15 years ago today, U2 performed during the Super Bowl halftime show

[Y2K]

Just thought with the Super Bowl this weekend and this being the 15th anniversary of the performance, today would be a good day to revisit it. I watched it a few weeks ago and it still made me emotional.

Here's a Yahoo story on how things came together:

How U2's masterful New Orleans performances for NFL almost never happened

 

[Oregoropa]

Meanwhile Bono is searching for relevance. While Tom Brady has always been relevant.

Best halftime show ever !!!

 

[prbiker15]

The best halftime show I have ever seen. Prince is not far behind, but you just can't beat MLK into Streets.

 

[Y2K]

Here is one of the requisite revisitings of their performance:

It's Been 15 Years Since U2 Gave Us the Best Super Bowl Halftime Show Ever | GQ

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

This was the perfect show for the time, but sorry... It's #2 all time.

Prince.

 

[kabigon]

Here is one of the requisite revisitings of their performance:

It's Been 15 Years Since U2 Gave Us the Best Super Bowl Halftime Show Ever | GQ

The article raises a interesting point about U2 being back to unironic sincerity mode. How would they have handled it if they were still in the Pop era, and would they have even been asked to perform?

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

The article raises a interesting point about U2 being back to unironic sincerity mode. How would they have handled it if they were still in the Pop era, and would they have even been asked to perform?

Well... they wouldn't have been asked to perform in the Pop era.

 

[brooklynmike]

Just thought with the Super Bowl this weekend and this being the 15th anniversary of the performance, today would be a good day to revisit it. I watched it a few weeks ago and it still made me emotional.

Here's a Yahoo story on how things came together:

How U2's masterful New Orleans performances for NFL almost never happened

Absolutely incredible and by far the best halftime show ever.

I just realized they played that snippet of Lemon in the intro- that's pretty awesome in itself.

 

[mediaman44]

...but you just can't beat MLK into Streets.

Loved this! What is your favorite lead in song to Streets?

I think I'd have to go with another song from Unforgettable Fire: Pride to streets on the vertigo tour.

 

[Y2K]

There's been a lot of good segues.

Running to Stand Still
Bad / 40
Zooropa

 

[Galeongirl]

This was the perfect show for the time, but sorry... It's #2 all time.

Prince.

But Prince turned so many kids gay because they watched him play his guitar like a fallus. Think of the children!

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

I know this is a U2 forum and all, but Prince played Purple Rain in a fucking thunderstorm.

 

[Nick66]

I remember this moment very well.

All of my friends wanted to change the channel to some comedy special that was going on at halftime, but I wouldn't let them b/c of U2. Simply f*cking fantastic and one of the quintessential moments for U2, if not THE quintessential moment. While not as important to their career, in terms of pure emotional punch I think it surpassed even Live Aid. When those banners came tumbling down...chills.

Looking back, it's pretty clear this absolutely represented the height of U2's popularity, and when, for a moment, they truly were the biggest band in the world.

 

[lazarus]

They were the biggest from 1987-1993.

 

[shineon]

Loved the U2 halftime show. It was truly a cathartic moment for all of us. Remember when the country seemed united ?
(Prince's performance was pretty great, too, Headache.)

 

[AndrewCowley]

Springsteen was better.

My main memory of U2's 2002 performance was how Bono couldn't sing MLK.

 

[LemonMelon]

The Springsteen performance was pretty lousy to his standards, which means it was still entertaining. Definitely not better than U2 though and I say that as a huge fan of both acts.

That being said, yeah... Prince has them both beat. And everyone else.

 

[gvox]

Prince
U2
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Everyone else


Sent from my iPhone using U2 Interference

 

[Hewson]

This was the perfect show for the time, but sorry... It's #2 all time.

Prince.

Agreed