The 2021 Super Bowl halftime show featuring The Weeknd received ambivalent feedback. WHS students shared their thoughts on his performance as well as their favorite halftime shows from the past. The students’ preferences varied significantly based on the aspects of the halftime shows they valued the most.

Jared Ross (Sophomore)

Did you enjoy watching this year’s halftime show?

“The halftime show felt more like a TV performance rather than a live show. The Weeknd was performing for the camera instead of for an audience. It felt like [he was] standing around a lot. I remember watching last year’s Super Bowl halftime show and Shakira and J.Lo were moving around the stage.”

What is the most important aspect of a halftime show that makes it memorable?

“I would say the performers themselves because the majority of the show is who [the performer] is. A large portion of it is also the location. Places like Miami and Tampa are [examples of] warm, party-hard cities, so you’re going to get a more memorable halftime show because people are going to be more into it.”

Mira Ireland (Senior)

Did you enjoy watching this year’s halftime show?

“I’m a huge football fan, so I enjoy both the game and the halftime show. I’m also a huge Weeknd fan so this year’s halftime show was great to watch.”

What has been your favorite halftime show that you’ve watched?

“I don’t think I have a favorite halftime show. I think that [the shows] are all different and special in their ways. Each performer styles it in a way that showcases their talents and important things going on in the world.”

Alexa Neuman (Junior)

What has been your favorite halftime show that you’ve watched?

“Lady Gaga’s 2017 Superbowl performance was my favorite halftime show because it was memorable when she jumped off the top of the stadium during her entrance, and it grabbed my attention.”

What is the most important aspect of a halftime show that makes it memorable?

“I think the most important thing is making sure [the performer] does something different than the past years and adding their touch to it.”

Allison Chase (Sophomore)

What has been your favorite halftime show that you’ve watched?

“I think my favorite halftime show would probably be the one that Katy Perry was in for the 2015 Super Bowl because she sang a lot of songs that I knew. She also had a lot of things in it [the show] that were fun to watch.”

How does this year’s Super Bowl halftime show compare?

“I thought that the Weeknd did some cool things in his show, like the part when he was vlogging during it because it was different and no one has done that before. It wasn’t as good [as Katy Perry’s], but I still think that he did a good job.”

Luke Pyhtila (Freshman)

Did you like watching this year’s halftime show?

“No. I didn’t like how it was filmed. When The Weeknd went into the golden room, I felt dizzy watching it, which made me not like the show. On another note, the Weeknd is not my favorite artist, so I didn’t like all of the songs.”

What is the most important aspect of a halftime show that makes it memorable?

“I think that the most important part of a halftime show that makes it memorable is who performs in it. I’m sure many people love the shows because of the person who performed them. In this case, it was The Weeknd, and I didn’t like it.”