So, people ask me how I keep track of all these Super Bowl halftime shows year after year. It’s not like I’m some official historian or anything, just something I started doing a long while back, kinda fell into it.
It really began simply. Just watching the game, you know? Then the halftime show comes on. Some years it blew me away, other years, well, not so much. I started jotting down quick thoughts. Who performed? What songs? Did I like it? Real basic stuff.
Getting Ready Each Year
Now, it’s become a bit of a ritual. Before the Super Bowl, usually a day or two ahead, I check who’s slated to perform. I don’t go deep into pre-show hype or predictions, just like to know the name.
My usual prep involves:
- Making sure the TV setup is good. Nothing fancy, just clear picture and sound.
- Having a notepad and pen ready. Old school, I know, but typing distracts me from watching.
- Sometimes I’ll pull up my notes from previous years, just to refresh my memory. See if there are any connections or big contrasts.
During the Show: Watching and Noting
When the show actually starts, I try to just soak it in first. Get the overall vibe. Is it high energy? More artistic? Focused on one star or lots of guests?
Then I start scribbling. It’s messy stuff:
- Key songs I recognize.
- Any big moments – costume changes, special effects, surprise guests (those are always fun).
- My immediate reaction – “Wow,” “Bit boring,” “Sound is off,” “Great energy.”
- Anything technical that stands out, good or bad. Like lighting, sound mixing, camera work.
I don’t try to capture everything. It’s impossible. It’s more about capturing my impression of the event as it happens. Sometimes I miss a detail while writing, but that’s okay. It’s not a professional critique, it’s my personal log.
After It’s Done: The Quick Wrap-up
Once the show ends and the game commentary kicks back in, I take maybe five minutes to clean up my notes. Add a final summary sentence. Like, “Solid performance, classic hits,” or “Felt a bit disjointed but visually cool.”
Later, maybe the next day, I’ll transfer these scribbled notes into a more organized format. Usually just a simple digital document or spreadsheet. I’ve got columns for Year, Performer(s), Key Songs Noted, My Rating (just a simple good/okay/meh), and a short comment.
Why Bother?
It sounds like work, maybe, but it’s become part of my Super Bowl experience. It helps me remember the shows beyond just the initial buzz. It’s interesting to look back and see how they’ve changed over the years. From marching bands way back when, to the massive pop spectacles we see now.
It’s just my way of engaging with it a bit more deeply, I guess. And it’s kinda fun to have this personal archive building up year after year. Nothing scientific, just one guy’s take, recorded as it happened.
