Usher's halftime show: Here's the setlist and everyone who performed with him
I'm sure a lot of people lost their shirts on this year's Super Bowl.
Usher lost his at the Super Bowl during a steamy rendition of "U Got It Bad" with H.E.R. before returning from a costume change on roller skates to end his halftime show performance with "OMG," "Turn Down For What" and the song you had to know would end his halftime show performance, bringing the house down with a proper hip-hop celebration, flanked by Lil Jon and Ludacris, on "Yeah!"
In the leadup to the big day, Usher has been saying what a challenge he felt it would be to squeeze a 30-year career into a 13-minute halftime show.
The man has sent nine singles to the top of Billboard’s Hot 100, including songs as huge as “Yeah!” and “OMG.”
That meant he couldn't even hope to get through every No. 1 before he had to give the field back to the other stars of this year's Super Bowl, the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chief, especially given the fact that he's been telling us he hoped the show would represent his past, his present and his future.
As an overview of Usher's 30 years in show business, that halftime show performance touched on enough of the musical highlights to thrill Usher fans while giving those who tuned in for the game and couldn't name an Usher song if the "Jeopardy!" championship depended on it a solid sense of who he is and how he got the gig.
He's a song and dance man from the Michael Jackson school of pop — he even wore a single glove! — and that performance played directly to those strengths in an elaborately choreographed hit parade that started with the R&B star seated on a mirrored throne in a flowing white coat while singing "Caught Up," which segued directly into "U Don't Have to Call."
Who performed with Usher: Alicia Keys, Lil Jon, will.i.am
After the show worked in snippets of "Superstar" and "Love in This Club," the camera shifted focus to a futuristic-looking red piano, where Alicia Keys made her appearance, looking absolutely stunning in a shimmering red outfit singing "If I Ain't Got You," which segued into an emotional "My Boo," which ended in a cuddle.
A powerful performance of "Confessions Part II" was followed by snippets of "Nice & Slow" and "Burn" before Usher's second special guest, H.E.R., emerged to join him on "U Got It Bad," which featured an electrifying guitar lead that felt like something Prince might play as the shirtless halftime star snuck off to change into his final costume of the day.
From there, it was a star-studded finale, with will.i.am (whose halftime show performance with the Black Eyed Peas featured a guest spot by Usher) on "OMG," Lil Jon on "Turn Down For What" and Lil Jon and Ludacris on "Yeah!"
The show was packed with acrobats and dancers. He even had a marching band join in and took a moment midway through his set to have a conversation with his mother.
"God answers prayers," he said. "They said I wouldn’t make it. They said I wouldn’t be here today, but I am. Hey, Mama, we made it.”
It was the quintessential Usher moment in a halftime packed with strong contenders for that title.
Usher halftime show setlist
Caught Up / U Don't Have to Call
Superstar / Love in This Club
If I Ain't Got You / My Boo (with Alicia Keys)
Confessions / Confessions Part II
Nice & Slow (Snippet)
Burn (Snippet)
U Got It Bad (with H.E.R.)
Bad Girl
OMG (with will.i.am)
Turn Down for What (with Lil Jon)
Yeah! (with Ludacris and Lil Jon)
More on the music: Reba McEntire, Post Malone and Andra Day: Super Bowl 2024's anthems reviewed
Reach the reporter at [email protected] or 602-444-4495. Follow him on Twitter @EdMasley.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Usher's halftime show: Setlist and everyone who performed with him
