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Will Madonna Join Ranks Of Best Super Bowl Halftime Shows?
From the King of Pop to the Boss, the Super Bowl stage has played host to some memorable performances; MTV News looks back on the best.
By James Montgomery
Madonna
Photo: Martin Fraser/ Getty Images
On Sunday night, Madonna will join an exclusive club that includes the likes of Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, Diana Ross and, uh, Up With People when she performs at halftime of Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis.
Yes, you'd be hard-pressed to find a bigger stage than the big game — last year's Super Bowl was watched by some 111 million Americans — which is why the producers of the halftime festivities always recruit the biggest stars to perform (except for 1999, when Big Bad Voodoo Daddy inexplicably found their way into the proceedings). And Madonna most certainly fits that bill, which is why, while we're not quite sure what she'll bring to the Super Bowl stage — aside from her promise that it'll be "the greatest show on earth" — we're reasonably confident that it'll be a performance folks will be talking about on Monday. And probably Tuesday too.
Of course, if Madge wants to secure her spot among the all-time greatest Super Bowl halftime performances, well, she'll definitely have to deliver the goods. Over the years, some of the most prodigious talents have gotten lost in all of the ephemera that comes with a Super Bowl slot (lasers, explosions, confetti, marching bands, will.i.am), but still others have risen to the challenge, delivering performances that have thrilled, chilled and even made us forget about the game itself. Here's a look at our favorite Super Bowl halftime performances.
Check out photos of past Super Bowl halftime shows!
Diana Ross, Super Bowl XXX: The dynamic Diana stole the show in 1996 with a classy, brassy performance that featured nearly as many of her biggest hits as it did costume changes. Her voice was in prime form, powerful enough to outshine a full gospel choir, an army of tuxedo-clad dancers and, of course, end-zone pyrotechnics. But it was her exit — lifted from the stage via helicopter, while blowing kisses as the chorus of "Take Me Higher" blasted through the stadium — that truly put this one over the top.
Prince, Super Bowl XLI: Not even a near-constant downpour could dampen this 2007 performance from the Purple One, who stalked across a custom "symbol" stage (while wearing a kerchief tied around his head), wailed on approximately 46 guitar solos, begged the audience to "take my picture," out-watted the famed FAMU marching band, covered the Foo Fighters and even managed to freak out network censors by casting a lengthy (and quite phallic) shadow from behind a piece of fabric. So, you know, it was just your average Prince show. Oh, and then he did "Purple Rain" in the rain. Meta.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Super Bowl XLIII: They opened with Springsteen leaning on Clarence Clemons (a nod to the cover of 1975's Born to Run), begged the viewing audience to "put down the chicken fingers," and then absolutely, positively destroyed the stage in Tampa with a set that featured classics like "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out," "Born to Run" and "Glory Days." And then Springsteen finished things off by shouting, "I'm going to Disneyland!"As several fans have come to say, this wasn't a halftime performance, it was a football game played around a Springsteen concert. As an added bonus, this is also the performance that gave us the now-immortal meme.
Michael Jackson, Super Bowl XXVII: It started with the late, great King of Pop magically leaping from the Rose Bowl scoreboards to his stage on the 50-yard line, featured a staggering 3,000 dancers, some killer choreography (the Moonwalk!) and a career-spanning medley of Jackson's hits (everything from "Billie Jean" to "Black or White"). And as if MJ's performance wasn't testament to his superstardom, how about the 90-second ovation he received before ever singing a word? It was almost enough to make one young writer forget the Bills were on their way to losing a third-straight Super Bowl. Almost.
U2, Super Bowl XXXVI: If there is another band on the planet more capable of seizing the moment than U2, well, we'd like to meet them. In this case, that meant performing at the first Super Bowl since the 9/11 attacks, before an audience of millions still reeling and recovering. And, in typical form, Bono and company didn't shrink from the spotlight. Though there were more than a few highlights, their solemn, spiritual performance of "Where the Streets Have No Name" — which saw the names of all the victims of 9/11 projected behind them — was not only the most memorable of the night, it's without a doubt the most memorable (and chill-inducing) in Super Bowl history. And then, to top it all off, Bono pulled back his jacket to reveal an American flag. Game over.
What songs do you want Madonna to perform during the halftime show? Leave your comments on our Facebook page!
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Master P's Daughter Cymphonique Miller Is Learning 'How to Rock'
Star of Nickelodeon's new show tells MTV News her dad was reluctant to let her enter 'this crazy business.'
By Christina Garibaldi
Cymphonique Miller
Photo: MTV News
Nickelodeon is getting ready to rock. On Saturday, the network will premiere its new show "How to Rock," starring rising teen star Cymphonique Miller. Miller is a familiar face at Nickelodeon, having guest starred on "True Jackson, VP" and "Big Time Rush," but this time she takes on the role as leading lady on the show, which is based on the book "How to Rock Braces and Glasses" by Meg Haston.
Miller plays high school student Kasey Simon (think Rachel McAdams' character in "Mean Girls"), leader of the Perfs, the most popular girls in school. But Miller's character quickly finds herself kicked out of the "cool crowd" after she gets braces and glasses.
But Kasey won't let the "make-under" get her down. She becomes friends with a new group of students and winds up as the lead singer of their new band, Gravity 5.
"[It's] almost kind of like a battle of the bands, and the Perfs are sort of like the mean girls." Miller recently told MTV News. "It's like the Perfs are always planning some certain way to stop Gravity 5. You can see lots of crazy physical comedy and crazy stunts in the show, 'cause every week we do something totally silly and outrageous."
Miller, who sings and co-wrote the show's theme song, "Only You Can Be You," is no stranger to the spotlight; her brother is actor/rapper Romeo, and her dad is hip-hop mogul Master P. Yet, that doesn't mean it was easy for Miller to persuade her dad to let her star in "How to Rock." She said he didn't want her to be involved in "this crazy business" until he realized how passionate she was about it. So he gave her his approval, on the condition that she keeps up her grades.
"We put education first in our family, and Romeo is like my inspiration because he was not only doing film and everything, but he also went to college, he went to USC," Miller said.
"They're always just constantly telling me to not get into this business for the wrong reasons like fame or money or else you will never be happy, so just do it because you love it."
It seems like Miller certainly is loving what she is doing on "How to Rock" and hopes fans can relate to the show's positive message.
"I hope that fans and the viewers can just take from the show is to find friends who love you for who you are, because it's all about friendship with this show," Miller said. "What they should learn is that at the end of the day, there's nothing more important than being yourself."
"How to Rock" premieres Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET on Nickelodeon.
Are you excited for "How to Rock"? Let us know in the comments.
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Madonna And Nicki Minaj's Kiss: Where's The 'Luvin'?
Video directors Megaforce open up about working with Madge, Nicki and M.I.A. — and why the kiss didn't make the cut.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Rob Markman
M.I.A., Madonna and Nicki Minaj in "Give Me All Your Luvin' "
Photo: Interscope
After fans heard that Madonna had enlisted Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. for her single and video for "Give Me All Your Luvin'," it really felt like anything could happen with those three equally eccentric and visual artists all joining forces. What they ended up creating was an eye-catching clip full of masked cheerleaders, hot football players and lacy outfits (designed by Norma Kamali) that every fan of Madge's "Like a Virgin" era will go crazy over.
The video feels distinctly Madonna — she is the star, after all — but Nicki's and M.I.A.'s presences are felt between the cheerleader chant and their equally funky verses.
"[It was] quite intense but we had a lot of fun. ... It's like shooting three presidents or something like that," Clement Gallet, from video-directing team the Megaforce, told MTV News about the shoot. "I think everybody's a bit stressed. We had time to speak to discuss the idea, to do the fittings. So you have time to meet the people first. I think we maybe thought it would be harder to have these three famous women on set, and I think everything went quite well."
While the trio's collaboration made headlines, so did a kiss Nicki tweeted about that she shared with Madonna on the New York set back in December.
"That's funny, 'cause that's something we didn't really see," he added. "Basically, it was Nicki Minaj's birthday on the shoot, but we were — as always, as the directors — stressed about the next scene and whatever happens, that when the birthday cake arrived, we were already prepping the next scene and we didn't see what happened. And we learned about it on Twitter. So basically, we cannot tell you about the scene," he joked.
Do you wish Nicki and Madonna's kiss had made it into the video? Let us know in the comments!
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'Big Miracle' Is Heartwarming Fun Despite Chilly Temps, Stars Say
Drew Barrymore, John Krasinksi and Kristen Bell discuss their new film, which follows the rescue of three gray whales in Alaska.
By Kara Warner
John Krasinksi and Drew Barrymore in "Big Miracle"
Photo: Universal Pictures
If you're looking for a feel-good film to see this weekend, look no further than "Big Miracle," the story of the real-life rescue of three gray whales trapped in ice near Point Barrow, Alaska, in 1988. Incredibly, the effort became an international issue that involved a rare collaboration between the United States and the Soviet Union and garnered worldwide media attention.
MTV News recently caught up with the three stars of the film, Drew Barrymore, John Krasinski and Kristen Bell, who explained the multi-generational appeal and importance of the story and the cause presented in the film.
"The whales have Twitter accounts," Krasinski joked when asked how the film might specifically appeal to MTV viewers. "So, streamlined information, done deal. Don't ask us, ask them. They'll talk all about it," he said with a smile. "It's a big movie that deals with participation, and with the election coming up and all these different things, and everybody is divided over this, that and the other, and everybody is angry about something. It's one of those moments where you get to say, 'I could just step in and lend my voice to something.' And it really helps, it makes you feel important and special that you're doing something. This movie sort of focuses on that completely, about how when you get a bunch of people together you can kind of do anything."
Barrymore added that the film's setting in the late '80s provides for a unique look back at our media and political cultures at the time.
"It's an interesting look back at how if things were a little different maybe we wouldn't exactly be where we are. But, it's not in a patronizing way, it's in a really interesting way," she said. "And it's amazing historically, like, you know, environmentally and politically. But, I think it's very true to what's going on now, that if people work together, whether it's protesting via Twitter for an important movement to change their country or to do something wonderful and important like saving whales. It's working together, so I think actually in 1987 when this takes place and what's going on right now today, they definitely have a connection."
Kristen Bell also focused on the warm, fuzzy aspects of the film, particularly how its positive message compares to the continually multiplying "train wreck" elements involved in other films and TV.
"I think it's a very positive story as opposed to many of the unendingly interesting train wrecks that are put on television or in films these days, which believe me, I'm not poo-pooing, but there's something very inspiring about a story where a bunch of different people come together for a common goal and actually accomplish it," Bell explained. "It's very, very inspiring, I think. And often times, news headlines or things that are written about in blogs, you know, reality television, it's not as inspiring as you want it to be, at least not for me. And it actually happened. It's historical, so you'll get smarter watching it. You'll also be inspired, so you'll be happier. What's the downfall? See the movie!"
Are you planning on seeing "Big Miracle"? Leave your comment below.
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Rick Ross Has No Beef With Pill
'Once you rep the MMG flag, I'll never step on your feet,' Rick Ross tells MTV News of his former Maybach affiliate.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway
Rick Ross
Photo: MTV News
God Forgives, I Don't may be the name of Rick Ross' upcoming LP, but the Bawse isn't as coldhearted as his album title may suggest. When it comes to former Maybach Music affiliate Pill, Rozay wishes the Atlanta MC all the best.
"I'm a real dude and I'm a real boss and once you rep the MMG flag, I'll never step on your feet; I'mma give you a pass anyway," Ross told MTV News correspondent Sway Calloway of Pill while at French Montana's "Shot Caller" remix video shoot in Miami on Sunday.
In December, P-I-Double L took to Twitter to vent about his label situation with Warner Music Group, blaming WMG for his lack of radio and television support. Because of his prominent appearance on Maybach Music's Self Made Vol. 1 compilation, many believed that Pill was signed to Ross' label, but in an exclusive interview with MTV News in January, Pill revealed that he was never technically signed to Rozay and that his deal went strictly through MMG's parent company, Warner.
"Pill's situation was a special situation because he was already signed to Warner before I did my label deal at Warner. So when I did do my deal, it was a business opportunity that was presented where Pill could run with the team for a year," Ross confirmed. "I took that opportunity. That year ran its course and it was pretty much up to Warner what decisions they wanted to make with Pill as an artist after that point. I think they made it."
Pill told MTV News in January that he was working on getting a release from Warner and made it clear that he had no problems with anyone in MMG personally — though he did say that he and Ross didn't speak very often. "I ain't got nothing against none of them, nobody. It's just the situation don't work," Pill said matter-of-factly. "It's cool with us, I don't got nothing against Ross either. It's just I don't talk to him."
Some believed that Pill's outspokenness would anger the Boss, but Rozay didn't take any of it to heart. "He made sure he reached out to me and called me and clarified," Ross said. "He expressed that in no way was he disrespecting the team or the brand, because it's a great opportunity and a great look."
As far as why the "Trap Goin' Ham" rapper's situation didn't work out, Ross thought the young MC just needed a hit record and a little luck to build his momentum. He used the success of MMG's Meek Mill and Wale to exemplify his point. "Certain things happen for certain people at certain times and none of us could really predict that," he explained. "I couldn't predict that Meek Mill would bring 'Ima Boss' to me or we couldn't predict that Wale would bring 'That Way.' "
Even though Pill and WMG are now going their separate ways, Ross is looking forward to seeing his former Maybach affiliate rack up a win. "Hopefully, in the future he'll bring him a hit record, and get him some paper and do his thing," he said. "I wish him much success."
What do you hope to see from Pill in the future? Leave your comments below!
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