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Super Bowl 2014: Bruno Mars stands — and delivers — in halftime show
Los Angeles Times ^ | 02/03/2014 | Mikael Wood

Posted on 02/03/2014 7:23:53 AM PST by SeekAndFind

Review: Young charmer Bruno Mars brings fresh energy to familiar styles during his brief but snapped-tight set. Too bad L.A.'s own Red Hot Chili Peppers crashed the stage.

The question dominated much of the nonfootball-related chatter in the run-up to Sunday's Super Bowl: As the featured act of this year's halftime show, was Bruno Mars really up to the job of entertaining a television audience of approximately 100 million people?

The answer, it turned out, was yes. But before he could prove it, Mars had to weather a storm of skepticism. He's only 28, decades younger than other artists who've played the show recently, such as Prince and the Rolling Stones. And Mars has released only two albums, a puny songbook compared to the deep troves of Bruce Springsteen and the Who.

The singer himself seemed to acknowledge his inexperience at a news conference last week, saying the call to perform "definitely came soon" in his career. (Wary of arming his naysayers, he quickly added, "I ain't scared.")

Yet after several halftime extravaganzas touched by controversy — including the appearance of M.I.A.'s middle finger during Madonna's 2012 show and last year's performance by Beyoncé, who just weeks prior had caused an uproar by lip-synching at President Obama's second inauguration — it's easy to see why the National Football League chose Mars to headline Sunday's halftime show at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

An old-fashioned charmer with old-fashioned talent, Mars is probably the most wholesome star in Top 40 pop right now, not to mention the one whose skill set most readily overlaps with that of the legends of yesteryear. He's also deeply unlikely to flash any skin — a reassuring prospect to NFL brass still haunted by a glimpse of Janet Jackson's nipple 10 years ago.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Music/Entertainment; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: brunomars; superbowl2014; whocares
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1 posted on 02/03/2014 7:23:54 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Part James Brown, part Michael Jackson. It was a great performance.


2 posted on 02/03/2014 7:25:34 AM PST by thefactor (yes, as a matter of fact, i DID only read the excerpt)
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To: thefactor

I don’t like James Brown or Michael Jackson. I think these half-time shows need to be abolished. :p


3 posted on 02/03/2014 7:26:32 AM PST by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans!)
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To: thefactor

Bruno: good
RHCP: BAD!


4 posted on 02/03/2014 7:27:09 AM PST by Michael.SF. (I never thought anyone could make Jimmy Carter look good in comparison.)
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To: SeekAndFind

For those who missed it, here’s his full 14 minute halftime show performance at the Superbowl:

http://www.justjared.com/2014/02/02/bruno-mars-super-bowl-halftime-show-2014-video-watch-now/

The performance wore its sources well, doubling as a history lesson in song.

The songs Mars offered represented a virtual pop nexus of the last 40 years, touching on bouncy ‘60s Motown (Reminding me of the Temptations), fun ‘70s disco funk, slick ‘80s pop and a hint of modern hip-hop-flash. At one point, he even referenced James Brown’s fast-footed dance moves.


5 posted on 02/03/2014 7:27:30 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: thefactor

For those who missed it, here’s his full 14 minute halftime show performance at the Superbowl:

http://www.justjared.com/2014/02/02/bruno-mars-super-bowl-halftime-show-2014-video-watch-now/

The performance wore its sources well, doubling as a history lesson in song.

The songs Mars offered represented a virtual pop nexus of the last 40 years, touching on bouncy ‘60s Motown (Reminding me of the Temptations), fun ‘70s disco funk, slick ‘80s pop and a hint of modern hip-hop-flash. At one point, he even referenced James Brown’s fast-footed dance moves.

Most of all, it was well... decent, old school entertainment.


6 posted on 02/03/2014 7:28:18 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: Michael.SF.

I was surprised when I heard Bruno Mars was going to be the halftime performer. I must admit I think he did an excellent job. I’m not a fan of his music, but he put on a very good performance.


7 posted on 02/03/2014 7:28:45 AM PST by VA_Gentleman ("Poor Al Gore. Global warming completely debunked via the very internet you invented." -Jon Stewart)
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To: SeekAndFind

Bruno Mars has grown on me, and a lot of that is because he draws on classic soul and R&B.


8 posted on 02/03/2014 7:30:29 AM PST by ZirconEncrustedTweezers (I'm not anti-government, government's anti-me.)
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To: SeekAndFind

I concur with the authors opinion in regard to the Red Hot Chili Poopers.


9 posted on 02/03/2014 7:31:04 AM PST by Fester Chugabrew
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To: SeekAndFind

He did great. They could’ve done without the other group that showed up on stage though.


10 posted on 02/03/2014 7:31:59 AM PST by b4its2late (A Progressive is a person who will give away everything he doesn't own.)
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To: SeekAndFind

11 posted on 02/03/2014 7:32:36 AM PST by nascarnation (I'm hiring Jack Palladino to investigate Baraq's golf scores.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Anyone seen the 5th Element. Bruno “is” Ruby Rhod.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsJKdxPwZdk


12 posted on 02/03/2014 7:33:02 AM PST by jyro (French-like Democrats wave the white flag of surrender while we are winning)
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To: SeekAndFind
Mars is probably the most wholesome star in Top 40 pop right now

Yep, so "wholesome" his CD has a Parental Advisory sticker on it.

13 posted on 02/03/2014 7:34:29 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: SeekAndFind

I’ve become a Bruno Mars fan over time. He is a heck of a performer. His early songs were hokey, but his newer stuff is pretty good.


14 posted on 02/03/2014 7:34:59 AM PST by ilgipper (Obama is proving that very bad ideas can be wrapped up in pretty words)
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To: VA_Gentleman

i thought the halftime show was really good... Bruno Mars was quite the performer... a lot of times the performances flop... and being a RHCP fan, i enjoyed them too :)


15 posted on 02/03/2014 7:35:17 AM PST by latina4dubya (when i have money i buy books... if i have anything left, i buy 6-inch heels and a bottle of wine...)
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To: GeronL
I don’t like James Brown or Michael Jackson. I think these half-time shows need to be abolished. :p

Bring back "Up With People!"

16 posted on 02/03/2014 7:35:35 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: SeekAndFind

He sucked!


17 posted on 02/03/2014 7:35:36 AM PST by illiac (If we don't change directions soon, we'll get where we're going)
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To: nascarnation
Bruno Mars' real name is Peter Gene Hernandez. His father is of half Puerto Rican and half Jewish (from Hungary and Ukraine) descent, and is originally from Brooklyn, New York. Mars' mother immigrated to Hawaii from the Philippines as a child, and was of Filipino, and some Spanish, descent.

At the age of two, he was nicknamed "Bruno" by his father, because of his resemblance to legendary professional wrestler Bruno Sammartino.

18 posted on 02/03/2014 7:35:58 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind
I wasn't really listening/watching .. the TV was on, but I was reading FR ... and when I did look around, some grunge band had gotten on stage with some pretty good clean cuts and THEY ALL were hoppin' around like friggin' PSY or whatever his name is.

The clean cuts lost points, IMO.

19 posted on 02/03/2014 7:36:46 AM PST by knarf (I say things that are true .. I have no proof .. but they're true.)
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To: Michael.SF.

RHCP own, dude.


20 posted on 02/03/2014 7:37:32 AM PST by chris37 (Heartless.)
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