Black Eyed Peas Super Bowl Halftime Show
Within minutes of the Black eyed Peas’ Super bowl performance, the Twitter runways were flooded with comments lambasting the groups’ performance. One girl went as far as tweeting
“I swear I heard more people talking about how much the Black eyed Peas sucked tonight than the actual game!”
All social networking enthusiasts seemed to have similar gripes with the performance. Everything ranging from the group’s odd space suit costumes, Will’s autotone, to Fergie’s horrid voice.
Well, we can’t defend the sound engineer or Fergie’s voice, but we thought the space costumes were pretty cool. It is no secret that the group draws inspiration from the EDM culture, and to me at least; the suits were reminiscent of something Daft Punk might wear, or an obvious nod to Tron Legacy.
Where the performance lacked vocally, it more than made up visually. The slew of fluorescent dancers surrounding the field was also nice touch, as well as Usher’s landing entrance. The group’s closing song, however, was the highlight of the performance. “The Time” is certainly their most club sounding song to date. When I first heard the “dirty bit” portion of the single, I could barely believe I was listening to the radio. It felt like something I would hear at Webster Hall on a Friday Night, accompanied by flashing lights, and hundreds of strangers manically moving to the beat around me; all subconsciously bonding over the love of the music.
The image I’ve just described is extremely intimate, and perhaps only a frequent club goer could really identify with what I’m saying here; but seeing that “dirty bit” section projected on my television, in front of the entire world on Super Bowl Sunday, was completely exhilarating!
Granted, that Dirty Bit club drop lasted a mere fifteen seconds, it was like a dirty little secret between me and the clubgoers was briefly being exposed to the masses. Ironically, I’m sure that hundreds of EDM fans around the world are hating on the performance tonight for the exact reason I’m praising it.
Whether you like it or not, there is no ignoring that the EDM we know and love is infiltrating the mainstream; from Britney’s Dupstep bridge in “Hold It Against Me” to Afrojack’s “Take Over Control”. The Black Eyed Peas took it one step further last night with their performance. We commend them for that, as well as doing something innovative on the grandest stage of them all.
As EDM continues to make strides across the board, it will only lead to more interesting and innovative collaborations in which all multi-media will adapt to the club aesthetic.
To all disgruntled EDM fans out there, word of advice: You better get used to it. Do not be surprised if you see a David Guetta headlining a Super bowl show in the near future. Side note, we really thought he was going to appear at some point during the performance.
very well written.
your articles are always a great read!
Thanks!
Can I ask why the absolute drivel that BEP put out is deemed worthy to be written about on a DANCE MUSIC website? Sure they rip off the best things about EDM and turn it into lowest common denominator trash but why do serious dance music publications give them the time of day. This crap will ruin the scene we hold dear!
Down with the Black Eyed Peas.
The sound of the devil.