Katy Perry is spectacular as NFL turns Lenny Kravitz into a beard

/ February 1, 2015

Katy Perry didn’t let me down during the halftime show just now, turning in a short and colorful array of her hits that was likely more entertaining than the first quarter of the 14-14 first quarter of the tie forged in tonight’s Super Bowl by the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots.

Kerry Perry was ready to salute the world with her halftime show at the Super Bowl. (Getty Images file photo)

Kerry Perry was ready to salute the world with her halftime show at the Super Bowl. (Getty Images file photo)

The special effects were cool, her costumes were tasteful — maybe a tad too — and the music rocked with pop culture explosions.

But, oh, what of poor guitar star Lenny Kravitz, billed all along as a featured guest?

That rock standout came to the stage but for just mere moments, during her hit “I Kissed a Girl.” He played a bit of guitar, and he sang that title chorus along with Katy.

And my conspiratorial mind went to work, hard, especially as he went away not to be seen again during her dozen or so minutes of play.

Lenny Kravitz, playing hard. (Getty Images file photo)

Lenny Kravitz, playing hard. (Getty Images file photo)

Did the famously conservative NFL really bring Lenny Kravitz out merely to sing that phrase to deaden its effect to the greater populace in comparison to if only Katy Perry had sang her song to football fans who perhaps had not heard her sing that before?

If so, how sad for those league officials, for her, for free thinkers, for people who kiss girls and like it no matter their gender.

What did you think of Katy Perry’s halftime show? Did you notice Lenny Kravitz’s short performance? What do you think of the NFL’s motive?

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63 thoughts on “Katy Perry is spectacular as NFL turns Lenny Kravitz into a beard”

  1. Mark – I agree – and they made him look kinda stupid. and well, I also thought that Katy Perry’s show was stale. I mean – fine quality- liked the chess piece s- but the rest – really? just di dnot feel that interactive and seemed like the same overplayed hits we all lived for a few years in a row – not that overplayed is always bad – but I thought her show was tired and stale. and you noted that she was maybe too conservative – but that was part of what I liked because there are so many children that watch and well, it was just respectful because there will be plenty of other images elsewhere…. ha!

    oh – and I shared this over on wendy’s blog – but someone sent me this and had to share it here….
    pretty funny….
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwmP0UwHL9k&feature=youtu.be

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      • okay, I accept that – and actually do still lvd those jams – so I can see why nobody is really complaining either ya know?
        and I like the “disappearing” word used for his act

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  2. I thought Katie did a great job, although many of my friends panned the performance. Not sure why. Katie Perry is Katie Perry, right? We got what we expected. And the Lenny bit made me feel old, to tell you the truth. He’s a ROCK star, for goodness’ sake. A real one. And looked like he was just her bass player or backup singer. Back in the day, he would have been the headliner. Or maybe not. Bad boys rarely are, right? 🙂

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  4. Oh my…I am SO unsophisticated (gulp…middle America!)
    My only thought after the half-time show was, “Wow! I wished Lenny would have played more!”
    Katy was great and the effects were awesome. I’m also a huge Missy E fan, so I entered the second half a very happy spectator without a clue why anything happens the way it does.
    Heck! Maybe it was ME who called the play on that last offensive series.
    How’s THAT for conspiracy?!??!

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  5. Did not analyze as fully as you did, Mark, but you have to be right on. And considering it’s a family-frienldy viewing event, I was grateful that Katy did not show too much skin. If Lenny was used just to make it ok to sing about kissing a girl, then I am sorry, but at the same time it worked with my daughters watching. They will grow up in a world where it’s ok for girls to kiss girls, and I am good with that, but the All-American Super Bowl maybe isn’t the time to push any envelopes (though it’s not a new envelope). My naive thought was that they wanted to have someone for all ages, like last year with Chili Peppers and Mr. Mars.

    Overall, I liked. It was fun. Can’t disagree that more Lenny would have been more better.

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    • If Katy singing that lyric at Super Bowl halftime exposes some little eyes and ears and moves them to ask “why mommy and daddy” for the first time and causes “because all people can love all people” answers that would be good, I think, Liz. Waldrobe malfunctions, not needed, though, I agree.

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  7. I loved all of Katy P’s performances, but the clever beach decorations and her being high above the crowd with her starry gown, with fireworks shooting off, those were my two favorite parts, Mark!!

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  8. I was watching/listening as I was cooking dinner. I happened to look up & see Lenny & stopped to watch – and yes I wondered why all of a sudden he was gone – don’t even think he finished the song. But, I have to be honest, for a change I didn’t even think about it, probably because all I had was dinner on my mind, LOL, which I turned around and continued cooking. BUT now that you say that . . . hmmm . . .

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  10. It was weird to see him come on and then disappear. He has a good energy to him, and then he disappeared. How long did he have to practice for that? Five minutes? It was fun to see Missy with her long weave, getting her freak on.

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  11. We thought the waving palm trees and inflated dolphins were just weird. It was too “pop” for our taste. MInd you, this is the first Super Bowl halftime I’ve ever watched in my life and only because my sister is here….rabid and now inconsolable Seahawks fan…..so I watched until Lenny came on. Then went upstairs to watch Downton Abbey. I could track the progress of the game by the shrieking from downstairs.

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    • Good way to monitor the progress, Barbara. That was one exciting second half, by the way. Too bad about the interception and your sister’s seizure. I was rooting for the ‘Hawks, too, but I was not that invested.

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  14. yeh, the lenny insert was a bit odd, and i do agree with your theory, the half-time show seemed a bit too ‘pop-ish’ and late 1990’s for me, with a bit of urban edge thrown in with the missy elliot factor. all that being said, the production was big and loud and flashy and fun and colorful and i think they played it safe to middle america and the mix of generations watching and it will probably be highly regarded.

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  16. I’m not a big football fan, but watched off and on until the half-time show. Katy was awesome! I loved when she flew around on a wire…I had the same thought, Mark. Too outrageous for those who have never (incredibly) heard the song before to think of a female singing that about another female. Thus, Lenny stopped in for a quick minute. I did see the interception, though–wasn’t rooting for either team, but that was a memorable play for sure.

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    • Yeah, the NFL wanted to cover its bases with Mr. Kravitz. Bad form. I threw a penalty flag.

      Bad play call on the interception on the field! Lynch could have run it in and won the game, Ermine. Ah, well.

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  17. This same thought occurred to me, Mark, as I watched. So, it’s a male voice singing the “I Kissed a Girl” chorus. Oh, brother! I saw only about half of the half-time show, but give her high marks for what I did see. Yes, her costumes were quite tasteful, I noticed that, too. Probably to appease the teenage audience and all their parents! If I recall, the same thing happened last year to the Chili Peppers playing with Bruno Mars. They played maybe one song, while Bruno Mars did the rest!

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  18. I didn’t watch the game but I should have for the half time show. Grrrrr. Interesting theory you have their Mark. Wouldn’t surprise me if you’re right. People are weird sometimes…. ❤
    Diana xo

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  19. I think you are spot on with this. How strange though that the NFL would be so squeemish about a girl kissing a girl and yet so lenient with its domestic abuse policies and enforcement. They seem to be worrying about the wrong thing.

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  20. Ummm, I ddn’t see it but there doesn’t seem to be much in the way of alternate perspectives on what you describe Mark. Remember that evangelical forces are directng a lot of politics these days – and we all know their opinion on lesbians. .

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  22. In my usual rebellious fashion, I did not watch the Superbowl today and therefore did not catch the half time show. I don’t know whether watching it would have made me come to the same conclusion you did. It’s very possible. In fact, I like how you think, very cynical. I don’t doubt that it is possible that that was what they were attempting to do, but, in doing so, they could have just as easily conjured up images of Katy Perry and Lenny Kravitz kissing the same girl!! I bet they didn’t think of that one!

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