This year’s halftime show was performed by Kendrick Lamar and SZA. Fans showed mixed emotions, showing disappointment and thought SZA deserved more screen time knowing that she only sang two songs and it was mainly Kendrick singing. Fans thought it was boring to watch, but others thought it had a lot of interesting factors aside from that singing.
Something fans have also pointed out from this show that it was loaded with storytelling and symbolism. First of all, Samuel L Jackson, who played Uncle Sam, was showing a message of how America systemically views, monitors, and polices black culture and people.
In the show the dance formed an American flag split down the middle. These dancers were all Black men or women indicating how this country was built on the labor of Black Americans. Others interpret this as the current state of America divided and not as a whole.
During the show, the dancers and singers had a red, white, and blue wardrobe representing another nod to the American symbolism presented throughout the show.
Right as the show was starting, Uncle Sam introduced this performance as “the great American games,” soon revealing a lit-up layout displaying PlayStation buttons with the words “welcome to the great American games.” This concept could point to the reference to Black people having to constantly navigate American life, culture, and politics. Uncle Sam asked Lamar if “he really knew how to play the game,” following his performance of “squabble up.”
Serena Williams, the tennis legend who is also from Lamar’s town of Compton, California, appeared in Lamar’s performance “Not like us”, the diss track against Drake. Williams, Drake’s ex, could be seen crip walking at the front of the stage.
Although there is controversy, it is clear that Lamar’s approach was to tell a story in his performance. These factors have proved his ability to give symbolism within his songs and in his live shows.
