During the Super Bowl Media Day press conference last week, Katy Perry hinted her halftime performance would be “flaming hot,” and it literally was. 
The pop star began her performance sporting a costume covered in orange and red glittery flames while taking the reigns atop a massive, golden, bionic lion. This grand performance of her hit “Roar” was only a precursor to much more to come during the halftime show of the historically most watched program around the world.
She proceeded to sing “Dark House,” while she shared the stage with metallic silver-colored human chess pieces dancing on projected computer graphics that made the stage look like a futuristic chessboard that moved and tilted from side to side. Lenny Kravitz was the first guest performer, and the duo gave viewers major “Hunger Games” flashbacks with the flaming hot costume, which seemed to be Katniss-inspired, combined with the man who played Cinna jamming an electric guitar version of the song that made Perry famous, “I Kissed a Girl.”
She changed out of her outfit of flames into a colorful, beachy crop top and skirt for the next hits, “Teenage Dream” and “California Gurls.” If I’m being honest, the hilarious singing sharks dancing behind the singer during the upbeat, sunny songs were about to overshadow the singer, UNTIL…
Missy Elliott came out and stole the show.
Missy ‘Misdemeanor’ Elliott looking like the OG she is. Photo courtesy of Flickr.
Last week, E! Online reported, Perry said during a press conference she put a lot of thought into who her second surprise guest would be, but it would remain a surprise until the event. However, she did drop a couple hints and said it would be a “female fun night” and “a bit of old-school.” My imagination went wild; who would it be? Britney? The Spice Girls? However, I never expected the surprise to be this good.
Personally, Missy Elliott is one of my favorite artists. Maybe that is the middle schooler still left in me, but to this day, I still blare “Pass That Dutch” while I’m driving. So, to say the least, I had a mild heart attack when she and her posse of mini-Missy dancers appeared on the stage. Mizz Misdemeanor started with “Get Ur Freak On” and followed with other throwback hits from the early 2000s, “Work It” and “Lose Control.”
This was a tremendously perfect decision by Perry, if I do say so myself. However, the excitement from seeing my long-lost hip-hop idol on the screen distracted me from Perry’s finale song, “Firework,” one of her biggest hits — which is Kim Jung Un’s favorite song, according to the controversial comedy “The Interview.”
The performance called for the pop singer’s fourth costume change into a silvery-blue starry gown, which she wore as she was suspended in the air singing into a microphone that resembled a Wii controller.
All in all, with a little help from Missy Elliott, Katy Perry’s Super Bowl XLIX halftime performance may give Beyonce’s 2013 show a run for its money. Maybe.
About Nicole Crites
