For both fans of the Super Bowl game and spectacle alike, the announcement of who will be headlining the always-talked-about halftime show, is sometimes just as big as who may be playing. Okay, maybe that’s pushing it, but it is still a pretty big deal. Thankfully, the wait is over! The half-time show performer has been announced and already has people talking, which got us thinking. What were some of the most talked about half-time shows in Super Bowl history?



1. The Originator, Michael Jackson. Starting it off we have the “King of Pop” himself, who could rightfully be called the “King of half-time” as well. With each glide of the moon walk, he literally changed the game. So much so, that when we headlined the 1993 Super Bowl as the first real A-list performer, he was said to have doubled the ratings and laid the groundwork from the Super Bowl going from “just” a game, to a spectacle. Seems appropriate, no?

2. The MTV Generation. Super Bowl XXXV happened to air when Pop music was in it’s a prime–and gave you a little something extra. You had N’Sync reminding us why we loved boy bands, and Justin Timberlake and Mary J. Blige showing us even back then, they could seriously do it all. Aerosmith showed us why we loved them, and Nelly was adding a little flavor to a classic. Add in Britney Spears — pre-head shaving, and reminding us how cute she and Timberlake really were together — and it really was a super performance. Kind of makes you want to go find all your old posters doesn’t it? 

3. Wait, a game happened? Two thousand four gave us a Super Bowl that’s remembered more for the halftime performance than the game itself, so clearly a picture was more appropriate. A picture is worth a thousand words and Jackson’s “wardrobe malfunction” definitely proved that true giving viewers more than the scores to be talked about at the water cooler the next day. Janet Jackson did a medley of some of her greatest hits, and collaborated with Justin Timberlake‘s “Rock Your Body” — literally making good on the promise to have her naked by the end of the song.

4. Generation Gapping. Needless to say after the whole Janet Jackson debacle two years prior, they were a little more skeptical when booking their acts. In a smart move they picked the legendary Rolling Stones, a group who’s music transcended generations — making it easier for both you and your family to rock out together to some timeless classics. Although maybe not featuring as many effects as previous years, seeing that the guys still have it made it just as worth it. Satisfaction, indeed.

5. Up next, Madonna. For the 2012 Super Bowl, the performer set to bring the house down during half-time is none other than Madonna. The timeless singer has been around for what seems like forever and will no longer be like a virgin when it comes to the holy grail of football game performances. It’s crazy to think with hits like “Borderline” and “Material Girl” and even more recent songs like “Four Minutes (feat. Justin Timberlake), that the “Material Girl” has never graced the half-time stage before.
What songs do you guys think she should perform? How do you think she’ll rank with some of the other performances?