Hardly a subtext, the text of Madonna's entire week leading up to her extravagantly over the top but musically weak half time show was: Madonna is back and you're not. From sniping at main competitor Lady Gaga to inviting strictly second tier stars Nicki Minaj, and M.I.A., it has felt as if she's been shadowboxing. Her own worst enemy as defined by the awful new song "Give Me All Your Luvin'"
So with the world watching, Madonna enters the field to Vogue, as though she is three types of Cleopatra's and proceeds to, well, vogue. The sound is loud and tinny, and, never a particularly melodic song, it is all dance moves and bass bottom. WHo is playing? Sounds like DJs and backing tapes to me.
Next up is a bad "Music" and after that the show begins to shake itself alive with LMFAO. The two bad boys, though again second tier, appear to be actually having fun. Madonna climbs of one of their shoulders and begins to sample "Sexy And I Know It" -funny stuff. Actually, wow, almost like enjoyable. But it doesn't last.
M.I.A. and Nicki and a cast of cheerleaders join Madonna for a run through of the new single, before Cee Lo, no not second tier, third tier or mayby fourth, and a huge chorus join in on "Open Your Heart". Helen Bach called Cee Lo Mr. Potato Head in a caftan and it is hard to deny!
The show ends with a singalong to "Like A Prayer". -sorta what the Giants appear to be left with as I write. Not that I ever doubted for a moment the Giants would win!
And most cynical of all:the message "World Peace" lights up at the end of the song. Begging an answer to the musical question: is Madonna for or against it?
As music goes, there really wasn't any. As entertainment it is out, out, out there. A great, big, silly all American extravaganza with, again Helen, Grandma Gaga right in the middle of it all. But here is the problem: if the music is hollow, and the new single is at least hollow, the show won't save her. Now let's hope Eli saves the Giants.the way Eli saved the Giants.
PS: The next moning, M.I.A. gave the finger to the entire planet. Apparently, she still has a crotch shot phobia (she kicked another photography for the same thing two years ago) and Madonna fell off the riser.
Yeah the show was so so, I still give her props for being in her 50′s and moving like that, but her new single isn’t cutting it. At least it was better than last years Black Eyed Peas show.