You know you’ve made it as an A-list music star when the NFL invites you to perform during the Super Bowl Halftime Show.
In the past few years alone, massive names including Bruno Mars, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry have all wowed with their performances, but there have been a fair few shocking moments along the way.
This year, all eyes will be on Maroon 5, not least because their choice to take the gig in 2019 was a controversial one, and while we await what’s in store, we’re counting down 10 of the biggest Super Bowl shockers from past performances...
10. Blackout Bowl (2013)
This shocking moment didn’t come during Beyoncé’s Halftime Show but shortly after it, with the football game that followed (snooze…) having to suspend play for a full 34 minutes due to a power outage.
Obviously, the power of the Queen Bey is so strong, it can even plunge an entire stadium into darkness. Bow down, bitches.
Watch the full performance here.
9. #LeftShark Bowl
Not the first person you think of when it comes to great live performers, but Katy Perry proved a massive point when she really brought it at the Super Bowl.
Over the course of her Halftime Show, Katy entered atop a giant lion, floated through the air while singing ‘Firework’, introduced Missy Elliott and convincingly rocked out to ‘I Kissed A Girl’ with Lenny Kravitz.
And yet… the next day all anyone seemed to want to talk about was the ‘Left Shark’ incident, when one of her dancers lost their way in the middle of a routine, while dressed as a shark.
It’s a pity, really, because Katy’s was one of the most impressive and elaborate Super Bowl shows of the 2010s.
But also… what was that shark doing?!
Watch the full performance here.
8. Prince Bowl (2008)
Nobody would question that Prince is one of the greatest live performers of the modern era, but he really proved this at the 2007 Super Bowl. As well as covering tracks by Queen, Foo Fighters and Bob Dylan, he effortlessly performed his own songs ‘Let’s Go Crazy’ and ‘Baby I’m A Star’.
He closed the show with a version of his signature hit, ‘Purple Rain’, made all the more literal by the downpour that accompanied it, the shocker being that Prince still managed to retain his cool throughout. What a man.
Watch the full performance here.
7. Gaga Bowl (2017)
Known for making a statement in some way or another whenever she performs live, we were curious to see how Lady Gaga would kick things off when given the massive platform of the Super Bowl Halftime Show.
And really, what better way is there to make an entrance than a pre-recorded patriotic tune sung from the top of a stadium, before leaping off it to perform your hits on the field below?
Watch the full performance here.
6. Madonna Bowl (2012)
There were plenty of shockers during Madonna’s Super Bowl show (one of which we’ll get to a bit later on in this list).
Her entrance? Iconic. Her guest performers? Alarming. Her choreo? Near perfect, even if she did trip just a little bit while shuffling with LMFAO.
Luckily, this would be the last time Madonna ever had to worry about a slip-up on live television.
Watch the full performance here.
5. Jacko Bowl (1993)
Michael Jackson’s entrance to the Super Bowl remains one of his best live performance moments. Yes, he nailed his choreography and put on an elaborate show packed with as many hits as he could squeeze into 12 minutes.
But walking on and just standing, soaking up the stadium audience’s applause for a full minute and a half while doing precisely nothing is something only the King of Pop could get away with.
MJ was one of the first pop stars to ever grace the Super Bowl Halftime stage, but he went down so well, producers have kept it up pretty much ever since.
Watch the full performance here.
