By Frank “Smokin” Truatt
The Superbowl is over, and for many of us, it was not as exciting of a game that all the hype said it would be. So, that leaves us with the memories of the other highlights of this one-day event. At parties all around the world, it was a time to consume massive amounts of snacks and beverages, which usually lead to a lethargic Monday after the big game. Chips and dip, snack foods and pizza and wings are always fine in moderation, but snacking for most of the day causes most of us to far exceed a reasonable amount.
On Thanksgiving Day, there’s so much food presented in a short time that there’s always a ton of leftovers. During Superbowl Sunday, we tend to snack all day long, and at the end of the day and all that’s left are some crumbled up chips and empty beer and soda cans. Superbowl Sunday is unique because even if the game becomes one-sided (which this one was, sadly) we can still enjoy the commercials. NOT! This year creativity seemed to be lacking, and for the price they paid to air those spots, it was a disappointment especially with very few “must see” creations.
After a while, you began to wish you could fast-forward through the commercial breaks. So, that leaves us with the halftime concert. To me, it seems that whoever scheduled the entertainment seemed to forget who was tuned in to the game. This year’s halftime performance with Kendrick Lamar caused a lot of buzz. Kendrick’s talent is considered great by many however, he doesn’t carry that across the broad mass appeal the game itself attracts. People of all ages and races tune in to see the game making it a challenge to put on a show that appeals to everyone. It seems that the large production is what they tend to go for when scheduling the performers and not the mass appeal of the artist. Who would I put in next year’s Superbowl halftime show?
If you’re going to pick a current pop artist, there’s Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran, Miley Cyrus or Harry Stiles. For classic rock, the choices are endless. How about the artists that still perform today like Chicago, The Doobie Brothers, Cher, Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones or Rod Stewart? Some of those disco bands would be a lot of fun like Earth, Wind and Fire or KC and the Sunshine Band. Country music today has mass appeal with artists like Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Garth Brooks or Carrie Underwood. You can choreograph dancers and pyrotechnics around any of these artists and I think you’d have the stadium dancing on their feet, even if the rest of the game may put you to sleep.
