Big Boi arrived for his set in a vintage Cadillac and huge fur coat to perform his biggest Outkast hitGETTY IMAGES
Maroon 5's Super Bowl LIII halftime show was "played as straight a set as has been brought to the Super Bowl stage in the last 20 years," according to Bobby Olivier of the Newark STAR-LEDGER, who writes under the header, "Maroon 5 Is Tame, Lame And Instantly Forgettable." Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine "traversed the M-sized stage, singing his falsetto and jamming on a weathered guitar as he slowly removed layers of clothes -- the only real thrill in this serviceable yet immediately forgettable outing" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 2/4). On Long Island, Glenn Gamboa writes Maroon 5 "played it safe," as Levine "energetically led the band through a bunch of its radio-friendly hits." However, the entire show "felt a bit disjointed" (NEWSDAY, 2/4). In Buffalo, Jeff Miers writes, “It wasn’t so much a let-down as it was a relative snoozer, unless you happen to be a hardcore Maroon 5 fan” (BUFFALO NEWS, 2/4). In L.A., Mikael Wood writes inoffensiveness is "clearly what the NFL was looking for when it booked" Maroon 5 (L.A. TIMES, 2/4). Not many people will remember Maroon 5's performance, which is "probably what the NFL wanted" (THEATHLETIC.com, 2/4). Maroon 5 gave a "completely milquetoast" halftime performance, "surprising almost no one." There was "no controversy and very little dancing, beyond Levine's cringe-inducing gyrating" (Portland OREGONIAN, 2/4). THE RINGER’s Rodger Sherman writes the halftime performance was “dull” and “absolutely mirrored the game.” Sherman: “Maroon 5 didn’t try anything interesting enough to be termed a fumble. They just punted 14 times” (THERINGER.com, 2/4).
MOSTLY FORGETTABLE PERFORMANCE: In N.Y., Chris Perez writes Maroon 5's "dad-rock production" for the halftime show was "widely panned" (N.Y. POST, 2/4). The band turned in a "middling-at-best halftime act" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/4). There was "no magic, no excitement; nothing in the way of memorable moments" (DETROIT NEWS, 2/4). In San Diego, George Varga writes under the header, "Maroon 5's Super Bowl Halftime Show Was As Dull As Dishwater" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 2/4). In Chicago, Greg Kot writes under the header, "An Empty-Calorie Display Of Corporate-Pop Competence From Maroon 5" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/4). Maroon 5's performance was "dynamically flat, mushy at the edges" and "worthy of something much worse than derision: a shrug" (N.Y. TIMES, 2/4). However, in Omaha, Kevin Coffey writes it was a "solid show from a hit-making pop band." Add in some "fiery (but all too brief) verses from a pair of rappers and -- chef's kiss -- perfection." It was "no Prince halftime show." But it "definitely hit all the check boxes we need from these kinds of things" (OMAHA WORLD-HERALD, 2/4). In San Jose, Jim Harrington writes the best the band "could've probably hoped for was to not come across as horribly boring as the millions predicted." That is "exactly what they did." It was a performance "as satisfactory as it was unremarkable" (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 2/4).
ITS GETTING HOT IN HERE: In Toronto, Jane Stevenson writes the biggest moment for Levine came when he "finally ditched his snug tank top as the group ended their set with 'Moves Like Jagger' and showed off his heavily tattooed arms and upper body in what I take was his version of a wardrobe malfunction" (TORONTO SUN, 2/4). Levine did his "very best to remain at the forefront of the performance at all times, the most gratuitous of his many camera-mugging moments coming when he launched his shirt into the crowd to reveal his sweaty, tattoo-covered torso" (USA TODAY, 2/4). Maroon 5's performance "effectively ended up being a 10-minute striptease" from Levine (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 2/3). For Levine's "legion of female fans, his bare-torso shimmy during 'Moves Like Jagger' was likely enough for many to find the performance cheer-worthy." But for most of the showcase, the band's "inherent blandness couldn't breach even the prettiest visuals on the field" (AJC.com, 2/3). Levine last night was "singing and strutting in a way that felt completely uneventful and perversely savvy" (WASHINGTON POST, 2/4).
LEFT FANS WANTING MORE: ROLLING STONE's Ilana Kaplan noted rappers Travis Scott and Big Boi joined Maroon 5 for "short performances" during the halftime show. Scott "ripped through 'Sicko Mode' while surrounded by flames" before Big Boi "cruised onto the field in a convertible to perform a smooth rendition of 'The Way You Move'" (ROLLINGSTONE.com, 2/3). In Phoenix, Ed Masley notes Big Boi "arrived in a sweet vintage Cadillac, emerging in a huge fur coat" to do his biggest Outkast hit. His performance was the "best part of the show and one that had to leave a lot of people wishing Big Boi had just struck around to finish out the set" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 2/4). Many people on Twitter, including LeBron James, "complained after the show that they thought Scott and Big Boi's sets were too short" (NBCNEWS.com, 2/3). If fans "blinked," they "would have missed" Scott and Big Boi performing (AP, 2/4). Scott's song was "interrupted three times by the sound going out." At first it was thought to be a "technical glitch," but it was probably due to Scott "saying words they don't allow on television" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 2/4).
ONE TIME AT BAND CAMP...: In Houston, Joey Guerra notes fans "seemed to get most excited at the quick tribute to SpongeBob creator Stephen Hillenburg, who died in November of complications with ALS" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 2/4). In S.F., Katie Dowd noted the SpongeBob tribute "didn't come out of nowhere." Its origins are in a Change.org petition "signed by over one million people." The petition, "Have 'Sweet Victory' Performed at the Super Bowl," was "posted after the death" of Hillenburg. The song was "not performed at the halftime show, though a brief clip of SpongeBob in that same episode did appear to introduce" Scott for his set (SFGATE.com, 2/3).
STARTING OFF WITH A BANG: In Detroit, Brian McCollum writes Gladys Knight "wowed with a resplendent rendition of the national anthem to help kick off Super Bowl LIII" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 2/4). Knight "unleashed her smoky voice with emotion and grace." She "beamed her signature smile throughout" the performance (AJC.com, 2/3). Knight "probably should have headlined the halftime show." She "scored a touchdown" with her rendition of the national anthem, and her voice "shined brightly as she hit all the right notes." R&B sister duo Chloe x Halle were also in "top-notch form: They harmonized like a veteran girl group as they sang 'America the Beautiful'" (AP, 2/4).
