Millions of fans watching the Super Bowl on Sunday night were treated to one of the greatest games in National Football League championship history, as the Baltimore Ravens held off the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 at the Superdome in New Orleans.

Once again, however, those same millions of fans were also treated to a less- than-stellar halftime show.

This year’s show featured the talents of Beyonce Knowles, one of popular music’s most highly paid stars. Wearing heels, a leather bathing suit (for lack of a better description) and with her breasts in danger of replicating Janet Jackson’s “wardrobe malfunction” from 2004’s halftime show, Beyonce provocatively paraded, stomped, grinded and danced her way across the stage, from song to song, stimulating many a libido.

Pyrotechnics erupted, dancers frolicked and her all-women live band almost perfectly played the music as Beyonce starred in this theatrical, over-the-top Super Bowl halftime production by Ricky Kirshner. 

Midway through the performance, two women popped up through the stage to the left and right of Beyonce. They were her Destiny’s Child cohorts, reuniting on the stage to sing backup to one of pop music’s biggest solo acts. After harmonizing to Beyonce’s melodic renditions of popular songs such as “I Don’t Think You’re Ready,” and “Put A Ring On It,” the two performers disappeared, leaving Beyonce to wrap up the show, which she thankfully did.

We don’t have anything against Beyonce, as she is one of the most talented singers and performers in the world. What we do have a problem with is the Super Bowl halftime show being more about theatrics than actual talent.

For the past three years, Kirshner has produced halftime shows that featured the Black Eyed Peas, Madonna, M.I.A., Nicki Minaj and now Beyonce. These shows have been over-the-top performances that leave the viewer more dizzied than anything, as these acts perform a whirlwind of songs in less than 25 minutes with elaborate light shows, explosions, circus performances (Madonna’s set included Cirque du Soleil performers) and a medley of below-average songs that today’s music industry forces upon the unsuspecting public.

We’re not advocating that the National Football League go back to having Up With People perform songs that represent American history, as it did in 1976, and we’re not asking that the Super Bowl halftime show lose its theatrics. We are just asking that the over-the-top performances get toned down, and the music become more of the center of attention.

It is possible for this type of performance to exist, as it did with U2 in 2002. The legendary Irish rock group performed three of their biggest songs with light theatrics, but put on one of the greatest shows the Super Bowl has ever seen. They did it with their music, rather than controlled chaos.

Unfortunately, that will probably never happen again as the Super Bowl halftime show is all about popular music collaborations that are geared to entertain the mass audience known as consumers of popular culture. Big business sponsors these shows, as Pepsi did this year, and promote them for several months before the game. The shows are free publicity for the acts. Beyonce, for example, announced after her performance that she is embarking on a world tour.

Forever gone are the days where viewers will be entertained by amazing drum lines, talented marching bands and solid musical performances.

The halftime shows are popular, and we understand that. Last year, three million more people tuned in during halftime than actually watched the football championship game.

Unfortunately for these people, they weren’t treated to a great performance. They were treated to pop-culture excess, which is defining who we are as people and a society, and which last night Beyonce demonstrated all too perfectly with her risqué attire and sexually charged movements.

The Super Bowl is one of the largest events in the world. It’s likely that as many people tune in to watch the game as they do to watch the commercials and the halftime show. It’s just too bad that they aren’t allowed to really experience the music in the process, and for that, we have today’s pop culture visionaries such as Kirshner to thank.

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Today’s editorial was written by Sports Editor Al Edwards on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.