HOUSTON — There is a type of fearlessness that allows us to willfully leap from the roof of NRG Stadium, supported only by two cables, descend a few-dozen stories down into the largest single moment of our lives.
Then there is fearlessness of another kind, that gives us the courage to speak up for our beliefs, for unity and for those who don’t possess a platform nearly as grand as ours.
Unfortunately Lady Gaga pursued only the former in her Super Bowl LI Halftime Show Sunday night, as the dance-pop star delivered a fierce 13 minutes of hits and sharp choreography in an almost vintage, singularly focused performance — a tactic the most massive gig on Earth has avoided in recent years.
Gaga was laser-aimed throughout, her eyes pinned to the camera from behind a sequined face mask equal parts KISS and ’90s Bedazzler.
The performance, as epically as it began with Gaga going full “Mission: Impossible” (or Pink at the Grammys) from the stadium rafters, was themed innocuously, as a vague American celebration: teased blonde hair, ruby red pin-up lipstick, star props galore, and hundreds of drones creating a red-and-blue American flag in the sky above the Houston venue. To the scene, Gaga sang a mashup of “God Bless America” and “This Land Is Your Land.”
Truly, before any deems me unpatriotic, all of this was fine in essence. For fans of the 30-year-old New York songstress, it was an electric performance and a wholly sufficient of Gaga’s career thus far.
But fans who have followed Gaga as a leonine social activist over the last decade had to assume she would say something — anything — addressing the country’s current state of division, hate and intolerance, from both sides of the spectrum.
But Gaga wore only a poker face to the day’s politics this night, as she stuck to the hits and unleashed what will be remembered as an energizing, yet very safe performance. The girl in the meat dress had her chance to make a real statement, and be it powers beyond her or her own discretion, she just didn’t go for it.
Was the of the mix of “God Bless America” and “This Land Is Your Land” — punctuated with a cutesy “one nation under god” jab — meant to be some grand statement of American unity? Maybe.
But on America’s ultimate stage, a more pointed wake-up call would have done more good than this gentle nudge.
Lady Gaga Super Bowl Halftime Show Set List:
- “God Bless America” + “This Land Is Your Land”
- “Edge of Glory”/ “Poker Face”
- “Born This Way”
- “Telephone”
- “Million Reasons”
- “Bad Romance”
Bobby Olivier may be reached at bolivier@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BobbyOlivier. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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