Relive the last 5 Super Bowl halftime shows

Every Super Bowl Sunday, two teams play for the NFL’s biggest prize in front of the biggest audience in the world. While the result of the game is the biggest story, the halftime show is a close second. In some cases, the halftime show can even overshadow the game on the field.

The New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers played an exhilarating back-and-forth game in Super Bowl XXXVIII and some only remember that game for Janet Jackson’s “wardrobe malfunction” during the halftime show. Whether it’s for the good, the bad or just the weird, the Super Bowl halftime show is a spectacle unlike any other.

With more than 100 million people tuning in, it’s impossible to find a performer everyone will like. Instead, the NFL tends to choose widely popular acts, many of which will bring in guest performers to appeal to a wider audience. There is a main act, but the show often has a little bit of everything. That still doesn’t mean it goes well. There has been a wide array in recent years with some performances being well regarded by most and others being widely detested.

It remains to be seen how well Coldplay’s performance this year will be regarded, but before they take to the stage, let’s look back at the halftime performances of the last five years.

The Black Eyed Peas took the stage at the Super Bowl in 2011 and many viewers probably wish they hadn’t. Some regard the performance among the worst in Super Bowl history. The poor performance wasn’t entirely on the group as audio issues and poor television work made the show unwatchable at times. The band didn’t help matters either. While the show wasn’t a gift to audiophiles, it was extravagant. Slash made a guest appearance while Usher descended from the roof for a guest appearance of his own. The 2011 show was memorable, but not for the right reasons.

The NFL tried to get back on track the next year by having Madonna as the headline performance in 2012. She certainly put on a show with a wide array of themes, props and guest performers. The show started with Madonna emerging on a gold throne with Roman soldiers all around. Things only escalated from there. LMFAO, Nicki Minaj, M.I.A., and Cee Lo Green all made guest appearances. M.I.A.‘s appearance became especially memorable when the performer flashed a middle finger at the camera. The NFL sued M.I.A. over the gesture and the two sides eventually settled.

The 2013 Super Bowl halftime show featured a reunion as Beyonce headlined the performance and briefly reunited with the other members of Destiny’s Child. With a stockpile of hits, Beyonce had plenty of material to use to put on a good show and her performance was well received. Although the performance didn’t include as many cameo appearances as some others -- Beyonce’s husband Jay Z was notably absent -- Beyonce didn’t need them and carried the show on her own. She will be back this year for a guest appearance during Coldplay’s performance.

When Bruno Mars got the call for the 2014 halftime show, some questioned whether he had enough material and the chops to pull it off. He was a pleasant surprise, garnering mostly favorable reviews, even without the frills and production of some other shows. Mars helped his cause by bringing a ton of energy to the stage. The NFL is probably hoping for the same this year when he joins Beyonce as a guest performance. They were part of two of the better shows in recent years, so they certainly know what works. Mars’ performance in 2014 also included a mix of styles as he was joined by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

And then there was Katy Perry. Perry headlined the 2015 Super Bowl and put on quite the show. From a very cool and complex morphing stage to a deep catalog of No. 1 hits, Perry’s performance had it all. There was even the now famous left shark. Perry could have put on a top notch show by herself, but also had the benefit of strong guest performances, notably Missy Elliott. Lenny Kravitz also made an appearance in what many regard as one of the best halftime shows of the last decade.