The Black Eyed Peas promised a Super Bowl halftime show “packed with energy” and delivered just that at Sunday night’s (Feb. 6) big game, blasting through a 10-minute set that, while intermittently marred by technical glitches, spanned the dance/pop megagroup’s biggest hits and featured cameos by Usher, Slash, and hundreds of “Tron”-inspired dancers.
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With the Green Bay Packers leading the Pittsburgh Steelers 21-10, will.i.am, Fergie, apl.de.ap and Taboo made a lofty entrance into the Dallas Cowboys Stadium, lowering themselves onto a green-lit stage to the sounds of “I Gotta Feeling,” the Hot 100 No. 1 smash from their 2009 album “The E.N.D.” Sound issues silenced Fergie’s first lines and would surface again later, but the Peas’ intensity never dropped, thanks in large part to a supporting cast of young dancers that hand-clapped, raised the roof and waved along with every hit.
Video: Black Eyed Peas Super Bowl Halftime Show
As the Peas transitioned into “Boom Boom Pow,” the dancers’ LED suits lit up in green, and then in red as Slash emerged to play the power riffs of former band Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” with Fergie taking on the vocals. Next up were “Pump It” “Let’s Get It Started,” both hit singles from the Black Eyed Peas’ 2005 album, “Monkey Business.” Usher then joined will.i.am onstage to perform last year’s No. 1 hit “OMG,” and the R&B/pop star’s collaboration with the Peas producer was a welcome addition to the setlist, climaxing when he leapt over will.i.am’s head and landed in a split onstage. The Peas closed out their set with “The Time (Dirty Bit),” the lead single from their recently released album, “The Beginning.”
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Just before the Black Eyed Peas halftime show went live, a commercial for Chatter.com aired with an animated likeness of will.i.am touting the benefits of the social networking service. “It helps me and my team stay aligned, so we’re all on the same page and stuff,” he explained in the ad. “It’s private, and most importantly, it’s safe.”
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The Black Eyed Peas’ halftime show topped off a Super Bowl filled with musical highlights. Commercials starring Eminem, Justin Bieber, Ozzy Osbourne and Faith Hill commanded attention while the game clock was stopped, and although Christina Aguilera fumbled the national anthem lyrics before kickoff, “Glee” star Lea Michele” sang a powerful rendition of “America the Beautiful” that made a strong case for watching the Fox show’s special post-Super Bowl episode.
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Here is the Black Eyed Peas’ Super Bowl halftime show setlist:
“I Gotta Feeling”
“Boom Boom Pow”
“Sweet Child O’ Mine” (Slash and Fergie)
“Pump It”
“Let’s Get It Started”
“OMG” (Usher and will.i.am)
“Where Is the Love?”
“The Time (Dirty Bit)”
What did you think of the Black Eyed Peas Super Bowl halftime show? Share your thoughts in the comments.