In M.I.A.’s middle finger, America experienced the revenge of the punkish types whom the mainstream routinely steals from and defangs. Janet Jackson’s “ wardrobe malfunction” kicked off debates about decency and double standards. But popular culture’s fault lines have a way of surfacing, too. Big-tent icons-Prince, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna-have put on defining performances. Which is why the halftime show has historically been often dazzling, often disappointing, and perpetually contested. No musician would ever otherwise have that kind of audience for a single performance. Year after year, more Americans watch the game than any other TV event, and even with cord-cutting and controversy eating into NFL ratings recently, the Super Bowl still draws more than 100 million viewers from red and blue America alike. There’s no bigger concert stage than the Super Bowl halftime show.
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