By Nat Mingo
As a music and American football fan, I was tickled by the varied responses to the 2021 Halftime Show. In the States, we crown the “winner” of the football season with a final game which features a live mini-concert dubbed “The Halftime Show”. The Weeknd was this year’s featured artist. His fans gushed praise upon his musical and visual performances. Non-fans or those who were unfamiliar with his music were much less impressed. This difference of opinion got methinking…”Should Duran Duran perform at the SuperBowl?”
My immediate thought was an emphatic “No!” Duran has not had a radio hit in a while. Their music is so personal that I see it as an acquired taste. Then, I heard a quiet “Yes” to the question in my gut. The people who can pay the exorbitant prices to attend the SuperBowl tend to be older
and might know Duran’s catalog. Ninety million people watched the game. Thus, it would be a fantastic vehicle to celebrate the band’s fortieth anniversary and a unique way to share their music to a large, modern audience in one show.
One terrific Twitter user expressed his displeasure as the different between watching a studio musician versus a performer. Many football fans preferred the past Halftime shows performed by Prince, The Rolling Stones, Bruno Mars and Beyonce. Duran Duran has ample touring experience to perform before a live audience. They know how to do lighting and shiny, sparkly outfits.
The Weeknd declined to add a “musical guest” to his show as some Halftime artists do. Nile Rodgers would LIGHT UP the audience with Duran Duran. There are several professional musicians who are fans that I think would perform with the band. Mark Ronson, Billy Corgan or Dave Grohl would be fantastic co-performers. Duran Duran has shown the ability to “mash up”
their music with other artists. The Bowie-Duran mashup was well received on the last tour. So they could accommodate a guest musician.
I would love to see Duran Duran perform to a sea of shining lights in a darkened arena again. At this point, I’m willing to watch a new concert safely from my home. My set list would include: “Ordinary World”, “Is There Something I Should Know?”, “Reach Up for the Sunrise”, “Wild
Boys” and “Electric Barbarella”. Due to their large catalog, I’m sure I’ve forgotten a few crowd pleasers. What set list would create to grab the attention of non-fans?
This would be great, and then I’d watch a halftime show for the first time in my life. A set list for non-fans would need to be heavy with Radio hits. HLTW, ITSISK? NMOM, Ordinary World, basically even more of the songs they play at their concerts that we all moan over due to over familiarity.(And considering currant times we would give an arm to experience again.) But absolutely, Duran know how to get people on their feet and dancing.