Believe it, or not, I love the Super Bowl – or rather, the ancillary goings-on that surround the game (not so much the actual game, itself).  It should surprise nobody that prior to writing this essay, I didn’t know (nor particularly care) which teams were playing.  What has me all atwitter is the roster of musical performances, the commercials, and possible cameos.

I will be repeating my itinerary of last year – attending Diana Bennett & Scott Menke’s annual Super Bowl party at Wynn Las Vegas; until late in the first quarter, when I’ll race up to Noey & Billy Richardson’s casa, in time to see the Halftime Show.

So, let’s first address the Halftime Show.  After more viewers tuned-in to watch Madonna’s epic halftime show at last year’s Super Bowl XLVI, than the actual game, itself (making the halftime show the all-time most-viewed event in television history); and after the (absurd and pointless) kerfuffle made over her lip-synching of the National Anthem during last week’s presidential inauguration, all eyes are on Beyoncé.

Will she reunite with Destiny’s Child?  (Apparently so, despite Michelle Williams’ half-assed denial to the contrary…)  Will they sing “Bootylicious”?  (Doubtful, as Beyoncé has repeatedly said how much she loathes the song.)  Do I care?  (Only insomuch as “Bootylicious” samples Stevie Nicks’ early ‘80s jam “Edge of Seventeen” and I have to admit that having Stevie Nicks perform on-stage with Beyoncé would sate my love for bizarre collaborations.)  That said – I’d happily settle for a duet of “Crazy in Love” with hubby, Jay-Z.

Now, it’s been announced that Jennifer Hudson (Beyoncé’s Oscar-winning Dreamgirls co-star) will be performing “America the Beautiful” with a chorus comprised of twenty-six kids from Newtown, CT’s Sandy Hook Elementary School.  I love J-Hud, I think she’s gorge, and she’s got face and pipes, not to mention a life-story made for the Lifetime Movie Network.  But I’ve got mixed feeling about how apropos this might (or might not) be.  Ask me, next week.

Immediately following this, everyone’s favorite “Girl on Fire”, Alicia Keys, will sing the National Anthem. 

And then there are the commercials...  PSY is doing one of those pistachio commercials, the Flaming Lips are hawking Hyundais, and Volkswagen has an execu-drone channeling the irie vibrations of Jimmy Cliff, who is singing the Partridge Family’s “C’mon Get Happy”.  Better still is the teaser video that Volkswagen released on YouTube (watch the video, above), with a number of viral video sensations joining Cliff on a sunny hillside (although I daresay that the commercial says more about the amount of puff-puff-give going-on at the ad agency – which one might infer also handles the Jamaican Tourism Board’s account – than it does for the rationale behind buying a Bug).

Finally, you’ve got Train – who’ve been the house-band on The Talk, all week; NoLa native, Wynton Marsalis – hosting New Orleans: Let the Good Times Roll; and OneDirection and Matchbox 20 – performing on CBS’ Super Bowl Today. 

All told, it’s gonna make for one great day of TV viewing.  And for those of you who go in for that sort of thing, the game should be pretty good, too.

Super Bowl XLVII
Sunday, February 3rd

Get into it!