The Uncooked Expertise in Usher’s Halftime Present

Designing a Tremendous Bowl halftime efficiency is, in some ways, an train in sacrificial concision: Artists should whittle a long time of songs right into a crowd-friendly, roughly 13-minute reprieve from athletics and multimillion-dollar commercials. It’s no marvel that many units find yourself feeling like lackluster interruptions of the principle occasions.

However throughout tonight’s Tremendous Bowl LVIII halftime present, the veteran R&B singer Usher breathed life into the annual musical diversion. Only a mile away from the Park MGM Las Vegas, the place he spent a lot of the previous two years commanding his second massively profitable residency, Usher took over Allegiant Stadium with all of the panache of each Sin Metropolis and his beloved Atlanta. He kicked off the present from a mirrored throne—lest there be any questions concerning the 45-year-old’s standing in R&B and pop—decked out in a stunning monochromatic white and silver outfit. But regardless of the theatricality, Usher’s efficiency underscored the worth of his uncooked artistry. It was a rollicking, sequin-studded, sexed-up celebration of a singular showman.

The opener set the tone for the evening. “Caught Up,” the fifth and closing single from his 2004 album, Confessions, is the energetic lament of a newly reformed lothario and the sort of Usher observe that speaks to his core fan base: longtime R&B obsessives, who’ve adopted him since earlier than his mid-2010s flirtations with EDM. Together with 8701’s playboy anthem “U Don’t Should Name,” and the Confessions ballad “Famous person,” Usher signaled a transparent strategic selection. This halftime present wasn’t going to be a soulless tasting menu for the lots. As an alternative, Usher made his Tremendous Bowl efficiency really feel devoted to his loyal followers—which is to say, the predominantly Black listeners who’ve adopted his profession at the least since 1997’s “Good & Gradual.”

The present did incorporate just a few hits which have appealed to followers throughout many alternative demographics, together with the desire.i.am-assisted Auto-Tune bop “OMG.” However total, Usher’s present was notably mild on his high-octane collaborations with the likes of Pitbull, Skrillex, and David Guetta. Nor did he sneak in any tracks from his new album, Coming Residence, which was simply launched on Friday. Meting out with sure crowd-pleasers and avoiding new materials freed Usher as much as do what he does finest: carry out, with the sort of zeal and precision that audiences not often see on such an enormous stage. All through the present, he proved many times that his vocals are in exceptional kind—although he did a lot of his singing whereas dancing, roller-skating, or each. Whether or not backed by a full marching band or surrounded by a feather-clad, Cirque du Soleil–esque sea of dancers, he held his personal.

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One of many thrills of Usher’s halftime present was the area he carved out for his fellow musicians—one more reminder of his strenuous consideration to his craft. Within the area of quarter-hour, he introduced out a number of artists who helped create a few of his biggest 2000s and Nineteen Nineties hits: Alicia Keys eased into their saccharine duet, “My Boo,” by taking part in the piano and singing a part of her personal tune, “If I Ain’t Bought You,” which Usher briefly joined with a large smile throughout his face. Jermaine Dupri, the super-producer who was one of many foremost Confessions architects, made a quick cameo too. Later, an invigorating guitar riff from H.E.R. gave option to the crunk symphony of “Yeah!,” Usher’s indelible collaboration with Lil Jon and Ludacris. Flanked by skaters and pole dancers, the rappers channeled the vitality of their decades-younger selves—and of Atlanta, the town that each one 4 males name dwelling.

And in an period when many male musicians appear averse to invoking the unabashed romance and sensuality of their soul forerunners, there was additionally one thing pleasant about watching Usher lean into the apparent: He takes being a intercourse image very significantly. The moments-long gyrations and transient six-pack reveal included in a usually tasteful efficiency nodded to his consciousness that showmanship doesn’t start and finish with vocals. Generally, artists may be enthralling athletes in their very own proper.