Whose Halftime Is It Anyway?

Feb+7%2C+2016%3B+Santa+Clara%2C+CA%2C+USA%3B+Coldplay+singer+Chris+Martin+%28center%29%2C+recording+artist+Beyonce+%28left%29%2C+and+recording+artist+Bruno+Mars+performs+during+halftime+between+the+Carolina+Panthers+and+the+Denver+Broncos+in+Super+Bowl+50+at+Levis+Stadium.+Mandatory+Credit%3A+Robert+Deutsch-USA+TODAY+Sports

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Feb 7, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Coldplay singer Chris Martin (center), recording artist Beyonce (left), and recording artist Bruno Mars performs during halftime between the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Super Bowl 50 was a game to remember, but so was the spectacular performances. There is no question, though, that Beyoncé stole the halftime show from the “headline” acts, Lukewarmplay and Fido Mars. The only question is, how did people not see that coming?

Lady Gaga started off the event with a performance of the national anthem that took everyone aback. The pop star gave everyone goosebumps when she walked on stage with her bold look: a red Gucci pantsuit with platform heels and matching eyeshadow. Mother Monster has toned down her extraordinary outfits lately, but this red ensemble added a nice patriotic touch to her rendition of the anthem. It was an electric kickoff to her 2016 comeback as a pop phenomenon as she hit every note, looks and singing alike.  She even had her hand on her heart, a gesture few past performers of the anthem have done.

After sitting through two quarters of commercials and football, the long-awaited halftime show was about to begin. Coldplay opened with two of their most famous songs from years past,  “Viva La Vida” and a snippet of “Paradise”. The band had some trouble trying to command Levi Stadium with slow song choices and a lack of energy was put into the performance to engage the crowd. By the time they started playing “Adventures Of a Lifetime”, however, the crowd was finally back on their feet.

The show then transitioned to Bruno Mars and DJ Mark Ronson with their 2015 hit “Uptown Funk”. Mars is a Super Bowl halftime veteran and, unlike Coldplay, knew how to command a stage this size.

After Bruno Mars came the main event: Queen Bey. Beyoncé hit the stage with her newest song, “Formation”. Throughout the performance, Beyoncé paid tribute to the “Black Lives Matter” movement. From Malcolm X to matching outfits with Michael Jackson and the Black Panthers black power salute with her backup dancers, Beyonce had one of the outstanding halftime performances of the last decade. Even her backup dancers paid homage to the black youths lost in recent years. A few dancers had a photo snapped backstage with a sign saying “Justice 4 Mario Woods”, a man who was shot last December by police in San Francisco, the location of  this year’s Super Bowl.

After Beyonce’s killer performance of “Formation”, the three performers got together to close out Beyonce’s show. They finished with a mashup performance of all of the songs performed. Even though the Denver Broncos technically won the game, everyone agrees the real winner was definitely Beyoncé.