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Highlights on Off The Ball
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Take a look back at some of the best half-time shows the Super Bowl has ever seen

The biggest day on the NFL calendar takes place on Sunday evening as Denver Broncos get set to fa...



Take a look back at some of th...
Golf

Take a look back at some of the best half-time shows the Super Bowl has ever seen

The biggest day on the NFL calendar takes place on Sunday evening as Denver Broncos get set to face Carolina Panthers in the Levi's Stadium.

While American Football fans will be focusing on the game, the half-time show will appeal to all, and has become a huge cultural even in its own right. Even those with very little knowledge of the sport will check in to see how this year's act will shape up in comparison to those who preceded them.

Although this year's show features the pure star power of Coldplay and Beyonce, as well as Bruno Mars, things have come a long way since the days of the University of Arizona State Symphonic Marching Band and trumpeter Al Hirt entertaining the crowd during the break at Super Bowl I.

For a long time it was simply marching bands and performers, even the Up With People educational organisation even have the honour of having been the star attraction for several half-time shows.

However, once it became clear that a star name would make people tune in throughout the half-time break (and earn some ad revenue) they never looked back, starting with Michael Jackson putting on a show in 1993 at the Rose Bowl.

Katy Perry's show will be remembered mainly for 'left shark', of course, but the performance itself wasn't all that bad.

While some people (the Off The Ball team) are still not convinced, Bruno Mars stole the show just two years ago with a virtuoso performance including a spell on the drums, up tempo hits and his signature dance moves.  

 Queen Bey slayed, and even had a mini Destiny's Child reunion along the way.

The NFL played it safe for a good few years in a row, picking superstar acts that had songs that middle America knew off by heart. That's no insult to Tom Petty, as he produced one of the best half-time shows in recent memory.

Ireland's own U2 even booked the biggest gig in the world, making a true spectacle of the occasion, as you might expect.

Given that he will be rocking Croke Park in May, there was no way The Boss could be left off this list. 

Back in 2001, there was no bigger act on the planet than Britney Spears, who graced the Super Bowl with her presence along with Aerosmith and N'Sync in some sort of unholy triumvirate of pop rock power.

Booking the Rolling Stones was a no-brainer for the NFL, and they absolutely brought he house down. 

Of course, then there was Prince playing 'Purple Rain' in the rain.

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