By Kathy Williams, Features Editor
The Super Bowl halftime show is one of the most highly anticipated performances annually. In the midst of socially distant celebrations across America, the show provides additional entertainment amongst chicken wings, snacks and fanfare.
With the COVID-19 pandemic still rampant in the United States, restrictions were implemented for players, fans and staff into Super Bowl 55 this year. To limit the spread of the virus, stadium attendance was limited to 25,000 people and each attendee was given a KN95 mask and hand sanitizer. Along with the rules on abiding to remaining socially distant, the attendance number impacted how the halftime performance was executed.
As the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers filed into their locker rooms, The Weeknd took the stage. Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, known by his stage name The Weeknd, appeared on screens nationwide exiting a car. A choir then echoed melodic hymns of The Weeknd’s song “Call Out My Name” while the lighting set illuminated the stage with the rhythm of the song’s beat.
For a change of ominous pace, The Weeknd walks through a division in the choir to join in singing on stage. He sang his hit song “Starboy” with him showing off his vocals rather than stage use. He took some strides back and forth, but it was obvious he was not there to show off extravagant dance moves unlike the prior year’s performers Jennifer Lopez and Shakira. The attention was put on the atmosphere created through lighting, set design and The Weeknd’s impressive vocals.
Following “Starboy,” The Weeknd performed another one of his hit songs “The Hills” that emphasized dramatic beat drops and fiery lighting. Fireworks transformed the sky and stadium into The Weeknd’s dramatic vision to fit his R&B vocals.
The Weeknd disappeared off the stage and into a tunnel of bright lights. He focused on singing to the television audience by maintaining eye contact with the camera through his song “Can’t Feel My Face.” This move was strategically done because of a small audience in attendance. In previous years, fans were able to join in on the excitement of the concert, but the real audience was through the screen this year.
“Can’t Feel My Face” transitioned into yet another one of The Weeknd’s hits “I Feel It Coming,” and he was accompanied by dancers dressed in black suits and red jackets mimicking The Weeknd’s attire in combination with their faces covered in post-operation masks. To the general public, this costume design was received as a nod to people having to wear masks during the COVID-19 pandemic, but true the Weeknd fans were able to link the outfit design to previous music videos he made.
Other songs performed were “Save Your Tears,” “Earned It,” “House of Balloons/Glass Table Girls” and “Blinding Lights.” The Weeknd showed off the talent behind his vocals, a feat of his many people are familiar with.
The Weeknd joined his dancers on the football field where they were spread out and dancing along with “Blinding Lights.” This was the most energetic performance through The Weeknd encouraging the stadium to get hype. The finale of the halftime show was the Weeknd singing into the camera with fireworks exploding behind him.
