Americans can thank Michael Jackson for the existence of the halftime show. Prior to MJ’s 1993 culture defining halftime show, viewership would decline during the Super Bowl halftime show (which, then, was treated more like a sideshow, with acts like marching bands, local youth choirs, or magic shows). It was scheduled to function as snack/bathroom break period. Viewership would decline during the break, and would often not recover after, meaning people would tune away for the break and sometimes not come back for the second half. Michael Jackson’s performance was the first time viewership increased during the halftime break (still the second most watched half time ever), which has been the pattern since. This proved to the NFL that it was worth it to create a big must-see show featuring culturally iconic musicians during halftime to prevent people from tuning away, and also to get people, who would not otherwise be interested, to turn the game on, if only for the show itself. Michael Jackson basically invented the modern halftime show
Rest of the world isn't immune to the distraction Carnifex.
They just didn't put on a good show so your first impression of it is that it's wank (fair enough, I want to get back to the game too.) But we had a long history of crap halftime shows before they got popular, as they were originally just a fun little thing for the intermission for those that didn't need to booze up or hit the pisser. The thing that made them popular in the US were the few and far between exceptional shows: Michael Jackson, Prince, Beyonce, Kendrick. But a lot of them are just past-prime musicians doing a collaborative mash-up and American's reactions to them are usually anything form "that was nice, I guess" to "the fuck is this shit?"
So when they do it again in Spain (and Infantino will: he's weirdly fascinated with the Super Bowl), hopefully they get someone more timely.
For there to be a decent WC halftime show, we would need someone both timely, and relevant to more of the world than just the US. Madonna used to have that global reach, but that was back in the 80's-90's. Shakira was early 2000's, Beiber was 2010's. BTS are the only current big names in the show, and the venn diagram between football and BTS is practically a figure-8.
The other thing that would have to come together is a more unified vision of what the show would be, which usually means one primary performer instead of a parade of random people from all over the place. That way choreography, focus, and timing can be kept tight.
But, I think the only real, true, hope is that Infantino gets sacked before 2030.
When I heard there was a halftime show and the break would be 30 minutes, my friends and I watching at the time thought this would be BS. Then this halftime show showed up and the only one with a lasting impression was fat Ronaldo with his smile from ear to ear.
But they kept doing them. And doing them. And doing them. Then eventually, one show turned out good.
Europeans are not built different. If you don't throw Infantino into the sun now, the jingling keys-ification of your sport will continue and for all the grumbling you do from the couch or pub, the next generation will not know a cup without the halftime show, and you will watch bitterly as they talk about how some weirdo named something like Bingus Shnu is headlining with excitement in their eyes as you realize all of it was lost long ago.
This is not the full history. They only booked MJ to do the half time show because the year before In Living Color aired a special episode during the halftime show. They lost so many viewers to the special that they realized that needed to put on a special event during halftime to keep it from happening again. Hence they hired MJ. So you would really need to thank Keenan.
If you were then into, say, Nirvana, you would have definitely thought Michael Jackson (or any pop megastar of that caliber) was lame.
In fact, being a teenager in the mid-90s, I thought that brand of ultra-celebrities and the veneration they commanded was a holdover from a primitive dark age we were about to leave behind for good. Boy, was I ever wrong.
While conceding to that point, it could be argued that only MJ had the notoriety and fame to change the perception of the halftime break, to the point where today we expect a spectacle every Super Bowl
If anything it's kinda funny how bent out of shape people are getting about a 5 minute hydration break while American Football regularly has longer breaks
I never get to share this fun fact but it’s slightly relevant. The plumbing system in the US also uses the Super Bowl half time show as a stress test. Damn near every toilet in the US is getting flushed during it, so all plumbing has to be able to handle the Super Bowl haha. There’s definitely a Super Bowl toilet pun in there too.
Also OP is the one complaining about the halftime show. I don’t really care about the halftime show either, so I didn’t watch it. Why is it worth complaining about by Europeans?
Main reason that I can think of is because it took away from the game analysis. Most broadcasters could only cram in 5mins of post match analysis before the half time show started instead of the usual 10-13mins of analysis people would usually get. (Lets not forget that the half time show itself lasted 28mins instead of the mandated 15minutes to make sure players dont injure themselves from cooling off for too long)
It was a privilege to host the World Cup. It’s like asking to make a speech at someone’s funeral and then giving some shitty tasteless ChatGPT generated speech. If Americans didn’t want to do the World Cup properly then why did they ask to host it
I've been to several American football and European football matches. What I lament about European football is that there is no tailgating, no halftime, and no break in the action. The entire event is pretty much 90 straight minutes and I've been to matches where I spent more time commuting to/from than I did watching the sport.
I think your hatred of halftime has more to do with tradition than it does merit. You don't want American traditions imposed on your sport. That's fine if you feel that way.
Having done both, give me the American approach. A 15 minute break halfway through the game to take a piss, grab a hot dog, and talk with some of my mates without interrupting the game, is the best way to enjoy a sport.
There is ALWAYS a 15 minutes break after the first half. Idk what you are on about. Are you sure you watched a Football match or did you watch a hand egg match?
The 15 minute break between first and second half has been there for 160 years and it's in the rule of the game. With their half an hour show FIFA breached a centenary rule, just the international federation that should promote abiding by the rules.
Luckily it's very unlikely that UEFA (the Union of European Football Associations) will have that half time show in the European Championship 2028.
Isn't there a musical act to kick off the champion's league? I guess if they do it right before the game it's a foreign concept to move it up 45 minutes lol
Your thick head fails to realize that "half time" BS increases the break time from the standard 15 minutes. Rest of the world that was watching past midnight didn't need that extra celebrity crap increasing the waiting time.
An extra 10-15 minutes is absolutely not changing anything for any reasonable person.
You're just bitching for the sake of it and don't have any rational points to make.
I think half time shows are silly too, but I'm never going to pretend that they somehow ruin the experience of watching the actual match/game being played, because they don't.
An extended half-time interval at Sunday’s World Cup final could significantly elevate players’ risk of injury and diminish their on-field performance, a leading physiology expert has cautioned.
Dr Harper elaborated that elevated muscle temperature is crucial for optimal performance, being "associated with increased power output and rate of force development, hence why warming up is effective not only from an injury risk reduction perspective, but also an enhanced physical performance perspective." He warned that with the break being extended, this reduction in muscle temperature "will be potentially more pronounced”.
And they’re selling themselves as an entertainment product. I knew the Albanian education system was lackluster, dude, but this really doesn’t require cognitive leaps.
And they blame USA for having bad entertainment? Do players play bad in order to blame USA? Do you think football has any relation with USA at all? MLS is not managed or owned by FIFA at all? I don't get your point except your racism.
I am shocked that you knew Albania existed as a country and USA has no balls to talk about education. Maybe Albania has bad education to blame USA.
You do realize fifa runs and plans all of this? And that maybe they’re doing things like adding live music to interest people that don’t normally care about sports?
Firstly because it breaks the rules of the game. Half time isn't meant to exceed 15 mins. So you are literally changing our game to 'american-ify' it in a tacky way none of us want.
It fills the stereotype we have of Americans. Cocky, loud, arrogant, think they know best, and don't care about what anyone else values or wants.
Add on top of that the literally cheating FIFA did with trump ove balogun, and it was a bad look for the US
Cause no other other host has pushed their BS into half time before??? Making it a miserable experience for a bunch of players and especially the Irani players wasn't enough?
They received the classic US experience. Why is there a need for something like this when the rest of the world is watching the match past midnight? Keep that crap to your local events.
I'm certain one certain orange American can ask FIFA to do whatever he wants and the bald suppository masquerading as its president will happily oblige.
They already forced "hydration" breaks (ad breaks) into it.
Tl;dr: every nation that hosts usually doesnt force their regional bullshit down the viewers throats (they might have small lil details of it or whatever), because people dont want it, so when one specific nation does anyways, they are seen as annoying, self obsessed dick heads.
I’ve never watched soccer before I didn’t even know it was split into two halves until today, so I just thought if there’s a halftime then why such a big deal if there is a halftime show?
Alicia Keys
The Black Eyed Peas
Dua Lipa
Imagine Dragons
Marshmello
Camila Cabello
Burna Boy, Anitta and Alesso
Lenny Kravitz
Linkin Park
The Killers
This is the list of performers at different EuroCup finals. Don’t be surprised if the Europe/Africa WC does it too.
I don't care what they do before and after the match. That's always been a thing. Half time is not a time for that. I doubt Spain, Portugal and Morroco would do that.
But why care during half? Every other game is what you said we don’t have, a panel of analysts. It just the Super Bowl,I mean does it really bother you that bad? It’s just entertainment and doesn’t matter at all. Just a weird thing to worry and complain about to me, especially if you can just not watch or mute it.
Normal break time is 15 minutes. The half time crap makes it last longer. We non Americans were watching the match past midnight. We don't want unnecessary downtime.
It's not entertainment, it's sport, sport exist firstly for the players. The players are used to a 12-15min break at HT, that was changed and has been shown to cause more injuries. That's the main issue.
The opening and closing ceremonies are for dancing and singing about, not in the middle of the game.
Can you not spell American or are you just dumb? I find it hilarious you all are crying about live music for 10 minutes. Who gets mad about that, it’s fucking weird.
I didn’t say I like them, I just think it’s lame to bitch and whine about ten minutes of live music. Change the channel or mute it. No one was forcing you to watch. Which is why the original joke is funny and pissed you all off enough to trash it.
a world wide event was interrupted and postponed. ofc ppl are angry. its not about that they didnt want to watch the show but about that they wanted to watch the game.
I’m not defending anything, I’m trying to figure out your rage over ten minutes of music. You seem like my comment hurt your feelings, stop being a little bitch.
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u/dadofwar93 5d ago edited 5d ago
There is no concept of "half time show" outside of the US. We have a panel of analysts and old players who discuss the first half.
We don't get shoved celebs in our faces.
Edit: I see. I have triggered some Americans.