I never watch the Super Bowl; normally I could care less. But this year the NY Giants were playing and after their dramatic win to the 49ers in the playoffs, I was excited enough to watch the game with a large group of friends. I knew Madonna was going to be in the halftime show but she wasn't the reason I watched the game. But, like her or not, the production value alone to her halftime show put many if not most prior attempts to shame. She started the whole affair with several dozen beefy marching men dressed as Roman gladiators and had male and female dancers all over her ever-expanding and changing stage. It was so over-the-top that love her or hate her, it was one hell of a show. The group of people I was sitting with sat mesmerized, again for the stagecraft if nothing else. They have something like eight minutes to put it up, it was beyond ambitious and it seemed to go off without a hitch. And if it was anything like her concerts, Madonna was instrumental in how everything looked down to the last detail.
I wasn't surprised that there was controversy surrounding her appearance as Madonna always seems to court controversy. Some were upset that another female performer, M.I.A., flashed an offensive hand signal and screamed an expletive. Apparently the rapper was going rogue as she did neither action in rehearsal. What I have found depressing is how most of the criticism about the performance has been about Madonna's age. Well, weren't The Who, The Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney recently in halftime shows? Then I went and watched clips of previous performances and well, let's just say when compared to the Black Eyed Peas' appearance, Madonna looked like an absolute genius. Even the Rolling Stones played it extremely safe as it was just the band performing on a stage in the middle of the field. Which is their prerogative of course, as the original halftime shows were just marching bands.
I wanted to do an age by age comparison of the male performers who have also graced the halftime stage with Madonna. I know there were some critics who said the male performers were also a bit long in the tooth, but there is something about our society that holds women to a higher standard. Women can't be past a certain age, and if they are then they can't go to any extraneous methods to try to keep their appearance youthful. If she didn't get plastic surgery, people would say she looked old; if she does get plastic surgery, people will complain that she has had too much plastic surgery. It is just a blatant double standard as many of the male have also altered their appearance to stay youthful. Or maybe Keith Richards' hair is really still that dark, with no gray? I somehow doubt it. So here we go by the numbers, the ages listed represent the ages they were when they performed, not their current ages.
2012 - Madonna - 53
2010 - The Who - Roger Daltrey - 63, Pete Townshend - 64
2009 - Bruce Springteen - 59
2008 - Tom Petty - 58
2006 - Rolling Stones - Mick Jagger - 62, Keith Richards -62
2005 - Paul McCartney - 62
A person could argue that the men weren't trying to be "sexy" and that Madonna was trying to pull off sex appeal at 53. Well, I don't think most female fans of the men listed would agree to that, and I hardly think Mick Jagger considers himself a non-sexual human being. Not even close! He doesn't exactly just stand there and sing... HA! Or Bruce Springsteen, for that matter -- he is not exactly a monk when he is on stage.
Love her or hate her stagecraft or music, everyone is entitled to their opinion. But calling Madonna "too old" doesn't make a ton of sense, especially since she is a decade younger than most of the men who have gone before her. And if the producers want to keep with the age as a theme... Cher is closer to their usual performer at 65! Just saying... that would be interesting!
And just for a comparison... here is the Super Bowl performance of the Black Eyed Peas:
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I, for one, hope that 50 something celebrities keep getting in our faces. I have six years to go till I'm 50 and I'm counting on people like Madonna to stir things up. I do what I can in my own life, but I don't have an audience of millions-- and hot back-up dancers.
I think you meant you could NOT care less.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om7O0MFkmpw
Madonna whom I met years ago when she was dating Sean Penn and I was an actor doing an off broadway show,and Madonna he came back stage to personally thank me. Her stature was surprisingly small. Very. Very humble too. As an actor I can understand that she is requested play 'epic' because of her small stature in such huge stadium. Thats exhausting not to mention the singing. In addition to that she had heavy costumes and that huge gold head piece she had to wear in the opening. They have to be secure on her head however convenient enough for someone to take it right off immediately. (watch video) That's very very risky for her to pull off the headpiece could fall. She is more fit then most people are and probably more so than the women criticizing her. They are not secure with themselves-some unresolved issues that I don't care to know. Just trifle stuff. The women need to lighten up, look around. We're still having problems about owning our rights with what the Komen debacle. Madonna has a fantastic body. She doesn't drink nor do drugs. That says a lot. She could pull off what most women could not.If not then she has set the stage for future women performers. Look at Gaga
Madonna was fantastic. Unfortunately, she played it safe (possibly because of the NFL). I would've loved to see Madonna be Madonna.
Both of these might be some concession to an aging star trying not be an aging star. Not to mention the nips, tucks and botox.
I wish Tina Turner were still performingÂ. Her athleticisÂm, her raucous voice and sensuous body...now she would have been phenomenal a Super Bowl performer even in her 60s. Or Mick and Tina on stage together again like in LiveAid in the 80's. Yowsa!