The Super Bowl is this weekend. Is it just me or is that barely on anyone’s radar? I mean, there was a lot of conversation when Tom Brady – who now plays for Tampa Bay – managed to get into his millionth Super Bowl. But beyond that, everything just seems kind of muted. What’s also screwing me up is that any other year, pandemic or not, we would be hearing a lot about the Halftime Show and who will perform. The Weeknd was quietly announced as the Halftime performer a few months ago and… that was about it as far as media coverage went. Now it turns out that The Weeknd won’t even bring any guest stars into his performance?
Don’t expect any surprise stars during the Super Bowl halftime show this Sunday. The Weeknd confirmed in an interview on the NFL Network Thursday that he has no special guests lined up to join him on stage during his performance.
“I’ve been reading a lot of rumors,” he said. “There wasn’t any room to fit it in the narrative and the story I was telling in the performance. So, there’s no special guests, no.”
Several Super Bowl headliners over the years have stunned viewers with featured guests. Last year, Jennifer Lopez and Shakira’s joint performance also included appearances from Bad Bunny, J Balvin, and Lopez’s daughter Emme Muñiz. Katy Perry also invited other performers to join her onstage in 2015. Her set featured guest appearances from Lenny Kravitz and rapper Missy Elliott.
The Weeknd has already revealed several other details about what fans can expect to see during his halftime performance, which he told Billboard will be 24 minutes long — the longest in Super Bowl history. The 30-year-old star also said he will be performing in both the stands and on the field during the show.
“Due to the COVID, and for the safety of the players and the workers, we built a stage within the stadium,” he said. “And we’re also using the field as well. But we wanted to do something that we’ve never done before.”
Literally every Halftime performer builds a stage within the stadium? Why is Abel like “I’m different, guys, you don’t understand, we’ve got a STAGE within the stadium!!” As for no guest stars… yeah, I don’t think the Weeknd is going to be “enough”? Coldplay is a great, beloved band with tons of hits and even they knew that they weren’t “enough” so right after they got the gig, they truly invited Beyonce and Bruno Mars to join them. Same with Katy Perry – tons of hits, a beloved pop star, etc. She was also like “I’m inviting Missy!!” Now the Weeknd is gonna make us watch 24 minutes of JUST him singing his Jackson Five Revue?
Photos courtesy of Backgrid, social media, Avalon Red.
Bro, come on. It wasn’t what he said but how he said it – “it didn’t fit into the story I’m telling” means we’ll likely get some theoretical #ART performance instead of just something fun. I’d eye roll if just about anybody said that. This year more than ever, just a light entertaining performance would be great.
Same plastic surgeon as Demi Moore’s? Discuss.
it’s “ART!” Us simpletons wouldn’t understand…. https://www.marieclaire.com/celebrity/a33843884/the-weeknd-face-vmas/
It’s not real. He was quoted talking about how he was making fun of Hollywood celeb culture.
Yeah, “no guest stars” would be a big mistake in my opinion! He has some good songs, but I don’t think he can carry this thing on his own for 24 MINUTES. Ariana Grande would be an good pick, he has a song with her.
I am excited about this! I mean, I don’t see a problem with having a concept, a narrative… I like his music a lot and wanna see what he has in mind.
Bold. Doing it all yourself is that much more pressure. He’s a talented man and I’m interested to see what he comes up with. I think this is a good year to try something bold. Not as many big superbowl parties so people can really watch what is going on.
this. He is very talented, I am looking forward to see his performance. He can catch your attention all by himself.
I for one love his music!
As far as i am concerned the only good halftime show was Katy Perry- it had crazy spectacle (giant lion anyone), rock cred- Missy and Lenny, and then goofy showtunes left shark.
It was perfect for the weird cultural cross section that is the superbowl.
Then you obviously missed the show by Prince. There’ll never be another that could possibly top that performance.
“Now the Weeknd is gonna make us watch 24 minutes of JUST him singing his Jackson Five Revue?”
Harsh. Have you listened to the album? It’s excellent.
I’m excited and I’m hoping he does some weird conceptual stuff. It feels like a good year for something interesting
liar!
I didn’t even recognize him and was like what the hell is going on with his face?? Why does he look so different? Quick googling and apparently he’s been playing this “character” with his latest album where he walks around looking bloodied and bruised and wears bandages on his face? And also uses CGI/makeup to look like his face has been through a lot of plastic surgery? Something about how it’s satire of Hollywood culture… to me it’s just macabre looking and super bizarre. I don’t get it and I hope his entire Superbowl Half Time show isn’t a performance of him running around with face bandages and looking bloodied and bruised. Not here for that, especially with a pandemic going on. Give us a good fun show, not images of blood and gore.
And I really do hope there are some guest stars he’s just keeping secret for surprise reasons. I’ve seen him perform a few times on shows but he doesn’t have the It factor to keep me watching him for 24 minutes, unless he truly has something epic and mind-blowing I don’t seen coming (that does not involve his blood and bandages shtick).
‘You said you might be into girls
You said you’re going through a phase
Keepin’ your heart safe
Well, baby, you can bring a friend
She can ride on top your face
While I fcuk you straight’
Cant wait to hear those lyrics at the SuperBowl!
Pretty amazing the amnesia some ppl have re: the BS problematic lyrics this overrated hipster bopped
Yawn. It’s gonna take a lot of extra stuff to make his songs interesting. Now I wish Jlo and Shakira was this year! That was so fun!
I’m interested to see what he does solo. But if people were upset about Shakira shaking her butt, they won’t like the Weekend’s lyrics