Why Justin Timberlake is a good choice for the Super Bowl LII Half-time Show
There are very few pop artists who have a successful career spanning across many years. Those who do are some of the best entertainers the world has ever seen. Elton John and George Michaels are just a few of the names that have celebrated over fifty years of success. Another name that is bound to join this list in a few years’ time is ‘Justin Timberlake’. The “Can’t Stop the Feeling” performer first became an international superstar as a member of the hit 90s’ boyband NSYNC. Together, the five-piece ensemble produced hit singles such as “Bye Bye Bye” and “It’s Gonna Be Me” which slowly turned them into the voice of the generation. After the group parted ways, Timberlake went on to develop an exceptional solo career as a singer, songwriter, actor as well as producer.
He is one of the most highly paid entertainers of the decade and performs in some of the key music events of the year. In 2018, he is returning to the Super Bowl Half-time stage for a third time, this time performing solo. While many artists and bands are favored for this key sporting event’s entertainment roster, Justin Timberlake has been chosen amongst all others by the NFL. Here are all of the reasons why Justin Timberlake is a good choice for the Super Bowl LII Half-time Show.
1. He is not new to the Half-time Show
Justin Timberlake is one of the few performers who have been asked back by the NFL. Other such artists include Beyonce (Queen B herself), Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars and the late-great Michael Jackson. In his first performance, Timberlake shared the stage with Aerosmith, Britney Spears and Mary J. Blige as well as his own band, NSYNC. Over 84.3 million viewers watched this show while more than 70,000 people were in attendance.
Timberlake’s second Super Bowl appearance was in 2004. He performed a cameo and short duet with pop legend Janet Jackson. This performance was viewed by over 143 million people and has remained one of the most talked about half-time shows in Super Bowl history.
2. Redemption for the NFL
In the 2004 Half-time Show, the two singers performed a duet of Timberlake’s “Rock Your Body” which was admired by the live audience present there. However, this particular performance became controversial because of an accidental wardrobe malfunction in the end involving both the artists. As the content was broadcasted live, the viewers were greatly upset by this and CBS, the broadcast network, had to pay a heavy fine for this slip-up. This controversy has become important in broadcast history as it led to the five-second delay rule in live shows.
In recent years, the controversy has also painted the NFL in a negative light. Instead, of acknowledging the incident as a mistake, the NFL pinned the blame on the performers and demanded public apologies from them.
For years, it was thought that either of the artists would never be allowed back on the half-time stage. The NFL was also accused by fans and sports forums for victim-shaming. These rumors have been put to rest with the announcement of the 2018 Half-time Show. While many believe this was a long time coming, others think that a Janet Jackson cameo will bring the controversy full circle.
3. An Endless number of hits
“Rock Your Body”, “Can’t Stop the Feeling”, “SexyBack” and “Cry Me a River” are just some of the hit songs in Justin Timberlake’s discography. All of his solo studio albums have gone platinum at least once according to the RIAA. Even his soundtrack album for the movie Trolls gained an RIAA Gold, with the single “Can’t Stop the Feeling” winning a staggering four platinum level sales.
Timberlake is a sensational performer. He has the ability to perform intricate choreography while singing live. This was evident in his performance of “Can’t Stop the Feeling” during the 2017 Academy Awards. The singer began his set from outside the venue and walked inside, backstage, onstage and then into the audience; all during the duration of this song. It served as a fitting opener for the show and set everyone in a celebratory mood.
The 2016 Eurovision Song Contest also marked a standout performance by the artist. Timberlake performed a mash-up of “Rock Your Body” and “Can’t Stop the Feeling” in front of an audience of thousands effortlessly. The show was viewed by over 200 million people worldwide and the pop star’s set became a massive hit. Therefore, there is no question that Justin Timberlake is more than equipped to handle large crowds such as those expected at the 2018 half-time show.
4. He is a seasoned collaborator
Months in advance of Super Bowl LII, people have begun speculating as to who will make appearances alongside Timberlake in the Half-time show. Although the organizers have mentioned that this halftime show will be a solo performance by the “Cry Me a River” singer, fans speculate that he will include many of his past collaborators in the show as well. Timberlake has worked with Britney Spears, Jay-Z, Drake and Chris Stapleton in the past. Any of these superstars could make cameos during the concert.
Having been a part of the industry for many years now, Timberlake has many friends from other walks of life. He announced himself as the half-time show performer in a video with Jimmy Fallon. Fallon is a well-known comedian, late-night host and impressionist. His friendship with Timberlake is well known as well. Many fans believe that Jimmy Fallon could play a part in the concert.
The singer has also been a recurring guest on Saturday Night Live and is friends with many of the comedians on it. Kristen Wig, Bill Hader or Kate McKinnon could easily appear during this show.
All of these points prove that Justin Timberlake is more than equipped and experienced for the job at hand. He has successfully done it before; repeatedly wowed large audiences during other live performances and proven himself as a versatile and valued entertainer for over two decades now. Therefore, one can be assured that the Super Bowl LII Half-time show has every chance of being the best one yet.
