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i have a lot of thoughts and a mixed bag of feelings re: the weeknd's halftime performance yesterday so i've decided to make that everyone's problem by tweeting about it! :) this is gonna be messy and not eloquent so bear with me plz
the weeknd is a much different performer than we expect to see in a setting like this. the superbowl is a massive event and even though there were around 25,000 people in those stands (
), it was evident that there was an intimacy that was being leaned into
), it was evident that there was an intimacy that was being leaned into
when over the top, full blown production entertainer types perform (gaga, beyonce, jlo etc), they are performing on a massive scale to a stadium of thousands. due to the us's ongoing covid situation, there was an awareness of the home audience re: this performance.
the weeknd performed for the camera more than he performed for the stadium. the bit where he is in the tunnel for "i can't feel my face" was for the people at home. the technical mastery of the videographer who kept the camera on his face THE WHOLE TIME during the closing number
, that was for the folks at home.
the weeknd gave a lot of nods to mj and i'm glad he did bc vocally they are very similar. the weeknd may not have mj's one of a kind showmanship and dance ability, but in this case less was more! it is impressive to watch someone who can very
the weeknd gave a lot of nods to mj and i'm glad he did bc vocally they are very similar. the weeknd may not have mj's one of a kind showmanship and dance ability, but in this case less was more! it is impressive to watch someone who can very
clearly sing do very little with his movement and let the brilliance of his instrument be the focus. visually, the lack of complex choreography was made up with top notch video production work. the opening visual illusion with the 3D lights, the close ups, the seamless editing
to give the effect that he left the stage even though i think it was a prerecorded bit (the light tunnel, if this is wrong plz let me know!). now, i am so torn on the chorus/dancers in this production. it was nothing short of dystopian, and it was upsetting. 6 feet a part, masked
sure. i felt as if i was watching the physical manifestation of false security safety signaling. if they were distanced and masked then surely no one could object; they're following all the rules. but i couldn't bring myself to feel that way. it rang hollow, disrespectful, and
in that instant i felt anger rush in. my heart was pounding as i thought about all of the people who've lost loved ones, about all of the people who are sick or have longterm effects from getting sick. i thought about the american attitude of "fuck you i got mine" and i realized
that we have chosen, collectively, to live around a deadly virus rather than care for one another through meaningful action. as a performer and lover of music, i couldn't help but think about the vulnerability of these performers. how they've been without work for close to a year
and how they deserve better than being forced to put their health on the line for a country full of people who refused to get their shit together to give them a chance to go back to their work in a safe environment.
at the end of the performance, i looked at the set where they
at the end of the performance, i looked at the set where they
had begun and felt my heart drop. were those...tombstones? were those tombstones that the weeknd and his android gospel choir had begun the show? i asked my friend to back up to the beginning so I could see. after further inspection, he told me they were buildings to look like a
skyline. the heaviness in my stomach didn't go away. it felt like a reflection and a premonition at once. ok i'm done lol.
