Analyzing a Momentous 2025 Halftime

Image by Patrick Smith, Getty Images, February 10, 2025

https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2025/02/super-bowl-kendrick-lamar-halftime-review/681630/

The 2025 Eagles versus Chiefs Super Bowl has been a critical event on multiple accounts. Not only was it a comeback for the Eagles against the Chiefs, but its halftime was a pinnacle of artistry and poetic activism. Kendrick Lamar, the Halftime performer, opened his performance with actor Samuel L. Jackson as Uncle Sam. Uncle Sam has historically been a symbol of the United States. He is characterized by his large top hat embellished with the stars of the American flag. Samuel L. Jackson, playing Uncle Sam, introduces the game as "the great American game." This choice to have Jackson as Uncle Sam shows and uplifts Black people, who are a large and crucial part of America and American culture.

Additionally, the Halftime dancers wore red, white, and blue attire, again symbolizing Black people's significance in America. Kendrick Lamar also stated, "The revolution's about to be televised. You picked the right time but the wrong guy." This could be a reference to the recent election and a call to action for watchers.

After performing a song, “Uncle Sam” comes back saying, “Too loud, too reckless, too ghetto! Mr. Lamar, do you really know how to play the game? Tighten up!” To me, I really loved this dialogue because it’s a social commentary and can even be seen as a commentary to significant events such as the Super Bowl. To begin, Lamar discusses the stereotypes placed on Black people and music as being “ghetto” or “too loud.” I think it’s also interesting that he chose for it to be another Black man who says this to him. We are also reminded of Uncle Sam/Samuel L Jackson's reference to the Super Bowl as “the great American game” when he asks Lamar, “Do you really know how to play the game?” This was incredibly intelligent because it can be seen as Lamar recognizing that people in power (Trump) at the Super Bowl might disapprove of Lamar's messages. He, therefore, is not playing the game correctly. He is acknowledging that even the Super Bowl is part of the system. It is also a commentary on the system that is the U.S. in which people of color have to “play” to make themselves more “acceptable.”

However, many of my peers were disappointed with Kendrick Lamar’s performance. I found myself at lunch listening to friends say how Lamar “is not a performer.” People say that his art is not meant for the Super Bowl. However, I think these conversations evidence exactly why Lamar’s art was meant for the Super Bowl. He pushed the limits of the popular music industry with his bold statements and utilization of art as activism. Some people think this was not the correct audience for this work, but I beg to differ. The Super Bowl is a national spectacle where millions of people’s eyes are locked for one night: the perfect opportunity for a political message. And as Kendrick Lamar said, “The revolution is about to be televised.”

Ferguson, Emily. “Kendrick Lamar Super Bowl Performance: ‘The Revolution Is about to Be Televised.’” Westword, Westword, 10 Feb. 2025, www.westword.com/music/kendrick-lamar-super-bowl-setlist-weaved-a-story-of-revolution-23449014.

Sherman, Maria. “Review: Kendrick Lamar Brings America and ‘not like Us’ into History-Making Super Bowl Halftime Show.” AP News, AP News, 10 Feb. 2025, apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2025-halftime-show-review-1dc2bce615ebfba0c8af0ea7c3ce4b9d.

DMU Timestamp: February 05, 2025 02:50

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