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Madonna Lights Up the Super Bowl

By Alison Schwartz

Sunday February 05, 2012 08:45 PM EST

Madonna Lights Up the Super Bowl | LMFAO, Madonna

Eli Manning and Tom Brady may know their way around the football field, but Sunday night, New England Patriots and New York Giants fans could take a break from taking sides to root for the queen of the (ever intricate) stage: Go Madonna!

The Super Bowl halftime show kicked off with a royal welcome as an army of gladiators escorted the veteran performer onto Indianapolis's Lucas Oil Stadium stage. With a diamond-studded gold crown, Madonna, 53, launched into her hit "Vogue" as the stage flashed covers of the iconic fashion magazine.

Next on the set list: her 2000 dance jam "Music." Joining her on the stage were the guys behind LMFAO – Stefan (Redfoo) and Skyler (SkyBlu) Gordy – who joined Madonna to sing samples from their hits, "Party Rock Anthem" and "Sexy and I Know It."

With a stage that was as flashy and glittering as her dance moves, Madonna then performed her new single, "Give Me All Your Luvin," with Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. – in full-on cheerleading uniforms – who are also featured on the song. (M.I.A. also gave the finger during her solo, an act that eluded the NBC censors.)

But the finale of the 12-minute performance was classic Madonna. With a hand from Cee Lo Green, she swapped her gladiator queen assemble for a glittering black robe to sing her 1989 hit, "Like a Prayer" (which she opened with samplings of "Open Your Heart" and "Express Yourself.").

Backed by a gospel choir, the fiery performance ended with a true sizzle: The stage burst into a cloud of smoke as the singer belted out the final note out of sight.

The final message of the show – "World Peace" – was illuminated on the stage.

"I'm going to come in halfway between the church experience, and I'm going to have to deliver a sermon that's going to have to be very impactful," she previously said of her nerves leading up to game day. "I have to put on the greatest show on earth in the middle of the greatest show on earth."

But the entertainment started earlier in the night as Blake Shelton and wife Miranda Lambert performed a duet of "America the Beautiful." And Kelly Clarkson powered through a rousing version of the "Star-Spangled Banner" before kickoff. (Watch it below.)

What did you think of all the performers? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Guest boytoyville

Most of the ones I looked at were positive. Except TMZ and USA today are trying to make a big deal out of MIA flipping off the camera. That was so stupid. I bet Madonna is pissed with her about that. The only damper on an otherwise perfect performance. I personally don't care but you know some people out there could make it a big deal.

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Most of the ones I looked at were positive. Except TMZ and USA today are trying to make a big deal out of MIA flipping off the camera. That was so stupid. I bet Madonna is pissed with her about that. The only damper on an otherwise perfect performance. I personally don't care but you know some people out there could make it a big deal.

Why,M.I.A.,why?? Madonna doesn't need this kind of controversy.

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Guest groovyguy

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/madonna-s-glittering-super-bowl-spectacle-20120205

Madonna’s Glittering Super Bowl Spectacle

Madonna packed some serious spectacle into her twelve-minute halftime show for Super Bowl XLVI. Ushered in on a golden chariot pulled by a phalanx of centurions, Madonna opened the set with her 1990 hit "Vogue," flanked by dancers dressed to match the set’s Roman-fantasia theme.

As "Vogue" segued into 2000’s "Music," break dancers dressed in white track suits took their place beside Madonna, along with a tightrope aerialist. After a brief interlude with LMFAO and a few bars of "Party Rock Anthem" and "Sexy and I Know It," the stage gave way to a troupe of cheerleader-dancers for Madonna’s brand-new single. "Give Me All Your Luvin’," from the forthcoming album MDNA, brought with it Nicki Minaj and M.I.A.

The high school sports theme continued as a drum corps marched onto the stage along with Cee Lo Green. The set veered briefly through "Open Your Heart" (reaching all the way back into 1986’s True Blue) and "Express Yourself" before settling into the opening chords of "Like A Prayer." A church choir dressed in black and white robes now took the stage to back Madonna and Cee Lo for the gospel-tinged 1989 anthem. In the final moment of the show, gold beams projected up into the sky as Madonna disappeared from the stage in a massive plume of smoke. The words "World Peace" appeared across the field in gold lights.

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Guest groovyguy

http://www.billboard.com/column/super-bowl/madonna-rocks-super-bowl-halftime-show-1006099552.story#/column/super-bowl/madonna-rocks-super-bowl-halftime-show-1006099552.story

Madonna Rocks Super Bowl Halftime Show

It's Madonna Louise Ciccone's world, we're just living in it. The pop icon took to the world's biggest stage to rock three-and-a-half older tracks and a playful new song during the Super Bowl halftime show.

Entering on a golden throne pushed by an army of dancing Roman gladiators, the 53-year-old singer started things off with her 1990 classic "Vogue." Around ten backup dancers kept the pace as she sauntered the scene in a head piece and black thigh-high boots.

Across the field flashed an impressive digital collage of Vogue magazines, in a nice touch of corporate scenery.

By the time "Music" revved up, she was down to four very acrobatic backup dancers on a bandstand. To the side of the stage -- playing the parts of "Hey Mr. DJ" -- were those party rocking dudes of LMFAO at which point "Music" began getting an infusion of the SoCal duo's biggest hits, "Party Rock Anthem" and "Sexy And I Know It."

Those with keen eyes may have noticed Madonna slipping a bit while she was atop the bandstand, but she quickly recovered with a smile.

Then came the new song "Give Me All Your Luvin.'" The track's two guest stars -- Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. -- made the trip to Indy and got wrapped up in the Rome/Cleopatra-esque concept. The cheerleader-themed track was a perfect pick for halftime show, no doubt.

M.I.A. may have caused a bit of controversy when at the end of her rapping bit, she flipped the bird at the camera while saying the lyrics, "I'mma say this once, yeah, I don't give a s--t."

As her new single wound down, a marching band made its way to center stage for a quick interlude of "Open Your Heart" with the big-voiced Cee-Lo adding soul. Backing tracks seemed to be dispatched of at this point and the two sang live until the end of the show, it appeared.

For the finale, Madonna pulled out all the stops with the perfectly picked "Like a Prayer." Her voice, strong and clear, was aided by Cee-Lo and a massive choir of backup singers in robes for the 1989 gem.

When the spectacle was over, the singer was released down an escape hatch of sorts and the words "World Peace" were blazoned across the field.

According to the AP, around 110 million people were expected to watch the Super Bowl this year.

It was Madonna's first time in the halftime spotlight for the Super Bowl and comes right as she debuts her single, "Give Me All Your Luvin.'" The track is off "M.D.N.A.," Madonna's 12th studio album and first for Interscope, which will be released March 26.

Before kickoff, country couple Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert sang a rousing version of "America the Beautiful" and Kelly Clarkson took on national anthem duties. It was a performance clear of mistakes, unlike last year when Christina Aguilera flubbed her lines.

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Apparently she did the fingers, I didn't notice I was focused on Madonna :inlove:

shush... this millennium, nobody should ever be offended by fingers anymore...

at least the whole world will agree this is better a bazillion times than last year...

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Guest groovyguy

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/05/madonna-halftime-show_n_1256265.html?1328493566&ncid=edlinkusaolp00000008

Madonna Halftime Show: Super Bowl Performance Glitters In Gold

Madonna did not disappoint.

The 53-year-old legend took the biggest stage in the world, the 2012 Super Bowl Halftime Show, and brought the house down. She dressed to impress, sporting a gold headdress, black thigh-high boots, a youthful pleated miniskirt, a black sequined robe and gold cheerleader pom-poms (not all at once, of course).

We died, obviously, to see that the opening number was "Vogue," featuring dozens of Vogue covers lit up across the stage.

Appropriately, Madonna didn't skimp on the high fashion, trotting around the multi-level stage in Givenchy Couture and Bulgari with little helpers M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj wearing Erickson Beamon headpieces. Her black liquid eyeliner looks flawless and her blonde waves were perfectly in place.

But despite the expensive threads, Madonna was her old self: turning cartwheels, showing off her bejeweled panties, writhing on the ground before Cee-Lo Green (in head-to-toe black sequins, natch) and making us all forget there was even a football game in session.

Girl's still got it.

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Guest groovyguy

http://blogs.montrealgazette.com/2012/02/05/madonna-triumphs-at-super-bowl-with-montreal-showbiz-savvy/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Madonna Triumphs at Super Bowl With Montreal Showbiz Savvy

She was hot. Madonna rocked the stadium in Indianapolis tonight, arriving like Liz Taylor as Cleopatra, launching into one of the flashiest acts I’ve ever seen anywhere. At the end she went pseudo-gospel with Like a Prayer then disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving a message for World Peace behind at the 46th Super Bowl. Nice touch. Amazing showmanship, thanks to the high-tech flash enabled by Montreal’s Cirque du Soleil and The Moment Factory. (Actually, there wasn’t a lot of circus, more dance, choreographed by Jamie King.)

After it was over, I checked to see how the reactions were going on Twitter. As was noted in this Los Angeles Times story, opinions were sharply divided, between love and hate. But what bothered me were the ageist and sexist comments, sometimes both. Why do so many people (men and women) attack a woman on the basis of her age? Do these people think they’re immortal? Or that they’re getting younger every year. Reality check. No one stays forever young. And those who burn up the tracks on stage while they’re here deserve admiration. And that includes Madonna as well as Mick Jagger et al.

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Guest astonishing!

I really doubt Madonna cares about MIA giving the finger..

Tbh I think it will have been rehearsed, a small amount of controversy never did anyone any harm, especially when it can't even be directed at Madonna!

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Guest groovyguy

http://www.celebuzz.com/2012-02-05/madonna-brings-down-the-stadium-at-super-bowl-halftime-show-photos/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Madonna Brings Down the Stadium at Super Bowl Halftime Show

Nobody does it like Madonna! The singer pulled out all the stops (and the hits) for the XLVI Super Bowl Halftime Show, even calling in some favors with her fellow pop performers.

From LMFAO to Cee Lo Green to MIA and Nicki Minaj, this year’s Sunday night show was one to remember. The 53-year-old Queen of Pop started the show with her go-to hit song “Vogue,” but that was only the beginning!

She jumped on the shoulders of one of the LMFAO frontmen, played cheerleader with MIA and Nicki, sang “Like a Prayer” with a full chorus and Cee Lo and danced around an unbelievable tightrope show.

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Guest groovyguy

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/super-bowl-madonna-halftime-show-287186?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Madonna's Super Bowl Halftime Show: What Hollywood Is Saying

"Two quarters of Super Bowl and the strongest performer is Madonna," said Alec Baldwin of the show.

Madonna took to the stage for her highly anticipated halftime show during Super bowl XLVI. Beside her were Roman soldiers, the duo of LMFAO and Nicki Minaj.

our editor recommends

The performance featured a stunning electronic stage and plenty or pyrotechinics. Her performance featured some oldies-but-goodies such as “Vogue,” and also her latest single "Give Me All Your Luvin'.” What did the entertainment industry think of her performance? Overall, reactions have been positive.

Project Runway judge Nina Garcia wrote on Twitter: “Madonna rocked it !! Loved her and the outfit was HOT. LOVED. My girl Nicki Minaj adorable.”

30 Rock star Alec Baldwin also heaped on the praise, writing, “Two quarters of SuperBowl and the strongest performer is Madonna...”

“You gotta hand it to Madonna. No apologies,” he added.

Paula Abdul wrote, "so happy for #Madonna 's triumphant #HalfTime show! :) @NICKIMINAJ & M.I.A. crushed it! @CeeLoGreen & @LMFAO added so much fun!"

Steve Martin wrote, “Congrats to Madonna for great spot, especially considering game has resumed during last three minutes.”

Desperate Housewives actress Eva Longoria wrote, “Madonna is amazing!!! Love her always! What a performer! All my fav songs!”

Rosie O'Donnell kept it simple, writing: “Madonna = perfection”

Rapper Snoop Dogg added: "Madonna killen the superbowl her show is soo fresh. Wowoowowowowowoowowowowowow!"

However, there seemed to be a disagreement between Sharon Osbourne and Piers Morgan. Osbourne wrote, "Madonna is back! She's the queen. Just sensational!"

To that, Morgan responded: "Queen of what? Lip-synching?"

The performance featured plenty of dancing and stunts by Madonna, despite her very high heels. Rainn Wilson wrote, “I wonder how much Madonna can bench?”

Seth MacFarlane commented on LMFAO’s contribution to the performance, writing, “The way they rhymed "Madonna" with "you wanna" was terrific. Just tremendous. And a bunch of times! Which was also great. Music is great.”

Ryan Seacrest also praised the halftime show, writing, “Loved the madonna performance, i think she nailed it. Great job by @LMFAO, @NickiMinaj, @CeeloGreen too.”

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Guest boytoyville

..Madonna Upstaged by Singer's Vulgar GestureBy Chris Willman | Yahoo! OMG – 2 minutes 15 seconds ago

....

EmailPrint.....

MIA on stage with Madonna at Super Bowl XLVI.You wanted provocation at the Super Bowl halftime show? Madonna chickened out, but sidekick M.I.A. was happy to oblige. She appeared to offer the tens of millions of viewers the wrong upraised finger--i.e., the middle one--instead of the gunshot motion that she does to accompany the bleeped-out "I don't give a s***" line in their new video, "Give Me All Your Luvin'."

[Photos: Super Bowl’s Biggest Moments]

This was the first controversy since the Super Bowl show featuring Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake and a high-profile wardrobe malfunction in 2004. Hemmed in by the Super Bowl's presumed insistence on a family-friendly halftime show, Madonna had nothing outrageous to offer herself, instead giving us the most guest stars ever packed into one 15-minute medley. With LMFAO, Nicki Minaj, M.I.A., and finally Cee Lo Green joining her on the 50-yard line, you half-expected to see Elton John putting aside their blood feud and showing up for a cameo, too.

[Video: Watch the Super Bowl Ads]

There were a full touring show's worth of costume and extras changes, too. First, with "Vogue," Madge walked like an Egyptian, with dozens of gladiators and slave girls who looked like an even bigger mass of extras than the bigger cast of thousands that almost bankrupted 20th Century Fox when they made Cleopatra.

Madonna performs at Super Bowl XLVI.Then came a medley of "Music" with LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem" and "Sexy and I Know It" on a bleacher set with a tightrope jumper for slight aerialist effect. Then the guest rappers--bumping hips, but not lips.

Finally, Pastor Cee Lo led the congregation in "Like a Prayer," as the video screens spelled out "World Peace"... the clear message we'd all been missing for the last quarter-hour.

[Video: Watch Pitbull Super Bowl Performance]

The staging was all so impressively cinematic on our new LCD megascreens that it was hard to believe the visuals weren't recorded in advance, too, along with the vocals. But will we still be talking about it Monday morning? Not likely, unless the sight of M.I.A.'s errant digit somehow inspires a few seconds of water-cooler talk.

What we're left with is the sight of Madonna looking unusually enraptured as she sang "I hear you call my name..." Which, of course, was not originally written to refer to M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj dressed as cheerleaders chanting "L-U-V...Madonna!" When an optical illusion made the entire football field appear to get sucked into Madonna's stage, it was the perfect metaphor for what this spectacle was supposed to be about.

But, minutes later, the crowd was back to givin' all its luvin' to the Giants and Patriots, having already forgotten their shoulda-been upstager.

By Chris Willman, Yahoo! Music

http://omg.yahoo.com/news/madonna-walks-50-yard-fine-line-between-spectacular--mundane.html

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Guest groovyguy

http://blog.sfgate.com/sfmoms/2012/02/05/video-madonna-rocks-it-at-half-time-show/

Madonna rocks it at half-time show

Madonna has still got it!

At Sunday’s Super Bowl XLVI half-time spectacular, the 53-year-old mother of four stepped out onto the stage in Indianapolis, Ind., and performed a 12-minute medley of hits that included her new cheerleader-themed single, “Give Me All Your Luvin,” along with old-time favorites “Vogue,” “Like a Prayer” and “Music.”

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Guest groovyguy

http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Showbiz/Story/A1Story20120206-326100.html

Madonna dazzles in Super Bowl half-time show

INDIANAPOLIS - Madonna on Sunday dazzled the Super Bowl crowd with an high-octane half-time show that started with an army of Roman gladiators and ended with a plea for world peace.

The glittering 12-minute performance at Lucas Oil Stadium featuring several guest stars had legions of fans racing to Twitter to give their thumbs-up, with some going so far as to declare it one of the best in Super Bowl history.

"Now THAT was a halftime show!" said @michaelsette7 of Toronto in a typical tweet of approval. "All hail the queen. Bow down everyone, bow down!"

Entertainment Weekly critic Ken Tucker agreed, calling Madonna's performance "joyous, unironic, open-hearted ... She was both in full command and full of generosity towards her massive audience."

With a new album titled "MDNA" out March 26, the 53-year-old Madonna teamed up with choreographer Jamie King and Canada's Cirque de Soleil for the most-watched musical interlude of any major sporting event in the world.

Her challenge was to redeem last year's dismal showing by the Black Eyed Peas, whose futuristic performance failed to impress spectators already put out by Christina Aguilera botching the lyrics of the US national anthem.

With muscular spear-wielding gladiators in gold marching onto the field, Madonna - styling herself as a Roman empress with a diamond-studded crown and kinky thigh-high boots - kicked off the show with her 1990 dance hit "Vogue."

She then shifted into hip-hop mode, bringing out breakdancers - and an impressive tight-rope walker - for "Music" from 2008, accompanied by electro duo LMFAO who sampled their 2011 hit "Sexy and I Know It."

Rap queen Nicki Minaj and irreverent M.I.A. then joined Madonna for the just-released "Give Me All Your Luvin" set to a "Glee"-like cheerleader theme, complete with golden pom-poms and marching band.

For the finale, Madonna rolled out her 1989 hit "Like A Prayer" with crooner Cee-Lo Green, a black-robed gospel choir and the stadium illuminated with thousands of tiny lights, concluding with the words "world peace" set against the darkness of the field - and Madonna disappearing in a puff of smoke.

Half-time at the Super Bowl has been one of the most coveted gigs in American pop music since the late Michael Jackson performed with a 3,500-child choir in 1993, but hit a bump with his sister Janet Jackson's infamous "wardrobe malfunction" in 2004.

"This is a Midwestern girl's dream to be performing at the half-time show," said Madonna, a Michigan native, prior to Sunday's show.

Performing the national anthem before kickoff was "American Idol" winner Kelly Clarkson, with country stars Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert adding to the patriotic mood with a duet version of "America the Beautiful."

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Guest groovyguy

http://www.chron.com/sports/article/Madonna-reigns-at-Super-Bowl-halftime-show-3055095.php

Madonna reigns at Super Bowl halftime show

Madonna showed us something during her Super Bowl XLVI halftime show that I don't think I've ever seen on her. Nerves.

The still-reigning - yes, indeed - queen of pop knew what was riding on this performance. A new single. A new album. Charges of irrelevance. (Haven't those been happening for the last, oh, 20 years?) Haters gon' hate, y'all.

But you know what? It suddenly, made her seem human amid the botox and bare arms. Madonna stresses out, too - as much as one can stress while vogue-ing amid gladiators and gold headresses. (And yes, that was a slip on the bleachers during Music. You try it with heels.)

But by the time she got to Give Me All Your Luvin', she was back in superhero mode. And yes, I dig the cheery new single (much more than 4 Minutes, the first taste we got of 2008′s uneven Hard Candy). Nicki Minaj and even M.I.A. - who offered a single-finger salute during her rap – seem to be having fun.

Was she lip-syncing? Probably. But the Super Bowl halftime show isn't about vocal prowess (and neither is Madonna). It's about spectacle, and Madonna brought it via A-list guests, visuals, dancers and a parade of her biggest hits.

Madonna has never been big on looking back, but this was a pitch-perfect mix of eras. A regal Vogue gave way to Music, and it's impossible to deny the impact the of pop classics Open Your Heart, Express Yourself and joyous finale Like a Prayer. An unexpected, but welcome, assist by Cee-Lo Green - in a sequined robe, no less - was likely a nod to the network's season 2 premiere of The Voice after the big game.

I've been party-rocked plenty in the last year and could have done without LMFAO. (Though the shuffling did make me smile.) But the Will Ferrell-esque tightrope bouncer was inspired, and the stage and entrance were pure pop Madge-sty.

And consider this: younger divas Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson have been relegated to weight-loss ads, while JLo and Christina Aguilera are clinging to reality shows for relevance.

But Madonna, whether you like it or not, is still here. She's 53, and she's making pop music. Deal with it.

Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton were unassuming and adorable on America the Beautiful (though someone should have just said no to her pink microphone and matching earrings). And Kelly Clarkson offered a solid take on the Star Spangled Banner ,which given recent travesties made it downright revolutionary.

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Guest astonishing!

is anyone else angry at M.I.A? Madonna needed this to be a controversy-free performance.I hope M.I.A's rude gseture doesn't turn into a big deal.

Won't her actions just draw more attention to the performance? Nobody can fault M for MIA giving the finger.

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Guest groovyguy

From the Chicago Tribune…

In the mecca of conspicuous consumption that is the Super Bowl, Madonna – the most material of all the girls – was right at home Sunday as the queen of halftime.

Wearing a winged tiara and knee-high leather boots, she entered like Cleopatra as part of a glittering parade, apparently on her to way to an S&M party in Ancient Egypt.

She strutted down nostalgia lane with “Vogue,” her vaunted dancing somewhat constrained, perhaps because of her high heels. She did sit astride another dancer, however, in keeping with the party “theme.”

By the end she was flogging a world peace message during the once-controversial “Like a Prayer.” If nothing else, the Super Bowl teaches us that even the biggest trend-setters and button-pushers tone it down and become acceptable eye-candy between halftime dips into the chili bowl.

She was accompanied by a cast of hundreds: dancers, drummers, tightrope-jumpers, plus pop stars LMFAO, Nicki Minaj and Cee Lo Green. The one outlier was M.I.A., a singer-rapper with the kind of underground resume unusual for Super Bowl halftimes. But if you turned away to reload on nachos, you probably missed them — each performer got only seconds of screen time. This was Madonna’s party and besides breaking off bits of her greatest hits to remind people of a time when she was the biggest pop vixen on the planet, she had important career-advancing work to do.

Madonna, after all, never does anything unless she’s got something to sell, and with a new studio album due out in March and a tour to follow, she had plenty on her to-do list. The Super Bowl has become the biggest stage for shills of all kinds, pop stars included, and halftime has turned into a 12-minute branding opportunity in recent years for artists brandishing new albums, whether Bruce Springsteen or the Black Eyed Peas.

“Give Me All Youre Luvin’,” the new song inserted into the set list, had a – surprise! – football theme, a techno take on Toni Basil’s 1980s cheerleader anthem, “Mickey.” The song was glutted with cameos by Minaj and M.I.A., who dutifully moved their lips along with the backing track being piped through the stadium speakers in Indianapolis. M.I.A. did manage to insert herself into the post-halftime chatter, however, by flipping a left-handed, one-finger salute.

Twenty years ago, one might’ve expected such rudeness from Madonna herself, but in a pregame interview she vowed no “wardrobe malfunctions” to match the Super Bowl scandal pinned on Janet Jackson a few years ago.

Madonna has never really been about “live” performance; her concerts are essentially theatrical exhibitions accompanied by piped in music. This performance was no different. But the song fell flat for other reasons – it just isn’t arresting in the way prime Madonna could be. Rhyming “Ya wanna” with “Madonna,” recasting herself as a cheerleader for a sport that she’s barely noticed in decades past – it was the Material Girl who couldn’t deliver the goods.

The National Anthem was notable if only because the performance by Kelly Clarkson was so straightforward. Unlike last year, when Christina Aguilera tried to make the song all about her and flubbed a line in the process, Clarkson gave a strong, dignified reading backed by martial drumming and a children’s choir. Not coincidentally, Clarkson’s rendition checked in at 1:34, a full 20 seconds more concise than Aguilera’s gymnastics exhibition. Clarkson’s anthem was preceded by Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert, who dished up dignity with a twang on “America the Beautiful.” Understatement at the Super Bowl – what a concept.

Read more: http://www.madonnarama.com/posts-en/2012/02/06/madonnas-super-bowl-halftime-show-draws-mixed-reviews/#ixzz1lZPbraDs

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Guest groovyguy

From AOL…

Life is a mystery. Everyone must stand alone. Except Madonna. Performing at this year’s Super Bowl halftime show, Madge rolled up with voguing Roman soldiers, old-school breakdancers, tightrope walkers, cheerleaders, a marching band and special guests Nicki Minaj, MIA and Cee Lo Green. She reworked some old tunes, played her new single and then disappeared into the floor, leaving us with the words “World Peace” spelled out on the field.

On ‘Music,’ the second song in the medley, she descended a set of bleachers with Adidas-wearing b-boys. Those pom-poms Madonna promised weeks ago surfaced during ‘Give Me All Your Luvin’,’ as did Nicki Minaj — replete with blonde wig — and the bird-flipping MIA.

Cee Lo then played the world’s hippest drum major, helping the erstwhile Material Girl sing bits of ‘Open Your Heart’ and ‘Express Yourself’ before donning a monk’s robe and assisting on the grand finale: ‘Like a Prayer.’

Toward the end, Madonna fell to her knees in mock rapture, evoking moves that, back in simpler times, had religious groups up in arms. In 2012, it was no biggie: She came, danced and vanished with a puff of smoke. It was slick and professional, but as far as tomorrow’s water-cooler conversation is concerned, Pats quarterback Tom Brady’s first-quarter safety might be more newsworthy.

If Madonna, once the ultimate pop provocateur, seemed a risky choice for the halftime spectacular, NBC sensors likely breathed a sigh of relief. Save for MIA’s middle finger during the brand-new ‘Give Me All Your Luvin’,’ Madonna played it safe. Opening with ‘Vogue,’ she writhed and gyrated as much as might be expected, at one point riding the members of LMFAO, but the whole thing was pretty tame.

Read more: http://www.madonnarama.com/posts-en/2012/02/06/madonnas-super-bowl-halftime-show-draws-mixed-reviews/#ixzz1lZPiaUZJ

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Guest groovyguy

From the Daily Mail…

She said she had to put on ‘the greatest show on earth, during the greatest show on earth’ and Madonna certainly didn’t disappoint.

The singer put on an impressive show during the halftime show of the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots.

She sang her way through classic hits Vogue, Music and Like a Prayer Music as well as performing her new song Give Me All Your Luvin.

While the pressure for her performance was immense Madonna appeared to rise to the challenge and avoided any Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunctions and appeared to only suffer one small slip-up throughout the show.

As she was strutting her way across the bleachers to Music, the second song in her set, she was unable to step up onto one of them and had to repeat the dance move to hoist herself up.

Aside from that trivial mistake the singer put on an energetic and fun show with help from LMFAO, Nicki Minaj, MIA and Cee-Lo Green.

The halftime show opened with a huge procession of Egyptian shoulders as the intro to Vogue began to play.

Behind a series of feathers Madonna emerged and appeared to be invoking her inner Cleopatra-cum Roman solider.

The singer was dressed in a pair of over-the-knee boots, a black dress by Givenchy with a golden Roman-inspired skirt over the top, and a short cape.

She also donned a golden headpiece custom made by milliner to the stars Philip Treacy.

She lip-synced her way through the hit 80’s hit as she strut around the stage with supersized projections be displayed on the stage beneath her.

As she ‘Vogued’ her way around the stage throwing angular shapes around with her arms Madonna paid homage to the magazine with graphics covering the floor.

Next up came Music where she took to the bleachers, and suffered her small slip-up as she danced her way down the steps with a group of gymnastic males.

As a dancer on a wire showed off his skills she hip thrust her way through the performance.

LAMFAO then joined her on stage and the song was mashed up with their hit.

Madonna was seen climbing onto the shoulders of one of the band before hip thrusting some more on the DJ booth.

With a rip of her skirt and a grab of some golden pom poms the show moved seamlessly into her new track Give Me All Your Luvin.

As well as a team of cheerleaders Madonna was joined by Nicki Minaj and MIA and the performances formed a triangle with Madonna at the head.

While the focus was clearly on Madonna, MIA appeared to want to cause controversy and was seen swearing into the camera.

As the lights dimmed a church choir was seen taking to the stage, giving Madonna an opportunity to don a floor-length priest’s outfit.

Cee Lo Green also donned a sequined ensemble and joined Madonna on an alter which raised up into the air as they sang Like a Prayer.

With the large backing choir behind them the show ended with a loving message, as Madonna disappeared under the stage the words ‘World Peace’ was written on the large screen floor.

Read more: http://www.madonnarama.com/posts-en/2012/02/06/madonnas-super-bowl-halftime-show-draws-mixed-reviews/#ixzz1lZPpJPJd

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Guest groovyguy

From USA Today…

The country’s most conspicuous testosterone-fest got a shot of female brass on Sunday night — though not the kind that some prurient observers may have been wishing for.

To cut to the chase, there wasn’t a wardrobe malfunction at the Super Bowl halftime show, but there was a naughty action by one of the performers … and it wasn’t Madonna. M.I.A., who joined Madonna on stage in Lucas Oil Stadium to help sing ‘Give Me All Your Luvin’,’ appeared to flip the middle finger to the camera as the song came to a dirty word, which she stopped short of saying.

But as you can clearly see in the photo above, instead of saying the word, M.I.A. “flips the bird” toward the camera – and the millions watching on NBC at home.

NBC was apparently late on its delay and allowed the act to be broadcast — at least in some areas. Some followers of @USATODAYSports on Twitter reported, however, that their screens went blank for a few seconds at that point in the show.

Read more: http://www.madonnarama.com/posts-en/2012/02/06/madonnas-super-bowl-halftime-show-draws-mixed-reviews/#ixzz1lZPvX3dO

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Guest groovyguy

From ABC news…

Madonna went over the top with the Super Bowl halftime show as only the Queen of Pop could, doing a sequin and gold-studded medley of some of her greatest hits — “Vogue,” “Like a Prayer” — and a couple of her newer songs.

The Material Girl pledged not to repeat the sins of her past pop star predecessor, Janet Jackson, and expose herself on stage. She succeeded in that, but there was one glaring wardrobe malfunction — she zipped a curly blonde lock of hair into the coat she wore for her final song, making it look like she had a mane of lustrous chest hair underneath all those sequins. M.I.A., the U.K.-born rapper/pop star who joined Madonna for “Give Me All Your Luvin,” did worse, though, and gave the entire Super Bowl viewing audience the middle finger, presumably causing the second-long freeze frame that happened midway through “Give Me All Your Luvin.”

The show began with a Cleopatra-like Madonna rising up from an army of gladiator dancers. Wearing what appeared to be 5-inch stiletto boots, she performed complicated dance routines without a flaw, most memorably when she did the “Party Rock” shuffle with the crazy kids from LMFAO.

M.I.A and Nicki Minaj guest starred, joining Madonna in a pep rally-esque performance of her latest single. Cee Lo stole the show at the end, donning a silver marching band helmet and a glimmering black robe to duet “Like a Prayer” with Madonna. But the back up dancers deserve the most praise — whether leaping over bleachers or jumping on a tightrope, they nailed it.

Read more: http://www.madonnarama.com/posts-en/2012/02/06/madonnas-super-bowl-halftime-show-draws-mixed-reviews/#ixzz1lZQ3s39w

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MTV.com

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1678567/madonna-super-bowl-46-halftime-show-performance.jhtml

Madonna Gives High Energy Super Bowl Halftime Show

Nicki Minaj, M.I.A., LMFAO and Cee Lo Green help pull out all the stops for elaborate show featuring Cirque du Soliel and high-tech staging

By John Mitchell

Madonna promised pom-poms for her Super Bowl XLVI halftime performance but she delivered a whole lot more, a high-energy spectacle packed with Roman warriors, Cirque du Soliel dancers, marching bands, cheerleaders and some very famous guests.

She made quite an entrance, that's for sure, riding onto the field at Lucas Oil Stadium on a throne dressed in full-on Cleopatra mode pulled by dancers dressed like Roman warriors. Decked out in a gold cape and massive headpiece with banners flying behind her, Madonna took the stage to "Vogue" as the song's title flashed among the images on the high-tech LED stage and amazing digitized field below her.

Cirque du Soliel's theatrical presentation and acrobatic dancing were apparent throughout, but never more so than during "Vogue," when the lavish staging met with tight choreography and Madonna sounding and looking great for an inspired spectacle and perhaps one of the biggest and boldest live performances of its kind ever attempted.

She displayed none of the nerves she'd uncharacteristically been copping to in the lead-up to the event, tearing through her hits with plenty of superstar swagger and hitting all her dance moves just right. She had a good reason to be nervous though: Sunday night's (February 5) game in Indianapolis was expected to be the most-watched television event of the year. Last year's Super Bowl drew over 162 million viewers in the U.S. alone.

Next up, Madonna and a team of dancers, now a bunch of Adidas-wearing b-boys, met on some light-up bleachers for an athletic take on "Music" that segued straight into dance-heavy remixes of "Party Rock Anthem" and "Sexy and I Know It" featuring guests LMFAO, proving that the 53-year-old pop legend can still keep up (and then some) on the dance floor.

The pom-poms Madonna promised surfaced when she lit into her new single, "Give Me All Your Luvin," along with a blonde Nicki Minaj and a, ahem, bird-flipping M.I.A.. That's right, the lone bit of controversy around the often provocative Madonna's Super Bowl show will most likely have to do with the Sri Lankan singer briefly flipping off the camera. The otherwise slickly produced show went off without a hitch.

The Queen of Pop gamely picked up some gold pom-poms to cheer alongside Minaj, M.I.A. and a team of cheering dancers during the track, giving off the look and feel of the recently released clip for the song. Minaj and M.I.A. both got a chance to shine too, rapping their parts on the track's breakdown.

As expected, she performed three vintage tunes ("Vogue," "Music" and "Like a Prayer") and one new one, "Give Me All Your Luvin," the lead single from her forthcoming 12th studio album, MDNA. She partnered with a creative team from Cirque du Soleil, her longtime choreographer/creative director Jamie King and multimedia artists from Moment Factory to plan the spectacular show.

For the finale, Cee Lo Green marched onstage as the drum major to a large marching band, starting briefly into small bites of "Open Your Heart" and "Express Yourself" before suiting up into sparkling robes for a full-voiced rendition of "Like a Prayer." Madonna and Cee Lo were joined for a choir for the performance, which saw Madonna falling to her knees as she sang her classic track.

She then stepped to the back of the stage and vanished into a cloud of smoke, disappearing beneath the stage and leaving the still-cheering stadium wanting more.

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http://watching-tv.ew.com/2012/02/05/madonna-super-bowl-cee-lo-green-nicki-minaj-m-i-a-lmfao/

Madonna at the Super Bowl review: A shockingly sincere, joyous performance

by Ken Tucker

Madonna was careful, in interviews before the Super Bowl, to say how nervous she was, how no one had to worry about her plotting to incite controversy. But instead of resulting in a cautious, tedious performance, Madonna gave a joyous, unironic, open-hearted one. She deployed guest stars including Cee Lo Green, Nicki Minaj, and M.I.A., but they never stole her glowing spotlight. From her entrance hoisted aloft by Roman-soldier dancers to the massed choir that sent her off, she was both in full command and full of generosity toward her massive audience.

Commencing with a rendition of “Vogue” that used the magazine’s logo as part of the stage set, Madonna offered full-throated vocals coupled with tight choreography. If the visual transitions didn’t have any flow (Roman togas to pulsating stadium-seating steps to space for a tight-rope walker), the songs did. After the cool warm-up of “Vogue,” Madonna moved smoothly into “Music.” There was certain mashing-up of music with LMFAO that didn’t add much to the proceedings. She led into her current single, “Give Me All Your Luvin’,” as a sweet piece of Katy Perry-style pop. It’s not among her best songs, but Madonna rendered the tune with a playful vigor, shaking gold pom-poms with Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. Toward the end of the song, a marching band trooped onstage, led by Cee Lo Green as drum major.

Aiming to end on a note of uplift, Madonna and Green donned choir robes and brought forth a large choir for “Like A Prayer.” Singing from a raised platform, Madonna and Green’s voices soared, and just when I thought she was going to ascend to the heavens, she instead descended into… well, not hell — that would have been out of keeping with the mood of this show — but she dropped away in a puff of smoke.

Now the carping will begin in living rooms and throughout the internet: Was she lip-synching? Did she make a few wobbly moves? Was M.I.A. being a naughty girl?

Me, I don’t care. I was happy to see Madonna smiling so much, giving it her all, plugging her product with such gleeful abandon. (Oh, and, right, I almost forgot: WORLD PEACE, people!!) It wasn’t a thrillingly innovative performance, but that’s not what the Super Bowl half-time show is about anyway: It’s a time to hear some hits well-played, with more imagination and energy than, say, the Black-Eyed Peas provided last year. By this measure, Madonna’s Super Bowl performance was a bright delight.

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Guest groovyguy

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/television/madonna-rides-cleopatra-wow-super-bowl-crowd-classy-high-flying-halftime-show-article-1.1017646

Madonna rides in like Cleopatra to wow Super Bowl crowd with classy, high-flying halftime show

It made up for its lack of sex-queen stunts with sheer fun, dazzle and, most of all, wit

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Madonna sidelined sex in favor of spectacle at her Super Bowl half-time show. Her 12 minute set proved chaste and careful by her younger standards — no hint of nipple-gate, not a whiff of the calculated religious-tweaks of her live shows. But it made up for its lack of shock-queen stunts with sheer fun, dazzle and, most of all, wit.

Surely no halftime act in the history of the Super Bowl has had the moxie, or cheek, to open with an army of dancers dolled up like gladiators from some kitschy sword and sandal epic, parading around before a Romanesque queen (our Maddy) done up in gold.

Not since Liz Taylor appeared in “Cleopatra,” has pop culture seen so large scale a spectacle of camp. That in itself gave Madonna’s halftime show a subtle underlay of subversion. She bold-faced it to those in the know it by opening with “Vogue,” a song whose inspiration derives wholly from a once deeply-closeted, gay black movement founded in Harlem.

The zest and humor of the show only escalated with a remixed version of “Music,” which featured the cartoon-worthy guys from LMFAO mugging through their usual mock-sexy moves.

Madonna upped the animated quality of the event by featuring on her new single (“Give Me All Your Luvin’ ”) the sight gag of the moment: Nicki Minaj. Her staccato rap, and bombshell figure, added to the sense of the surreal.

While another guest rapper M.I.A. got lost in the mix, the song’s bubble gum snap more than made up for it. Like the song’s video, the staging of it featured pom-pom pounding cheerleaders, in the process swiftly reminding all those football fans who may have momentarily forgotten exactly where they were.

For a third, zany guest, Madonna brought the physically improbable Cee Lo Green to shimmy through “Open Your Heart” (enlivened by a quote from “Express Yourself”). Several vibrant drum lines doubled-up the rhythm.

To make sure noone mistook Madonna’s accent on the ridiculous for a flip take on the event itself, the star ended the show, all lady-like, with her mock-gospel “Like A Prayer.” It featured Cee Lo hitting the high notes, the star in reverent black and a final, incoherent message promoting “World Peace.”

Madonna-phobes will no doubt carp that, in all likelihood, she lip-synched. Certainly, it looked that way. But in a show that’s about flash and winks, who cares? She most definitely delivered on the surprise and joy she promised. And so — most assuredly not for the first time in her life — Madonna scored.

jfarber@nydailynews.com

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