without thinking they need to be outrageous or over the top. Madonna was a fail.

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Ruger February 08, 2012 13:46:27

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

+1
R.I.P Big Man.

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Greg Mynyk to Ruger February 08, 2012 14:05:23

+1
I voted for MJ, but ya gotta give Bruce props for flat out working his ass off that night!

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strawberry February 08, 2012 08:07:31

Madonna

Madonna's performance was good, but too long for a half time Super Bowl performance. Madonna should not have dominated the whole half time. A few good old fashioned patriotic American marching bands, sexy professional American Cheerleaders performing.in dazzling red, white and blue costumes would have added more spirit. Madonna's routine was out of place for a Super Bowl halftime performance. That black Egyptian, or Roman outfit, wrong place, wrong theme, wrong songs. Most viewers probably never noticed the finger flip.

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Chris ツ February 08, 2012 05:50:04 (edited)

Madonna

At least use a good quality version of the show

http://youtu.be/ROkhklj0ZGs

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