What was anticipated to be a jaw-dropping performance by Usher turned into the spotlight being stolen by Alicia Keys. Keys saved the 2024 Super Bowl Halftime show, entering the stage in her sparkling red jumpsuit. 

Leading up to this electrifying moment, the show did not seem to turn any heads. Despite Usher’s knack for producing hit songs, the crowd had yet to hear a single one of them halfway through the concert. The show was looking to be another disappointment; I was ready to transition back to the Super Bowl and could feel that the crowd felt the same way.

That was until Usher ripped off his shirt, revealing just a tank top, then later stripped it down to nothing except for his signature “U” flashy diamond chain. The camera then turned to Keys, who awaited him at the piano, playing the opening notes to her song, “If I Ain’t Got You.” He and Keys became a dynamic duo; some viewers even questioned if Keys was still married after sharing electric dance moves with Usher.

 Usher, 45 years of age, left the crowd in awe with his fresh and energetic emotion, proving that he won’t just wow you with his showman-like voice but also with his quick feet. As amusing as it was, nothing beat the moment when Usher rolled out in roller skates to the song “Bad Girl.”

He quickly changed from the shirtless look into a dazzling purple and black motorcycle get-up. After much anticipation, we finally got what we had been waiting for the whole night. As Ludacris strutted onto the stage and Lil Jon appeared next to Usher, the anticipation throughout the performance was finally relieved as the crowd began chanting, “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” through the screen. This banger, “Yeah,” changed the dynamic of the night and left the crowd and people watching from their couches, including myself, exhilarated by the spectacle Usher put on. What initially seemed to be a disappointing half-time show turned into a thrilling hip-hop display, transporting viewers back to the early 2000s.