With Bruno Mars’ epic Super Bowl XLVIII halftime show now in the books, it’s officially time to start speculating about next year’s big game, and which artist will be the one to take center field at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on Feb. 1, 2015.
After Bruno broke up the diva streak started by Madonna and Beyonce at the halftime show, the Super Bowl might return with another female superstar. Perhaps Taylor Swift finally gets her shot after commanding stadiums on her own, or Lady Gaga cranks up the volume in Arizona? Maybe hip-hop finally gets its due with Jay Z, or Kanye “Yeezus” West? Could Bon Jovi or the Foo Fighters reinstate the rock show at the Super Bowl? And how about a 12-minute rave orchestrated by those Daft Punk robots?
Bruno’s Halftime: 7 Takeaways From The Field | Full Super Bowl Coverage
Billboard offers up 15 suggestions for next year’s Super Bowl halftime extravaganza. Vote for your favorite candidate at the bottom of the page, or make your case for an unnamed artist with a write-in vote!
Taylor Swift — There’s never been a country music performer headlining the Super Bowl halftime show in the modern era. Could Swift, who had one of last year’s biggest tours in support of her blockbuster “Red” album, be the first one to kick it country?
Lady Gaga — The ARTPOP Ball tour is set to bring more hits across the globe, and Gaga is always up for a high-profile spectacle. Perhaps it’s her time to make football fans put their hands up and make ’em touch.
Foo Fighters — Dave Grohl’s crew has hinted at returning with new music soon, after scooping up GRAMMY Awards for 2011’s “Wasting Light.” It also might be time to return the full-on R-O-C-K to the biggest stage on the planet.
Justin Bieber — Sure, he’s having some well-documented troubles right now… but who doesn’t love a comeback story? Bieber is apparently going to put out a new album by the end of the year, and will have millions of Beliebers watching if he takes the Super Bowl stage.
Jay Z — His wife has already performed at the Super Bowl, and Hov has an extra decade of deep cuts to reach into for a Super Bowl spectacle. With any number of special guests he could pull onstage, Jay Z could run that town on Super Bowl night.
Rihanna — Bruno Mars offered some sexy moves during his Super Bowl stint… but imagine Rihanna doing “Pour It Up” in the Arizona heat. Along with an avalanche of hits, Rihanna could easily command the spotlight.
Coldplay — Most of Coldplay’s hits sound like they were crafted for stadium use. Why deny Chris Martin and co. the stage that epic rock artists like U2 and the Who have previously made their own?
Britney Spears — Brit already popped up at the Super Bowl halftime show in 2001, along with *N SYNC, Aerosmith, Mary J. Blige and Nelly. But that was a lifetime and a slew of hits ago; if Spears can knock the socks off of Las Vegas pop fans for the foreseeable future, surely she can head south to Arizona next year.
Justin Timberlake — Speaking of *N SYNC! Timberlake has triumphantly returned to music in the past year, scoring the biggest album of 2013 (“The 20/20 Experience” Part 1) while bringing his already timeless solo hits on the road. Is the Super Bowl the correct occasion to bring sexy back? Of course it is!
Kanye West — Yeezus has never been one to shy away from grand ideas, and whatever he did with the Super Bowl halftime show would be unmissable. West supposedly has a new album on the way that won’t be quite as dark as “Yeezus” — let’s bring that (relative) positivity to Glendale next year.
Miley Cyrus — “Party In The U.S.A.” “We Can’t Stop.” “Wrecking Ball.” Whether or not you approve of Miley’s twerk endorsements, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more enjoyable 12-minute set than one focused around those three powerhouse songs. And hey — maybe she can bring back Robin Thicke to re-create their VMAs interaction!
Daft Punk — The French electronic duo has never been hotter, thanks for a smash comeback single (“Get Lucky”) and an album that was just named the best of the year by the GRAMMY Awards. Aside from their new accomplishments, Daft Punk could toss out “One More Time,” “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” and “Digital Love,” and turn the Super Bowl into one heck of a dance party.
Katy Perry — With nine No. 1 hit singles under her belt, Perry could “Roar” onstage, or ride a “Dark Horse” onto the field, or offer a “Teenage Dream” to millions of onlookers, or shout out her “California Gurls,” or… you get the picture.
Bon Jovi — Sure, he missed his chance at taking over New Jersey’s first Super Bowl, but Jon Bon Jovi deserves to perform stadium staple “Livin’ On A Prayer” at the biggest game of the year. After a string of classic rock performers in the ’00s, Bon Jovi could wield some of the most explosive anthems ever played on that stage.
One Direction — The 1D boys are already kicking off a stadium tour in April, and their success — three No. 1 albums in their first three tries — is breathtaking. The quintet could light up your world, and the Super Bowl, like nobody else.