By Sophia Sullivan, Arts and Culture Editor
Super Bowl LVIII had no shortage of musical performances and celebrity appearances. From the National Anthem to a spectacular halftime performance, to fairy tale romances, people from all over the world tuned in to watch this classic American event unfold on Sunday, Feb. 11.
To begin, rapper and singer Post Malone graced the stadium with a soulful rendition of “America the Beautiful.” He played the guitar as he delivered the lowkey yet passionate performance.
Next, country icon Reba McEntire was chosen to sing the “National Anthem” for this year’s Super Bowl. There was some controversy here in the betting world, however. She finished her rendition by singing “the brave” twice, leading to arguments over how long her performance was.
Nonetheless, most were happy with McEntire’s graceful rendition of a beloved sporting event song.
During the game, pop culture enthusiasts could tell you that there was no shortage of celebrity appearances. From Justin and Hailey Bieber, to Shaq, to Jay-Z and Beyonce it seemed like all of Hollywood had gathered in Las Vegas for this very moment.
Speaking of Beyonce, she was a bit busy during the game. She announced a new album title “Act II” in a surprise Super Bowl ad which shocked audiences.
Usher delivered a halftime show worthy of praise. He put on quite a show, complete with his popular songs like “Yeah!” which had the audience singing and dancing along, even from their homes. Usher’s dancing and roller-skating (yes, roller-skating) were also a stand-out aspect of his performance.
Astounding vocalist Alicia Keys joined Usher to perform a duet of “My Boo” with Usher, while Lil John came out to sing “Turn Down for What” towards the end. The star-studded show was certainly a highlight of the night.
Some people, particularly Saint Leo University students, were disappointed by the halftime show.
“I personally thought it was chaotic and all over the place. Usher wasn’t entirely the featured artist and there was no uniformity as far as the entire show went,” said Wren Chretien, a junior majoring in marketing.
“I was very disappointed,” said Kate Guilmao, a junior majoring in elementary education. “I really wanted to see Justin Bieber.”
What we did see, however, was the unfolding of a love story. Of course, you cannot talk about this year’s Super Bowl without mentioning singer songwriter Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce’s romantic embrace after the Chiefs won the game. Whether you love it or hate it, it is undeniable that their chemistry and passion for one another is almost palpable.
Overall, Super Bowl LVIII proved to be another cultural phenomenon and something that is uniquely American.
