The winning formula to ensure a spot in Super Bowl halftime history seems to be to do what you do best — deliver your hits and in a big way. To that end, Perry reminded us how she literally skyrocketed onto our playlists and stayed there ever since “I Kissed a Girl” got our attention back in 2008.
Enter edgy Katy. She was not only standing on a giant robotic lion, she did it in stilettos while belting out "Roar." The tiger reared, and Katy was pretty much singing while at a 90-degree angle. It reminded me of when P!nk performed at the Grammys on a trapeze. Before we even caught our breath, Lenny Kravitz took the stage and lent an even cooler factor to “I Kissed a Girl."
More: 13 Incredible photos from Katy Perry's Super Bowl halftime show
The third performer on that stage was Katy’s ponytail. Not since I Dream of Jeannie has a pony had that much 'tude.
Edgy Katy morphs into Beachy Katy, and the whole scene was like it came from Walt Disney, only far far better. It may have "Teenage Dream" time, but I know of a couple in their 50s who were sold hook, line and sinker. It was time for another genre shift and Missy Elliott funked it up in the coolest of ways. Girl power oozed from that stage.
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Next up it was Katy’s chance to soar and take the rest of us along for the ride. For "Firework," she simply stepped on a star and floated over the crowed. She gave us a slow and powerful version of the song that guaranteed her a spot on the nation's Fourth of July playlist for years to come. As if that weren't enough, she gave us something else before she was done. "God bless America!" To be honest, I felt kinda blessed.
The choice of Katy Perry as the headliner this year was a smart one on the part of the NFL, in my opinion. While I imagine some of my Boomer peers across the country were likely grumbling about the good old days (aka the Rolling Stones in 2006 or Aerosmith in 2001), the NFL knows that to keep the game at least as entertaining as the commercials, it needs to deliver the goods to the Gen X and Millennial viewers. So, with Lenny Kravitz in the mix so as not to totally blow off seasoned Super Bowl fans, a plan was born.
Katy Perry tweet about Super Bowl
What's more, let's not forget that the NFL didn't fare particularly well in 2014 when it comes to domestic violence issues, so bring on the girl power of Katy Perry. She delivers the kind of decency that the FCC doesn't have to worry about (is any writing about the Super Bowl halftime show complete without a reference to Janet Jackson's 2004 "Nipplegate"?), her dance moves don't make you feel like you need a shower afterwards and her lyrics are nothing for parents to worry about. Roar on, sister. You delivered and then some.
Lastly, we have to embed some hilarious reactions from Twitter:
Katy Perry's lion entrance reminded everyone of this Family Guy moment:
Katy Perry lion
Her mic? Definitely secured with a Wii strap:
Katy Perry Wii strap
Katy Perry sailing through the air on that star definitely made us think of "The More You Know," too:
Katy Perry The More You Know
Tell us your thoughts on Katy Perry’s halftime show and how you think it will fare in Super Bowl history!
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