08 Feb The 6 Most Rock n’ Roll Moments of Super Bowl LV
by Marisa Torrieri Bloom
Super Bowl LV promised to be exciting, with conversations about #GOAT quarterback Tom Brady (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) versus younger hotshot quarterback Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) dominating every corner of the sports internet.
But yesterday’s game was also pretty groundbreaking, music-wise, too.
Here are the five most rock n’ roll moments of Super Bowl LV.
Miley Cyrus and Joan Jett. Before Sunday, everyone was pumped for the showdown between 43-year-old Brady and 25-year-old Mahomes. But I was more excited over another convergence of classic and new talent: the pre-game show with Miley Cyrus and Joan Jett. Miley Cyrus might be vying for the title of Rock n’ Roll princess, but Joan Jett with her killer guitar playing, raspy vocals and punk rock legacy, is already The Queen. Seeing Joan and Miley work it on stage, during their duet ‘Bad Karma’ off Miley’s ‘Plastic Hearts’ album was eye candy, ear candy, and just the sweetest treat.
[SEE RELATED: 7 Reasons I’m Pumped About Miley Cyrus’ New Record ‘Plastic Hearts’]
Billy Idol’s ‘White Wedding’
The performance of 65-year-old Billy Idol’s most famous tune is deserving a paragraph of its own. And as much as I love Miley, I kind of wanted her to step down so I could experience Billy Idol, solo, in his element. His voice and his energy were spot on, and his band killed it.
H.E.R’s ‘America the Beautiful’. H.E.R. is rock music’s new Renaissance woman. She can sing, play guitar, and perform. Her music, a blending of classic rock, R&B, reggae, and other styles — is beyond definition. And in September, H.E.R. became the first black woman with her own signature guitar — a gorgeous “chrome glow” Fender Stratocaster. She blew me away with that guitar solo.
[SEE RELATED: H.E.R.’s New Signature Guitar with Fender is All I Want to Think About]
That Block by Ali Marpet
Every game features a handful of plays worthy of “we will rock you” chants. A key block by Buccaneers offensive guard Ali Marpet in the third quarter enabled running back Leonard Fournette to dash 27 yards to touchdown, securing Tampa Bay’s 31-9 win. So why are we including a brilliant sports play in a #rockmommy blog (and highlighting an offensive guard instead of a running back or QB)? Because Marpet is a rock n’ roll kid, the son of musician, Mamapalooza creator, and Museum of Motherhood founder Joy Rose.
[SEE RELATED: Joy Rose, on Mamapalooza, Motherhood and Turning up the Volume]
The Weeknd’s weird, cool halftime show
Everyone in my inner circle knows I am obsessed with The Weeknd, whose moody, cool tunes, bad boy persona and Stevie Wonder-level vocals has me swooning every time. During the halftime show, he moved from ‘Starboy’ to his classic ‘The Hills’ (my favorite) and ‘I Can’t Feel My Face’ to his newer tracks, including the danceable, New Wave-y ‘Blinding Lights’ with such finesse, that I didn’t feel put off by the weirdness of his bandaged dancers. I didn’t think about social statements or symbolism. I just lost myself in the music and the performance.
Female Coaches FTW
Rock n’ roll, done right, is a break from the status quo. So is coaching football, when you’re a woman! This year, Buccaneers coaches Maral Javadifar and Lori Locust made history as the first female coaches to win a Super Bowl. Sarah Thomas also made history as the first woman to officiate a Super Bowl, working as the down judge. We think that’s pretty epic.
There were some funny commercials too (though the State Farm ad with Drake and Patrick Mahomes was a bit over-played). But it was the music and rock n’ roll moments stretched across seven hours, that made this Bowl one of my favorites.
Marisa Torrieri Bloom is the editor and founder of Rockmommy.
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