The Black Eyed Peas at the Super Bowl: Pop absurdity at its finest

As the Black Eyed Peas' Super Bowl halftime performance in Arlington, Texas, halted and revved up for its final act, there was a brief glimpse at the band that could have been. The retro-future stage -- outfitted with multiple moving platforms and a multitude of lights, as if the Peas had blown up Disney's Main Street Electrical Parade -- rearranged itself to spell out the the word "Love." 

Peas ringleader will.i.am stood straight and looked directly into the camera. Outfitted to look something like a cross between an astronaut and a "Star Wars" character, will.i.am updated the lyrics to "Where Is the Love?" and called upon the president to "create jobs so the country stays stimulated." As political commentary, it was far from divisive, but the 2003 hit was a brief reminder of the Los Angeles act's roots. The Peas were once a socially-conscious hip-hop act, and as recently as eight years ago were interested in more than simply overly stimulating their audience.

But that shift in direction -- these days, the Peas have time for only mindless partying -- is largely what made the act quite possibly the most perfectly suited contemporary group for a Super Bowl halftime show. Since the 2004 Janet Jackson disaster, the NFL has targeted the boomer crowd, with little success. Bruce Springsteen hammed it up in 2009 to pander the mass audience, and the Who ran out of gas last year, trying to play the part of an act that still mattered.

The Peas, however, didn't really have to change a thing. The Peas of 2011 embrace all things commercial and ridiculous. Corny? Please. In the world of the Peas, nothing is too silly and everything is built for exaggeration.

Fergie, who plays the role of "the one with sex appeal" in the group, wore a glittery top that looked like butterfly-shaped battle armor. It was absurd and somewhat laughable, yet the Super Bowl isn't the place for subtlety or veteran rockers trying to garner headlines.  

So, as dancers with lampshades on their heads surrounded the band, the Peas once again proved that there is no outfit, no dance move and no lyric ("Mazel tov!") too silly to be shouted to the hinterlands. The Peas, love 'em or hate 'em, are the group this game of hype deserves.

Smartly, the Peas largely stayed away from their stinker of a recent album, "The Beginning," dipping only briefly into "The Time (Dirty Bit)," with will.i.am and Fergie copping a prom-like embrace. Yet the tune isn't really a song as much as it is an excuse to show off some nifty digital sounds, a compilation of parts that approaches songwriting as if it's a commercial.

Indeed, the band can do those too, as will.i.am even directed his own Super Bowl ad, and unavoidable songs such as "Let's Get It Started" and "Pump It" are little more than a collection of game-day slogans. The Peas largely stayed still during the performance, letting the backup dancers in "Tron"-like get-ups do much of the work and provide the eye candy. And eye candy it was, as -- and all apologies to Daft Punk -- there's nothing in Disney's "Tron: Legacy" as goofily surreal as a band singing the phrase "Boom Boom Pow" in Lazer Tag fashions.  

The whole performance wasn't a winner. When Slash emerged from beneath the act's rotund stage/space shuttle launch pad, it was a turn for the worst. Here come the overcooked guitar lines and moment of nostalgia, but as Slash and Fergie ran through a snippet of "Sweet Child O' Mine," it was a small consolation that Fergie can do a better Axl Rose than Axl these days. 

Usher then descended from the ceiling to show off his dance moves, and the verses for his "O.M.G." were the only moments when the halftime show approached anything near risque. Much has been made of the Peas appearing at the Super Bowl, as pop-culture pontificators wondered whether the former rap group would do anything controversial. But no worries, as even Fergie's skirt was at an appropriate length. Really, the Peas had zero interest in alienating, even if they persuaded Usher to wear a suit that was missing only a Stormtrooper mask. 

Plenty may bemoan the absence of a more straight-ahead -- and, let's face it, artful -- act such as Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, but the Peas' music is made for short bursts. This is the rare band that can shine with a medley.

Also, as far as music entertainment at this Super Bowl goes, the Peas were something of a revelation at Cowboys Stadium. Christina Aguilera bungled a line of the National Anthem, and stretched and yelled the word "brave" as if she were giving a lesson in what tinnitus sounded like. Pregame, Maroon 5 was adult-pop at its most bland, and Keith Urban, despite his stylish guitar playing, was indistinguishable country-pop. 

The Peas, however, are singularly unique, even if they're far away from their more thought-provoking early days. The set came to an end with "I've Got a Feeling," and Fergie chest-pumped as she sang the words "pa-pa-pa-pa-party everyday." Nonsense? In the hands of nearly any other chart-toppers, yes, but the Peas approach partying as if it's some sort of battle cry. Their weapons are little more than tuneful chants, and their army is fluorescent, but it's built for stadiums.

-- Todd Martens 

Photo: Getty Images

Comments

[Kyle zet]

The black eyed peas have very little talent, and that became evident after watching them 'perform' live at halftime.it makes you realize all their copyright lawsuits they've been getting lately truly hold ground. the success they do have is from ripping off others music

[Bartholomew]

The halftime show was really horrible this year. Microphones kept cutting out, the singers were flat, technical difficulties with the stage, and let's not even mention that bastardized version of Sweet Child O' Mine. Oh, Slash, I am so ashamed to be a fan of Guns N' Roses right now. I don't know who is to blame; maybe they didn't do rehearsals, but honestly, someone should get fired for that travesty.

Don't get me started on the national anthem at the beginning. I'll say that not only did she screwed up a line, I felt Christina wasn't really singing, so much as violently attacking my ears - I was very disappointed.

Listen up musicians, if you get the honor of being chosen to perform at the most coveted television event of the year, show up for rehearsals and know your lines. Overall, the only musical performance that wasn't an assault on my ears tonight was Lea Michele. So hey, maybe that's what they should do next year, have the cast of Glee do the performances.

[Atlanta Roofing HQ]

The black eyed peas were terrible. fergie cant sing for her life and the sound in general was horrible. absolutely one of the worst halftime shows Ive ever seen.

[Mark]

Missed the show, but not all the half-time show were bad...

Prince did a fine fine job on his, the talent there was obvious.

I'm not a big fan of Shania's, but Sting was great and then the duet with Steffani was fantastic.

I don't think there was any Autotune needed for those shows.

BEP's outfits were better for the other football championships last year! (So glad there weren't any long plastic horns at this one ;-)

Cheers!

[DG3]

The Super Bowl halftime shows are always overkill. That's THE best time to hit the bathroom, grab some more grub and hit the internet for emails.

[hank]

6 Words.....The Artist Currently Known As Prince.............didn't need to sing 2 songs twice and didn't need ANY cameos

[Sara]

Oh dear...what to say, I felt like I was watching a christmas karaoke band, absolutlly horrible halftime show! BEP - all they did was scream and screech (fergie was the worst) and Usher looked as though he wasnt doing a darn thing but dancing. Slash...woohoo you can play the guitar and let some broad butcher that song...As for Christina - Shame on you! EMBARRASSING! People theres a huge difference between singing and screaming. Learn to carry a tune...NFL, SUPERBOWL Cmon you can do better, Id rather see janets exposure than the junk I saw last night.

[Mike]

I thought it was great to have a more "current" band. It's about time! Usually, they have a parade of dinosaurs performing. This was a fun, exciting, lively, and full of energy show.

[nickmagoo]

Taking a one hour game and stretching it into 4 1/2 hours thanks to endless commercials and nonsensical half time shows has turned the Super Bowl into nothing more than background noise for me the last few years. You know what the best half time show would be? NOTHING.

[Bree]

God they sounded terrible without autotune... nd fergie butchered "sweet child O'mine", usher in a way semi-distracted us from the bad performance...but he just said O.M.G. and danced, then descended back to where he came from. It was a random, stupid, and terrible halftime show.

[MG]

this is what SHOULD have happened at the halftime show:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xD_wmMwnJMY

[Thrushjz]

Sound man didn't pull up Fergies voice in time, missed the first few words. She was singing out of tune and yelling.
No excuse for a group as big as BEP to use only tracks, put more musicians out of work, great example for millions of kids to see, fantastic.
Sound was pathetic, all the sound man had to do was mix a backtrack with a few vocals and missed even that.
Oh, sure, glitzy...but no substance. Parliament Funkadelic or Earth Wind and fire did the glam and the music better 30 years ago.

[Paul Byrne]

This is Vegas 2.0, their songs little more than jingles, and their reliance on covers and samples making them America's most expensive wedding band. Over here in sunny Ireland, we've got identical twins Jedward, a cartoon covers outfit who are all about, hey, havin' a good time. All the time. The Peas have their moments, but there's almost an entire lack of soul here...

[LABASS]

Here is what I think about the show,

-The technicality of the actual show lights, people etc = B
That show had more of a Daft Punk feel to it, I kept looking for Daft Punk to fly in with parachutes or something like that.
-The music = C, all but the last song they performed was music almost 2 years old...
-Overall i give it a C+

[Steve]

Auguilera singing the Star Spangled Banner was a typical diva performance, trying to sound memorable, while maybe she should just sing the damn song (aren't peple in the audience supposed to be singing along? no one could with her rendition).

[link]

The half time show is a perfect reason to go to the kitchen, When I returned, they were still yelling, which left me chanting " Let's Get It Stopped!"

[Troy]

Best halftime show ever? Sir Paul McCartney!

[danski]

Worst Halftime show ever hands down!! The Black Eyed Peas had no business being there - somebody should have pulled the plug 30 seconds into it! Ghastly!!

[Chloe]

I'm sorry but I hated it! The whole thing was so boring. It really showcased to me what is wrong with performers who need a studio to make them stars. Fergie can't sing, Will I wasn't can't rap, and what was up with the lit up dancing condom's. They need to fire their costume designer. Captain Kirk wants his outfits back. I did like Slash, it really made me miss the days of hard rock. Axl could sing, fergie actually tried yo sound like him. What a mistake, a true "artist" takes a song and makes it their own. She was off as was the whole peas, bad show all the way around. I was also shocked by Christine's blowing the anthem. I needed air plugs. It sent chills down my spine but not for the right reasons. BRING BACK the high school marching bands!

[Deano]

"The WHO", all approaching 70, kicked these your hip hoppers aszes. The Super Bowl should stick with the classic rockers. Very few acts, from the last 25 years, are any good.............

[Leonard]

Who even cares about the halftime show? I don't even turn the game on until it's well underway. I hate all the pregame hype and stories, who gives a crap? As soon as halftime appears I switch stations and turn it back when the 3rd quarter is underway. The super bowl is nothing but hype and crap for the masses of sheep out there that talk about the stupid commercials the next day. Who gives a rats fart? As far as I'm concerned the super bowl has been ruined by the NFL. All in the name of profit, forget the game it's the merchandise they can cram down your throat that matters. Pro football like all other professional sports is a joke anymore.

[Brian Stutchman]

Is there no one around that has the ability to open their mind to something that is totally alien to their favorite genre or personality? I am a Classic Rock guy with a lot of Elvis thrown in. I don't know techno pop from Sugar Pops; I wouldn't know Fergie if she walked in here right now wearing a shirt that says "Hi, I'm Fergie". But that said, I also didn't know who Tommy Dorsey or Glenn Miller were. Until I lived in Ohio for a while I din't know Diamond Rio or Toby Keith or even Johnny Cash. Point is, I learned to open my mind up and appreciate what each has to offer. No, Keith Urban will never replace Elvis on my iPod and I won't be downloading any Black Eyed Peas tunes any time soon. But I was able to enjoy the work put into the halftime show last night because it was just that: a work of art unto its own. Comparing wil.i.am and his bunch to Tom Petty or The Boss is just silly. If you have the chance, watch the show last night with a little bit of an open mind and enjoy it for what it was: a work of art.

[Shut.out]

Anythng is better than PRINCE!

[Ed]

Bring Prince back.

[stuuuu]

since Prince killed it years ago in miami, the halftimes have been forgettable and ridiculous. The only person in the peas who can sing is fergie, those other clowns cant hold a note. It sounded terrible and looked like a dyslexic 3rd graders idea of a rave.