I enjoyed my boo Bruno Mars' halftime performance so much, that I had to blog about it! I couldn't think during the live performance. I was too amped up, plus my phone and Facebook were both blowing up with Bruno commentary. Even my hairdresser texted me because she couldn't help but think of me when Bruno hit the stage. To know me is to know how much I adore Bruno Mars. After watching the playback later, I was able to formulate my thoughts. they are as follows:
It wasn’t until my 3rd viewing that I realized the
drum platform moved during Bruno’s opening drum solo. It slid back toward the stage while he was
playing. I was so captivated by him, I
didn’t notice what was happening around him.
LOL.
His late mom’s name, Bernadette, was emblazoned on the drum
kit in loving memory. So sweet! She died just before his tour started, so
just before his career really went into the stratosphere. I know he’s sad she’s not here to share all
of these huge moments with him b/c he seemed like a real Mama’s boy, in the
best possible way.
I can’t believe Anthony Kiedis and Flea played shirtless in
like 40-degree weather! Also impressed
by what great shape they’re in. They’re
50ish. I wish my stomach was anywhere
near that flat. Jealous!
Anthony K’s “tights” made it look like he had prosthetic
legs. Partly because of the weird
design, partly because his legs are so skinny.
Either way, I was getting a Lt. Dan vibe (yep, that was a Forrest Gump
reference).
Bruno did the splits!
The only other time he did that was the Grammys 2012. He only brings it out for very special
occasions.
I love that no one has said anything about being offended by
Bruno’s performance. No half-naked,
gyrating women (like Beyonce) or middle fingers (like MIA during Madonna
performance). I saw the word “classy” on
more than one comment/tweet. The funny
thing is that “Locked Out of Heaven,” features the lyric “your sex takes me to
paradise” and yet no one is offended.
He’s that good. LOL. I remember one reviewer for his tour last
year called Bruno “suggestive but not salacious,” and I think that’s
accurate. People weren’t even offended
by “Gorilla,” which actually is
pretty salacious at the MTV VMA’s.
Something about this kid just makes people overlook the dirty
stuff. Must be his pure talent and
charisma. And that sweet, dimpled,
million-watt smile.
I never once thought about it being 40 degrees or so while
they were performing. Meanwhile, it was
around 40 degrees here today, and I was bitterly cold. Perhaps I needed to be singing and dancing?
Speaking of temps, Bruno is normally a crazy heavy sweater
(as in perspiration, not a knit/woven garment you wear) when he performs. I noticed that even in
these cold outdoor environs, he still managed to get his glisten on, though he
was not as drenched as he normally would be.
The cold may have worked in his favor there. All the better to stay pretty ‘til the end of
the show. But he’s still cute sweaty
too. Kinda gross but still cute.
Bruno was looking extra handsome tonight! So glad he ditched the curly fro and went
back to the pompadour (which he affectionately called “the whomp”) in December. I don’t mind the fro, but the whomp is
just…sexy! I should say more sexy—he’s
always sexy. A prime example of what a
difference a hairdo can make, even on a man.
I enjoyed the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and “Give It Away” is
classic. That being said, I’m glad they
didn’t take away too much time from Bruno.
They were a very interesting choice for Bruno to make (and supposedly it
was his call to invite them to join him).
He’s a huge fan of all kinds of music, including lots of rock groups.
The soldier dedications before “Just the Way You Are” were
sweet. JTWYA is Bruno’s signature
song. It was his first solo song, went
to number 1 and kicked off his solo career.
And it is a beloved song. I think
it will be a classic for all times. It’s
a hit at weddings, and you should hear the response to it when he sings it at
his concerts. Everyone knows all the
words and sings every lyric with gusto.
And it’s one of my faves to watch him perform live. I never get sick of
it. As is the case with most of his
songs, it is exponentially better live. It’s the song that made me fall in love with
his voice.
If you like his songs on the radio, you would faint to hear them
sung live in their entirety. He elevates
them to a new level. He and his band
change up the musical & vocal arrangements a great deal, as only a truly
gifted singer can do. When you can sing
like he can, it’s no biggie to throw in some extra vocal runs here and there
and make subtle changes in key. You know
how they always tell American Idol contestants to change up the melody and
“make it your own”? Well, Bruno does
that with his own songs! It’s already
his, but he changes it up and makes his own in a new and different way. (See I do like him for more than just his
looks!)
But I digress. Back
to the halftime show—the fireworks were awesome! Now there’s a special bonus you can only have
with an open stadium.
I’m so glad the weather cooperated for Bruno’s sake. I was so scared for him that something was
gonna go wrong with the sound or his voice (because of the cold) or just
something that would make all the haters be like “See, I told you he
sucked. I don’t know why they picked
him.” Haters persist, as they do, but I
think he won over a lot of folks tonight.
He is an irresistible live performer, and lots of folks are surprised by
how impressed they feel after seeing him.
I saw lots of Bruno love on Twitter tonight. (Except for the rock lovers, pop haters. There is no appeasing them.)
And he sounded amazing.
He sounds amazing like 95% of the time, but it was more important than
ever tonight. This was the biggest show
of his life. And there better not be any
lip sync rumors. Just so we’re clear,
I’m pretty sure he didn’t do any of that. I
know performers used to lip sync the national anthem, just to be safe, and I’m
not sure about the halftime show itself.
But that really doesn’t seem to be the way anymore. It seems that most performers just go for it
live, come what may (remember poor Christina Aguilera flubbing the lyrics of
the anthem a few years ago?). So people
like Madonna or Beyonce use some backing track/lip sync b/c they always perform
like that. But Bruno NEVER uses a track
at all. It’s all live. He and his band all sing live. Period.
No lip sync, no track. Cuz he’s a
beast like that. So hopefully the
halftime show was all live too. Frankly I think he’d be horrible at lip
synching because he’s not accustomed to it at all.
Just as I saw Madonna and Beyonce on respective tours following their
Superbowl performances, I’ll be seeing Bruno next month in Bangkok, Thailand.
I also got tix today to see the 2nd
leg of his US
tour this summer. Because I cannot get
enough of seeing this man live. He. Is.
Everything.
