Super Bowl Halftime: Have We Aged Out or Are We Being Left Behind?

Is staying relevant part of artfully aging, or are we losing touch with the world around us?

Image Courtesy of: Derrick Harper Sr., Atlanta, Georgia

A week has passed since the Super Bowl, but the halftime show is still dominating the socials.

I hate football. But I love the parties and mingling that come with the Super Bowl. I rarely bother watching the game and, most of the time, I can’t even tell you who’s playing.

But the Super Bowl halftime show used to be something we all could enjoy.

Big-name artists, classic hits, and performances designed to entertain everyone—young and old, rock and pop fans alike. But in recent years, something has shifted. This year, watching the halftime show, I felt it more than ever: a disconnect, a realization that the culture I grew up with isn’t just evolving—it’s moving on without us.

I’m not alone in feeling this way.

As we sat around the TV, watching Kendrick Lamar’s performance, confusion filled the room. What was the “A” on his chain? Why were the costumes so muted? Why was it so hard to understand the lyrics?

The performance wasn’t bad—it just wasn’t for us. And that’s the point.

Football, music, and entertainment are changing, reflecting a culture that no longer prioritizes or even acknowledges the preferences of the generations that once defined these moments. It’s not just about the halftime show. It’s about the bigger picture: Are we becoming invisible?

Super Bowl halftime shows typically feature major stars performing for 12 to 13 minutes out of the 30 minutes allotted.

In 2024, Usher negotiated an extra two minutes, making his the longest halftime performances of all time.

Some of the best halftime performances include:

• Prince (2007)

• Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, and Eminem (2022)

• U2 (2002)

• Beyoncé and Destiny's Child (2013)

• Michael Jackson (1993)

History says

When the first Super Bowl aired in 1967, halftime shows featured marching bands, and later morphed into drill teams, and other performance groups for 25 to 30 minutes.

By the ‘90s and early 2000s, halftime had evolved into high-energy productions filled with pyrotechnics, bright lights, elaborate costumes, and all-around entertainment. It was designed to appeal to everyone—quintessentially American, like Motown, fireworks on the Fourth, and a drive down Main Street.

Headline performers included Shania Twain, The Who, Prince, Michael Jackson, and ZZ Top to name a few who each showcased in themed productions.

Super Bowl entertainment has mostly reflected pop culture and delivered family-friendly performances—except in 2004, when Janet Jackson’s nipple slipped out in an alleged wardrobe malfunction while Justin Timberlake kept performing.

In 2012, rapper M.I.A. flipped off the camera during her halftime performance.

In 2016, Colin Kaepernick kneeled during the National Anthem to protest systemic racism.

And since 2019, Jay-Z and Roc Nation have partnered with the NFL to oversee live music entertainment and support social justice reform initiatives. As entertainment producer Jesse Collins told People Magazine:

“Since we've been onboard with that show, he's made it every year, and it's been amazing. He's always picked right."

2025

For this year’s performance super star Kendrick Lamar was a bust, so says most of America, including the six of us who watched the game at our home party.

Ask how many thought it was one of the finest performances in history?

The hip-hop community is giving Kendrick Lamar a standing ovation across the internet after witnessing him pop out and show ’em that he could command the stage at the 2025 Super Bowl.—XXL Magazine

This year Jay-Z left most of middle America out entirely.

Was it intentional?

The Super Bowl Audience: Who’s Watching?

The average Super Bowl viewer is 49 years old, predominantly white (68%), and skews male (57%), with Gen X and Baby Boomers making up 60% of the audience. They are financially stable, digitally engaged, and deeply invested in football culture, from game-day traditions to fantasy sports and betting.

This audience has shaped decades of Super Bowl history—yet, in 2025, the halftime show seemed to leave them behind entirely. —Facts and Figures, Courtesy of: Media Culture

The Cost of a 2025 Super Bowl Ticket

“Ticket packages sold directly by the NFL started at roughly $6,700 per person and included amenities along with the seat, like access to tailgate parties, meet-and-greets with football stars, and free food and drinks.”
— CBS News

“Historically, the average Super Bowl resale ticket has ranged between $4,000 and $6,000.”
— Ticketmaster

Now, you might be wondering—what does any of this have to do with artfully aging ?

As we grow older, are we losing our ability to communicate and recognize symbolism? Is the culture we know as older Americans no longer important to the rest of the world? Will we be cancelled or erased in history books?

Artfully aging means staying engaged with the world—understanding current events, keeping up with cultural shifts, and engaging in meaningful conversations with all generations, even when it feels easier to check out.

We can’t just exist in the world; we must participate in it in order to stay relevant.

We can’t navigate aging the way past generations did—the retirees who spent their days fishing, watching Lawrence Welk on Saturday nights, or socializing through card games, twilight golf, and Friday night potlucks.

The world moves fast, and it’s up to us to keep up. Sure, some days, the temptation to retreat—to just watch TV, crochet, or work on puzzles—feels overwhelming. But those days, my friends, are long gone.

Super Bowl halftime 2025 is a perfect example of how the world moves forward with or without us. They didn’t just overlook us; they ignored us completely. We have become them, and if we can’t keep up, “them” gets left behind.

We are becoming invisible as a generation.

I felt it during the Super Bowl halftime show. As the performance unfolded, the room filled with questions and confusion:

• “What does the ‘A’ on Lamar’s chain stand for?”

• “Why are the costumes so dull?”

• “What is he singing? I can’t understand the lyrics.”

• “What do the X and O mean?”

• “Is this some kind of hidden message or just nonsense?”

• “This is the worst Super Bowl halftime show in history!”

The disconnect was obvious. Much of middle America had no idea who the performers were, and while some recognized the historical symbolism, most were left wondering—what does any of this have to do with 15 minutes of entertainment during Super Bowl 2025?

Here were my initial thoughts after watching scrolling the socials and reading all the complaints:

• The a on Lamar’s chain stood for “A Minor” possibly symbolizing a musical chord, of course there is likely a lot more read into it, referring to a logo, a minor child, or lyric from a song he raps.

• The costumes represented the colors of the American flag.

• Lamar performed several songs, but the sound system wasn’t at its best—his microphone was lousy. Even if we had heard the lyrics clearly, we likely wouldn’t have understood their meaning.

• X/O and triangle are on the remote control of a Play Station video controller (is that what they’re even called? I don’t play video games.)

• His performance was packed with subliminal messages and layered themes that the average American wouldn’t grasp—unless they were part of the rap scene or a young Black American.

• Yes, for me it may have been the worst half time show I’ve ever seen, but after researching and reflecting on the performance I think the message was brilliant—even if it took me a week to understand it mostly in full.

Here is a short clip of a detailed explanation of what the halftime show message represented.

Lately, okay for the last four years, it seems like everything has to carry a message, from commercials to halftime performances.

I feel like I’m being messaged to death.

Sometimes people just want to be entertained. The Super Bowl is supposed to be an escape, a night to enjoy good food, good company, and a show that leaves you with the wow factor.

Scrolling through the socials, I noticed that most—especially older viewers—weren’t thrilled with the show. But surprisingly, some younger (black) fans weren’t either.

Maybe it wasn’t just an age thing. Maybe it was an expectations thing.

Imagine a halftime show that tapped into that spirit—The Killers mixed with Lil Wayne, a little Joe Bonamassa, and a Mardi Gras-style production. Something with a little glitz, a little glam, and a whole lot of fun.

At the end of the day, the Super Bowl isn’t just about football. It’s about creating a shared experience—one that makes people excited to tune in, no matter their age, background, or music preference.

Hopefully, next year J-Z remembers that.

What does it really take to stay relevant in today’s world? Is it something we should strive for, or is there wisdom in simply stepping back and observing?

Have we truly aged out, or are we letting ourselves be left behind?