10 Best Super Bowl Halftime Shows

Another Super Bowl is upon us, and that means another star-studded halftime show. For this Sunday (February 3) at Super Bowl XLVII, Beyoncé is prepping an epic set that is rumored to include a Destiny's Child reunion and new material of her own, but what about the past? Break out the beer and wings, and watch as we countdown the ten most spectacular Super Bowl halftime performances ever.

Disagree with our picks? Tell us in the comments!

10. Paul McCartney, 2005

A purported "safe choice" by the NFL following the previous year's "Nipplegate," McCartney signaled the transition from contemporary pop acts to older rock gods performing at halftime. Atop an X-shaped stage made of video projectors, the Beatle first warmed up with "Drive My Car." He then followed up with "Get Back," before trading his guitar for a piano during a fireworks-laden rendition of the Wings' Bond theme, "Live and Let Die." Saving his best for last, McCartney signed off with "Hey Jude," during which the 84,000 in attendance at Jacksonville's Alltel Stadium all joined in for the iconic coda.

9. Diana Ross, 1996

Diana Ross may be one of popular music's original divas, but the Supreme singer capped off her Halftime duties in Tempe, Arizona with a gesture so grand, it was practically absurd. Ross ended her Motown-hit-studded performance, which included "Baby Love" and "You Keep Me Hangin' On," by exclaiming, "Oooh, here comes my ride!" She then flew off in a helicopter with her arms wide open, kicking up her heels ecstatically during the very appropriate finale, "Take Me Higher."

8. Madonna, 2012

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Riding a huge buzz for her then-forthcoming album "MDNA," Madonna charged into her Super Bowl XLVI halftime performance as the quasi-gladiatorial captain of a cheerleading squad that included LMFAO, Nicki Minaj, M.I.A., and Cee Lo Green. Amid Roman soldiers, Madge entered the field on a golden throne to belt out longtime favorite "Vogue" before being joined by LMFAO for a "Party Rock Anthem"/"Sexy And I Know It" infused take on her 2000 hit "Music." Sure, the Material Girl slipped a bit while dancing in those thigh-high heeled boots, but her Super Bowl gig's most talked about moment when M.I.A. and Minaj joined her for new single “Gimme Your Luvin’.” It happened fast, but everyone watching at home certainly saw M.I.A.'s mischievous middle finger. However, Madge's epic "Like A Prayer" finale, aided by Cee Lo and large robed choir, ensured that the 12-minute spectacle ended with the focus right back on the music.

7. The Rolling Stones, 2006

Considering the fact that the veteran Brits are behind one of the best-known kickoff jams, "Start Me Up," it was natural that the Rolling Stones featured the hit, which reached No. 2 on the Hot 100 in 1981, during their 2006 halftime show. On a stage built to look like the Stones' iconic lips logo, Mick and co.'s 12-minute set was rounded out by "Rough Justice" and the classic "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction." But in the post-wardrobe-malfunction halftime world, the NFL opted for a five-second tape delay that allowed censors to mute parts of "Start Me Up" and "Rough Justice" deemed too sexually explicit.

6. Aerosmith, 'N Sync & Britney Spears, 2001

Through Steven Tyler's musical career has been recently sidelined by a stream of band and personal issues, he and Aerosmith were first-round picks back in 2001. Besides the show's hard-rocking headliners, 2001's epic halftime opened with 'N Sync's "Bye, Bye, Bye." The two bands traded songs and verses until the stage exploded with the addition of Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige and Nelly for a show-stopping rendition of "Walk This Way."

5. Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, 2009

In 2009, the Boss beckoned viewers to step away from the guac and "put the chicken fingers down" before proceeding to rock Tampa for the next 12 minutes. Though Bruce turned down several prior invitations to perform at the Super Bowl, Springsteen's set was proof that good things come to those that wait. The E-Street Band rocked through a four-song set of crowd favorites, but the biggest hit came when Jersey's finest slammed into a TV camera with his crotch during "10th Avenue Freeze Out."

4. Michael Jackson, 1993

3. U2, 2002

Less than five months after the tragedies of September 11, U2 brought the heart-shaped stage from their Elevation tour to the gridiron. The band kicked off with "Beautiful Day," but it was their 9/11 tribute that captured the most attention. As they played "Where the Streets Have No Name," a scrolling backdrop featured the names of all of the victims who perished in the attacks and Bono finished the song by opening his jacket to reveal the stars and stripes in its lining.

2. Janet Jackson & Justin Timberlake, 2004

It was the day that the phrase "wardrobe malfunction" entered the American vernacular. Debate about whether Justin Timberlake accidentally or "accidentally" exposed Janet's little Jackson has raged since that Houston halftime. FCC fines have been assessed, thrown out and appealed in judicial court, and the court of popular opinon will be in sessions for years. But bedazzled breast or not, you have to admit that J&J put on a pretty kick-ass show. It's a shame all anyone remembers is the last two seconds.

1. Prince, 2007

Long known for erotically-charged performances, Prince was a curious halftime choice only three years post-Nipplegate. While he did wield that purple, unpronounceable-symbol-shaped guitar in an unabashedly phallic way, the ecstatic genius of Prince's performance was the way he actually played the instrument. The rocker powered through his own classics ("1999," "Let's Go Crazy") and the classics of others ("Proud Mary," "All Along the Watchtower"). But the explosive coda was "Purple Rain," which had the stadium full of testosterone-pumped football fanatics waving their arms and howling in falsetto.

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