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Usher to Sing at Super Bowl Show in Las Vegas
February 8th, 2024
With the monumental task of condensing thirty years of musical achievement into a brief Super Bowl halftime performance, singer Usher intends to showcase his enduring hits, the essence of his acclaimed Las Vegas show, and potentially a sampling from his forthcoming album. Anticipation is high for how his mixture of past glory, current triumphs, and future aspirations will manifest on stage at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, where the upcoming face-off is between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs.
In crafting the setlist, Usher pondered which tracks have defined his career and celebrated the journey thus far. He toyed with introducing elements from his Las Vegas residency into the halftime act but opted to stay mum on the finer details, teasing only a distilled essence of the Vegas experience for the global audience.
While specifics on special guests remain elusive, Usher hinted at appearances by some of his past collaborators, a rich pool of artists ranging from Beyoncé to Ludacris. This approach aligns with his past as a featured artist at the Super Bowl, where a near-mishap during a previous high-flying entrance with will.i.am in 2011 won't deter him from aiming for a smooth performance this year.
The Atlanta influence, a city synonymous with Usher's rise to stardom, will also make an appearance during the show. The Vegas residency he held proved to be an experimental ground where he merged the vibrant musical and cultural qualities of Atlanta into the entertainment capital, a challenge that he cheekily describes as turning the "V" of Vegas upside down.
As Usher prepares to join the ranks of legendary Super Bowl halftime performers, he reflects on his career milestones, including the 20th anniversary of his landmark album "Confessions," which achieved staggering sales and housed chart-topping singles like "Yeah!" The halftime show presents another chance for Usher to affirm his place in the pantheon of music giants, showing that his enduring appeal, much like the city of Atlanta's influence, continually reshapes itself to stay at the forefront of the cultural zeitgeist.
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💭 Discussion Questions
1
. How does Usher plan to represent the various phases of his career in his Super Bowl halftime performance?2
. In what ways has Usher's Las Vegas residency influenced his approach to the upcoming halftime show?3
. Considering Usher's history with the Super Bowl and his career milestones, what significance does this performance have for him as an artist?📖 Vocabulary
🌐 Cultural context
The Super Bowl is an annual championship game in American football and features a highly anticipated halftime show with major musical acts. Las Vegas is known for live entertainment. The San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs are professional football teams.
🧠 Further reading
The Strat
The Strat Hotel & Casino & Tower, situated in Las Vegas, boasts the tallest observation tower in the United States, reaching a breathtaking height of 1,149 feet. This tower, which provides stunning vistas and is second only in height in the Western Hemisphere to Toronto's CN Tower, features a skypod with a rotating restaurant, various lounges and viewing decks, as well as heart-pumping thrill rides at its summit. Below the tower, the hotel and casino offer a range of amenities, including a showroom and shopping area. Though technically outside the recognized limits of the Las Vegas Strip, The Strat, as it's now known, is often included among the Strip's array of properties.
The site was originally home to Vegas World, a hotel and casino that was opened in 1979 by Bob Stupak. Ten years later, Stupak's ambition to erect a massive neon sign for the establishment morphed into a plan for the observation tower, which began construction in 1992. The project faced challenges, including a mysterious fire during construction and funding difficulties, which were resolved when Stupak partnered with Grand Casinos and his poker acquaintance, Lyle Berman.
Initially, the tower was planned to stand at 1,012 feet, but Stupak entertained the idea of a world-beating 1,825-foot tower. The Federal Aviation Administration and the city denied the request, though he was granted permission to reach the current height. In 1995, Vegas World shut down for a remodel, resulting in the creation of the tower's hotel facilities as they are known today.
List of Super Bowl halftime shows
Halftime shows have become an integral part of American football, drawing viewers from across the country and connecting the sport to broader cultural trends. Initially, Super Bowl halftime shows were modest affairs, often showcasing performances by college marching bands. As years passed, the content diversified to include various performance groups, with act Up with People being particularly prominent. By the turn of the third decade, there was a marked shift towards mainstream music artists such as New Kids on the Block, Gloria Estefan, Michael Jackson, and others, aiming to retain viewer interest during the game.
The nature of the halftime show underwent another evolution when corporate sponsors began to get involved, leading to grandiose musical productions by significant rock bands and well-known artists, moving away from previously thematic shows. This was briefly disrupted when a performance incident — commonly referred to as a "wardrobe malfunction" — prompted a series of more conservative, rock-focused shows, deemed to be family-friendly, during an era viewed as a somewhat reactionary phase for halftime entertainment.
More recently, the approach to halftime entertainment has seen a return to featuring prominent contemporary musicians, usually with a leading performer joined by a selection of guest acts. Notably, despite the immense exposure and prestige associated with the event, the NFL doesn't provide an appearance fee to the performers, although all related expenses are covered. This setup supports a diverse display of talent at one of the most watched broadcasts in the United States, marrying sports with dynamic musical performances, and maintaining a tradition that has become a staple of Super Bowl Sunday.
Country music in Atlanta
In the early 20th century, Atlanta emerged as a key player in the development of the country music industry. The city's economic expansion drew many Appalachian individuals who sought work in its textile factories, and they brought their rich musical traditions with them. This cultural fusion made Atlanta a vital hub for recording and performing country music for many years, particularly during the 1920s through the 1940s.
The genesis of Atlanta's country music scene can be traced back to the Appalachian folk music, African American blues, and gospel that was prevalent in the local mill towns and on "Decatur Street," an area known for its black music scene. An event that highlighted the city's influence was the annual Georgia Old-Time Fiddlers' Conventions, beginning in 1913, where musicians like Fiddlin' John Carson gained prominence.
WSB radio played a pivotal role in broadcasting country music to a wider audience, launching many artists to stardom in a way that mirrored the impact of WSM radio in Nashville. Their flagship program, WSB Barn Dance, was particularly popular. Another notable broadcast came from the Sears Agricultural Foundation, which aired a midday radio show from Atlanta featuring traditional musicians and string bands.
However, by the early 1950s, most country music radio programs in Atlanta had ceased operations, signaling a shift in the industry's epicenter and altering the landscape of country music broadcasting in the region.