Sure, Super Bowl XLI in Miami is remembered by Colts fans, when their team defeated the Bears by the score of 29 – 17 but for the rest of the world, that night lives on for something else.

Already many things to many people: household name, superstar, musician, frontman, singer, band leader, guitarist, songwriter, svengali, sex god, icon, philanthropist, maverick, workaholic; Prince was all these things and more. But on the night of February 4, 2007, he ascended...

https://mattosgood.substack.com/p/the-night-american-football-was-played

Musically speaking, I don't quite understand Bad Bunny. His voice seems very mediocre to me, even for rap. He also sings with pursed lips... weird. But I really loved the show (needed).
It represented everything the US absolutely needs right now: love, inclusion and unity, instead of division and bite-sized, consumerist, shallow hatred.
In my opinion, Prince's show in 2007 was good, but not really outstanding? It was a memorable event, especially because it was raining, and the covers in the medley (the fantastic “Best Of You”).
But we only heard Prince's shredding guitar; the band was barely audible. Not a show, but real music. And the marching big band during Purple Rain still gives me goosebumps.
So yes, pretty impressive after all.

The thing is, we still haven't heard Prince's Super Bowl show in good quality. The video we have has attrocious sound. That show is in dire need of a good mix and a proper release.

Vannormal said:

Musically speaking, I don't quite understand Bad Bunny. His voice seems very mediocre to me, even for rap. He also sings with pursed lips... weird. But I really loved the show (needed).
It represented everything the US absolutely needs right now: love, inclusion and unity, instead of division and bite-sized, consumerist, shallow hatred.
In my opinion, Prince's show in 2007 was good, but not really outstanding? It was a memorable event, especially because it was raining, and the covers in the medley (the fantastic “Best Of You”).
But we only heard Prince's shredding guitar; the band was barely audible. Not a show, but real music. And the marching big band during Purple Rain still gives me goosebumps.
So yes, pretty impressive after all.

Personally, I don't hear anything in Bad Bunny's songs, much like Drakes, but hey ho, I'm old. I did quite like the vibe of Bad Bunny's performance but that's about it.

There's a montage of the past 35 years of Halftime shows on X or Threads, and it is easy to believe you can see that based on what went before him, Prince really studied on what made a halftime show work and curated his setlist and stage setting with The Twinz, the marching band and his band and his focus on guitar playing accordingly.

Some combination of the marching band and the weather, clearly impact the sound - quite how much we may never know - unless the back up recording gets released for Record Store day or leaked. Though the back up recording / studio version of 'All Along The Watchtower / Best of You' played out on the Howard Stern show does perhaps provide an insight. Just a shame, they jibber-jabber all over it!

mattosgood said:

Sure, Super Bowl XLI in Miami is remembered by Colts fans, when their team defeated the Bears by the score of 29 – 17 but for the rest of the world, that night lives on for something else.

Already many things to many people: household name, superstar, musician, frontman, singer, band leader, guitarist, songwriter, svengali, sex god, icon, philanthropist, maverick, workaholic; Prince was all these things and more. But on the night of February 4, 2007, he ascended...

https://mattosgood.substack.com/p/the-night-american-football-was-played

Add an adjective to a fan base and the subjectivity begins but the rubric mentioned in the link above, used to evaluate each performance by Saad Yousuf of The Athletic is one he shared and reflects all aspects of what a Super Bowl half time show encompasses:

Music and Dance (0-10): Not every singer is a great dancer, but the Super Bowl half time show is a performance, so we need to make sure the visuals line up with the vocals.

Staging (0-10): Though the music is a big part of the half time show, so is the presentation. Was it too much or not enough? Or did they get it just right?

Performance Relative to Circumstance (0-10): Current events, time of day and several other things factor into what a headlining act is able to do.

Performance Relative to Stature (0-10): Not every artist was selected to perform a lights-out, memorable show. We can’t judge Michael Jackson with the same level of expectations as we judge The Who. This category is to make sure we’re being fair to the performer(s).

In The Athletic’s review of 36 half time shows, including the latest by Bad Bunny last night February 8^th, 2026, Prince scores a perfect 40 out of 40 points. He is the only artist that does. Here’s how the other performers fair, in reverse order, starting with a score of only 3 points for:

36. New Kids on the Block (1991): 3 points

(M&D 0, S 1, PRC 0, PRS 2)

35. Patti LaBelle, Tony Bennett and Arturo Sandoval (1995): 3.5 points

(M&D 1, S 0.5, PRC 0, PRS 2)

34. Gloria Estefan (1992): 4.5 points

(M&D 1, S 1.5, PRC 0, PRS 2)

33. The Blues Brothers, James Brown and ZZ Top (1997): 5 points

(M&D 2, S 1, PRC 1, PRS 1)

32. The Who (2010): 5.5 points

(M&D 1, S 2, PRC 1.5, PRS 1)

31. Black Eyed Peas, Slash and Usher (2011): 6.5 points

(M&D 2, S 2.5, PRC 1, PRS 1)

30. Maroon 5, Travis Scott and Big Boi (2019): 7 points

(M&D 2, S 1, PRC 2, PRS 2)

29. ’40 Years of Motown’ (1998): 8 points

(M&D 3, S 2, PRC 2, PRS 1)

28. Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt and The Judds (1994): 9 points

(M&D 1, S 3, PRC 2, PRS 3)

27. Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias, Phil Collins and Toni Braxton (2000): 10 points

(M&D 2, S 3, PRC 3, PRS 2)

26. Justin Timberlake (2018): 12 points

(M&D 4, S 3, PRC 3, PRS 2)

25. Janet Jackson, P. Diddy, Nelly, Kid Rock, Justin Timberlake (2004): 13 points

(M&D 4, S 5, PRC 0, PRS 4)

24. The Rolling Stones (2006): 15 points

(M&D 2, S 5, PRC 5, PRS 3)

23. Diana Ross (1996): 16 points

(M&D 4, S 2, PRC 5, PRS 5)

22. Shania Twain, No Doubt and Sting (2003): 17 points

(M&D 5, S 5, PRC 3, PRS 4)

21. Tom Petty (2008): 19 points

(M&D 4, S 5, PRC 5, PRS 5)

20. The Weeknd (2021): 20 points

(M&D 4, S 6, PRC 6, PRS 4)

19. Paul McCartney (2005): 21 points

(M&D 6, S 4, PRC 5, PRS 6)

18. Stevie Wonder, Gloria Estefan and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (1999): 22 points

(M&D 6, S 4, PRC 6, PRS 6)

17. Rihanna (2023): 23 points

(M&D 7, S 7, PRC 4, PRS 5)

16. Shakira, Bad Bunny and Jennifer Lopez (2020): 26 points

(M&D 7, S 7, PRC 6, PRS 6)

15. Lady Gaga (2017): 27 points

(M&D 5, S 7, PRC 7, PRS 8)

14. Aerosmith, NSYNC, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige and Nelly (2001): 28 points

(M&D 6, S 7, PRC 7, PRS 8)

13. Bruce Springsteen (2009): 29 points

(M&D 9, S 7, PRC 6, PRS 7)

12. Usher (2024): 30 points

(M&D 8, S 7, PRC 7, PRS 8)

11. Madonna, LMFAO, Nicki Minaj, M.I.A. and CeeLo Green (2012): 32 points

(M&D 8, S 8, PRC 7, PRS 9)

10. Bruno Mars and Red Hot Chili Peppers (2014): 32.5 points

(M&D 8.5, S 9, PRC 8, PRS 7)

9. Katy Perry, Lenny Kravitz, Missy Elliott and Left Shark (2015): 33 points

(M&D 9, S 10, PRC 7, PRS 7)

8. Beyoncé, Destiny’s Child (2013): 35 points

(M&D 10, S 8, PRC 9, PRS 8)

7. Kendrick Lamar, SZA (2025): 36 points

(M&D 9, S 8, PRC 10, PRS 9)

6. Bad Bunny (2026): 36.5 points

(M&D 7.5, S 10, PRC 10, PRS 9)

5. Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar and Eminem (2022): 37 points

(M&D 10, S 8, PRC 10, PRS 9)

4. Coldplay, Bruno Mars, Mark Ronson and Beyoncé (2016): 38 points

(M&D 10, S 9, PRC 9, PRS 10)

3. Michael Jackson (1993): 38.5 points

(M&D 9.5, S 9, PRC 10, PRS 10)

2. U2 (2002): 39 points

(M&D 9, S 10, PRC 10, PRS 10)

1. Prince (2007): 40 points

(M&D 10, S 10, PRC 10, PRS 10)

Vannormal said:

Musically speaking, I don't quite understand Bad Bunny. His voice seems very mediocre to me, even for rap. He also sings with pursed lips... weird. But I really loved the show (needed).
It represented everything the US absolutely needs right now: love, inclusion and unity, instead of division and bite-sized, consumerist, shallow hatred.
In my opinion, Prince's show in 2007 was good, but not really outstanding? It was a memorable event, especially because it was raining, and the covers in the medley (the fantastic “Best Of You”).
But we only heard Prince's shredding guitar; the band was barely audible. Not a show, but real music. And the marching big band during Purple Rain still gives me goosebumps.
So yes, pretty impressive after all.

Bad Bunny's show was the most original one in terms of the visuals etc...But of course Prince being the most talented ever delivered something amazing without needing special effects or whatever.

I don't remember Michael Jackson's show being memorable and he's supposed to be the king of magic, special effects, visuals etc...Bad Bunny's was much better than his.