The Super Bowl is just days away, and the vast majority of the western world is more concerned with the half-time entertainment than the actual sporting occasion (sorry NFL fans, but it's true.)
It's hard to say whether anything controversial or remotely exciting will happen during Coldplay's set, but we can predict with a degree of confidence that everything will go drearily according to plan.
However, there's no reason that we can't look back on some of the best moments – musical or otherwise – from the past Super Bowl halftime shows. From 1991, the focus turned from marching bands to pop acts, so there are 24 years of entertaining moments to choose from – but see the best 8 below:
1. NIPPLEGATE (2004)
Let's face it. Even ahead of all of the great, timeless musical acts who have played the Super Bowl halftime show – from The Rolling Stones to The Who – the first thing most people think of is 'Nipplegate'. There is undoubtedly some truth to the fact that the boob (sorry) by Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson was staged, particularly since it happened directly before the line 'Better have you nekkid by the end of this song', but still – it was kinda funny.
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2. LEFT SHARK (2014)
Who would have thought that Katy Perry would have been upstaged by an errant dancer in a shark costume? That's not to take away from Perry's show, which, let's face it, was pretty spectacular. But all anyone could talk about, despite a bonus appearance from Missy Elliott, was Left Shark. People got Left Shark tattoos. People dressed up as Left Shark for Halloweeen, ten months later. It was Left Shark mania there for a while.
Jackson's performance in 1993 was allegedly one of the most-watched TV events in American history, and although NKOTB had performed in 1991 and Gloria Estefan in 1992, it was The King of Pop's show the following year that changed everything and laid the groundwork for the mega-shows that were to follow, however. He played 'Jam', 'Billie Jean', 'Black or White', 'We Are the World' and 'Heal the World', FYI. And yes, he moonwalked.
Destiny's Child split in 2006 and Beyoncé subsequently went on to become one of pop's biggest solo stars – so it was pretty unlikely that they'd be reforming at any point. Why bother? However, during her 2013 show, and after playing five of her own songs, she brought former bandmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams out for 'Bootylicious' and 'Independent Women Part 1', and it was prettaaayyy great.
It was inevitable that a band as big as U2 would play the halftime show at some point, and they got their chance in 2002 – when the theme was a tribute to those who died in the 9/11 attacks. Bono and co. played 'Beautiful Day', 'MLK' and 'Where the Streets Have No Name', and it went down pretty successfully.
The Purple One has been moderately reclusive over the years, but he got his chance to shine in 2007 when he didn't have to share a bill with anyone other than a marching band from Florida's A&M University. He played a set that included covers of 'Proud Mary' and 'All Along the Watchtower' and culminated in an epic version of 'Purple Rain'.
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7. BLACK EYED PEAS (2011)
This one makes the list for an entirely different reason. There have been some unusual collaborations over the years during the halftime show (see also: Shania Twain/No Doubt/Sting in 2003), but whoever thought putting Black Eyed Peas, Usher and Slash on a stage together was out of their tiny minds. Fergie's unholy, screeched version of 'Sweet Child o' Mine' with Slash was wrong on so many levels. Apologies for bringing it up again.
We're still not sure where we stand on this one, but it's memorable, at least. Two-hit wonders LMFAO were grand for a while, but where are they now? Will they be best remembered for miming their way through this show with Madge on their shoulders? 2012 was a ridiculous melange of sounds and styles, with the likes of Cee Lo Green, Nicki Minaj, Cirque du Soleil, several marching bands and a 200-person choir all popping up at various points. Generally, it was like a big bowl filled with ten different desserts – you think it might be interesting to try, but it just ends up making you feel sick.
