Whether you were rooting for the 49ers or the Chiefs this year, the 2024 Super Bowl was a wild ride for all parties. The narrow score had everyone on the edge of their seats towards the end of the 4th quarter when a tie led us into overtime. At this point in the game, it felt like everyone (the audience included) was getting tired. This showed through the 49er’s exhausted defense which some say cost them the game. As someone who roots for the underdogs, I was cheering for the 49ers. The Chiefs just won the Superbowl a year prior, and to me, it would be overkill to win again. Sadly my prayers went unanswered, and the Chiefs took the shining trophy home.
But we all know the Super Bowl isn’t just about the game. A big part of viewership comes from anticipation over the halftime show, where a chosen artist will put on possibly the most televised performance of their lives. This year’s performer was Usher, who, in my opinion, was a perfect choice. The halftime show seems like the perfect opportunity for artists out of their prime to return to the spotlight. However, Usher did not fully reach the expectations I had. Maybe it is because Usher was not at his peak during my time, but some songs he chose to perform were not what I would consider to be his “biggest hits”. Usher was found to be overshadowed by some of his guest stars — one of them being Alicia Keys. His performance (and hug) with Alicia turned out to be a popular topic emerging from the entire show. He was also joined by H.E.R., Ludacris, Lil Jon, and Will.i.am., whom he has collaborated with for some of his biggest hits. Still, Usher’s energy felt flat and lacked the hype I look for in a halftime show. His stage setup was nothing new or original, it lacked the cohesion of Rihanna’s red and white-themed performance from 2023, or the originality of 2015’s Katy Perry’s gold metallic lion. I also found Usher hard to hear at certain points, as if there were some issues with his audio. Many were also disappointed that Justin Bieber did not make a cameo, seeing as Usher was once known to be Bieber’s mentor. The combination of the songs chosen, the predictable visuals, and also the initial microphone technical difficulties made for a lackluster performance.
Another important aspect of the Super Bowl entertainment is the advertisements played during the game. Companies pay millions for their ads to be shown on such a large platform. This means companies aim to put their best ad ideas forward to garner the most buzz and attention. Per usual these ads were jam-packed with celebrities, notably Beyoncé. Beyoncé expertly used a Verizon ad to announce her new album, “Act II”, which will be released on March 29th. In my opinion, this was the best way to utilize the stage of the Super Bowl to self-promote. When 120 million people were watching, Beyonce let not only her fans, but everyone know to expect her new music. Her smart business moves made it one of the more enjoyable ads in my opinion.
On the other hand, the e-commerce website Temu also released a Super Bowl ad. However, this one quickly became overkill, as it was played six times over the entire game. The ad itself was boring, the art style felt very “corporate” and uninteresting, and the main attention-grabbing theme of the advertisement was the extremely low prices plastered across the screen with the “shop like a billionaire” ear-worm jingle in the background. The ad turned out to be one of the lowest points of the game based on the jingle alone.
After a long overtime, the Chiefs won with a game-changing touchdown and Taylor Swift and her crew (including Blake Lively, Ice Spice, and Lana Del Rey) cheered in excitement. With all the excitement, we move on to the post-bowl show. The show consists of interviews with the players and coaches and footage of all the celebrations. Travis Kelce stole the show with his own performance, chanting “Viva Las Vegas” to hype the crowd. The show however was bittersweet as footage of the 49ers players reacting to their loss was shown alongside the cheering Chiefs. Videos of the players sitting on benches covered in confetti with defeated looks, and even showing the 49er quarterback Brock Purdy being consoled by his coach, definitely pulled at my heartstrings. While I felt the excitement of the Chiefs’ accomplishment, I couldn’t help but feel for the ones who got so close to victory. But while seeing the loss may feel like a damper on the celebration of the wins, both sides show the beauty of sports. Thousands on each side came together to support the team they identify with, and the Super Bowl is when we all come together. We throw parties to root for a team together; we experience anticipation, stress, sadness, and excitement together. The Super Bowl is when we all unite to feel the elating highs and the disappointing lows of the game.
