Since the conclusion of the AFC and NFC championship games, the talk has finally turned to the upcoming Super Bowl. The San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens are set to face off in what is expected to be a nail-biting game for the ages and potentially one of the most exciting Super Bowls in the past few seasons.
However, while most people are excited to see these two teams face off Feb. 3, there are many who are more interested in the performing artists that will be performing in front of hundreds of thousands of television sets before the game and during halftime.
The NFL has slated up two impressive female singers to woo audiences during the biggest football game of the year. Alicia Keys will be singing the National Anthem before the game commences and Beyonce will be on stage during the always-heavily anticipated halftime show.
While most people are analyzing stats and hedging bets on Colin Kapaernick and Joe Flacco, some are just as interested to see the performance of the two beautiful performers. Super Bowl XLVII marks the third time that we get to see Keys perform, she sang the National Anthem in 2005 and performed during the pregame show in 2008. There is just as much pressure for the artist singing the National Anthem as there is on the two teams competing for the championship.
Every year, viewers place their bets on whether or not the National Anthem will be sang without mistake. The question this year is will Alicia Keys go the route of Christina Aguilera in 2011 and completely flub a line? Or will she perform a flawless rendition of The Star Spangled Banner as did Kelly Clarkson last year?
There is no less pressure for Beyonce this year. As infamous as the tension surrounding the National Anthem can be, it does little to compare to the scrutiny that the halftime performance is under. Year after year, critics point out errors, mistakes, and completely inappropriate moments during one, if not, the most widely watched performance on television of the year.
Last year, we saw The Black Eyed Peas have difficulty with their microphones, auto-tuning, and a plain lack of talent on the national stage.
In 2007, Prince gave the nation a questionable silhouette of him playing his guitar during the solo in "Purple Rain", bringing about the outcry millions watching.
Of course, who could forget the most infamous of halftime slipups is the infamous 2003 Janet Jackson breast exposure. Beyonce has always been known for her powerful singing and performances, let's hope she and Alicia Keys can set a new standard for Super Bowl performances.
