Super Bowl LV 2021: The Weeknd Halftime show as it happened
Halftime show Super Bowl LV 2021: The Weeknd performance
The Weeknd: halftime show in full
Enjoy the performance and share your thoughts in our comments section.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers win Super Bowl LV 2021
We have ourselves a new champion.
Find out how it all went down, including the post-game words from MVP and seven-time winner, Tom Brady.
Weeknd review time
'The Weeknd stepped out of the car, wearing a glitzy version of the red coat prevalent in his After Hours videos. He kicked things off with "Starboy" before segueing into "The Hills."
In a hall of mirrors-type room, he performed "Can't Feel My Face," surrounded by several dancers wearing the same outfit he was, but adorning bandages on their faces — keeping in line with the character that The Weeknd has been portraying throughout the past year, since his After Hoursalbum dropped.
He then performed "I Feel It Coming" and "Save Your Tears" before slowing things down with "Earned It," backed by an orchestra of violinists as well as backup singers.'
Jennifer Konerman and Kimberly Nordyke have their say.
Canadian singer The Weeknd steps towards the end of his performance.
Super Bowl LV 2021 Buccaneers vs Chiefs live online: scores, plays, results
Bucs vs Chiefs: live
Want to follow the second half of Super Bowl LV, that currently has Tom Brady on for some crazy history-making?
Here you go...
The Weeknd halftime performance
Stay with us as I'll shortly post the full performance by The Weeknd and, if you were not watching it with me, you'll be able to make your own mind up.
Clearly I'm keen to share some more thoughts from our social media contacts.
Pepsi coke critique
Emily Murnane points out that there is a curious conflict of sorts in the song choice and sponsor for tonight's halftime show.
Firework finale
Blinding Light comes to an end with a conclusion to the backing firework display and a confident grin from the main man.
He certainly did enough for Emily. Leave your own thoughts in out comments section.
We move from the stage, down onto the field, with about 200 dancers dressed like Abel but with the bandaging over their faces.
Guess which song we're heading into? That's right, Blinding Lights.
The quick transitions between songs could be part of the explanation why people are not completely convinced by this showing.
Then again, 'people' always like to complain about the half-time show, don't they.
I feel a big finale coming...
The sound doesn't seem to be optimised and there are a number of complaints coming from viewers.
A few also complaining about getting dizzy from that last segment with his support dancers covered in medical bandages over their faces.
Car ignition
Stepping out from a red sports car, Abel emerges through a hidden door amid a huge futuristic choir.
Red jacket shimmers in the spotlight, as the crowd cheers. Nice beginning...
How The Weeknd evolved
There is no way that in 2011 The Weeknd could have imagined being at the Super Bowl halftime show in 2021.
There's some game analysis going on at the moment but suggestions are we're about to start...
IT'S HALFTIME
...that means it's time for the halftime show!!
We've been waiting for this moment for hours...so don't let us down. Can we cram a whole Weeknd into just 15 minutes?
We're about to find out!
Forget the game, halftime is where it's at!
Lead National Correspondent on CBS This Morning, David Begnaud, has the right idea...
Most watched Super Bowl halftime shows in history
These viewing figures are rather impressive, wouldn't you say?
With current coronavirus guidelines in place, could The Weeknd surpass the current record as families watch at home?
#1. Katy Perry — 120.7 MILLION
#2. Lady Gaga — 117.5 MILLION
#3. Coldplay — 115.5 MILLION
#4. Bruno Mars — 115.3 MILLION
#5. Madonna — 114 MILLION
Halftime dress sense
Get ready for a bright red suit from our musical protagonist in a minute or so.
Patrick Henry, designer at Richfresh, reportedly created the custom suit...which has mother of pearls buttons!
"It's made in such a way that he can move around... because Abel likes to move," said the designer.
The Weeknd: what to expect
We've just had the two-minute warning which means that the show is almost upon us.
For those less familiar with The Weeknd, check this video out to get you in the mood.
Gaga well wishing
Lady Gaga is known for blowing away the audience and one of her many fan sites has been wishing tonight's performer all the best.
I am in no doubt that The Weeknd will delight!
Super Bowl LV 2021 Buccaneers vs Chiefs live online: scores, plays, results | updates
Into the second quarter
For those of you who are with me for more than just the music, the Bucs have an early lead as we head towards half-time.
Follow all the action live here...
Talking halftime shows in Tampa
Look who's here! Shania sang her heart out the last time the Bucs made it to the championship finale.
She's not giving her colors away though. That don't impress me much.
Halftime show name change
You can always trust Trevor Noah and the gang to clarify the important details in life, and the Super Bowl is no exception.
Commercial time
M. Night Shyamalan's new movie 'Old' is the first to be shown in this initial stoppage. Looks good...if a little creepy!
It's time for the coin toss
If it's head's I'll keep focused on music, commercials and other non-sporting entertainment.
If it's tails, I'll spend the next couple of hours briefing on tax law...
..and it's heads! Oh well! Here's some exciting news about Disney pushing their products.
Star Spangled Banner
From what I'm seeing on social media, if the game turns out to be anywhere as good as the two preceding songs then we're in for a treat.
America the Beautiful
It's getting plenty of love. I'll bring you more reaction to the opening acts...
Who is singing the national anthem at Super Bowl LV 2021?
National Anthem
For Super Bowl LV 2021, the NFL has designated Jazmine Sullivan and Eric Church, both Grammy-nominated singers and songwriters, to sing The Star Spangled Banner, the United States national anthem.
Before they sing, GRAMMY-award winning artist H.E.R will perform the patriotic America the Beautiful.
The two performances will occur just before the game kicks-off and that is just moments away as the players take to the field.
Lift every voice
The stadium announcer has just introduced the song 'Lift Every Voice and Sing'
John Rosamond Johnson, who began playing the piano aged four, is the composer of this beautiful hymn.
It is being sung to the James Raymond crowd, with the players on the pitch, by Alicia Keys.
Super Bowl LV commercial tease
Watch all the funniest Super Bowl 2021 commercials released prior to the big game!
Commerical delights
OK, so they're all about making money - or, more specifically, convincing you to part with your hard-earned cash - but Super Bowl commercials tend to be get almost as much interest as the game.
One we're looking forward to this evening is Willen Defoe in the antichrist taco salad.
We'd also have enjoyed being a fly on the wall in that marketing ideas meeting!
Corden's Weeknd advice
There are another five days in the week. It's obvious that tonight's headliner can do more, explains James Corden.
"Push the car, sprinkler, dip the tea..."
Will The Weeknd go for the new ideas? His face suggests not...
Miley rocking the pre-game show
Amongst a cracking set, Miley Cyrus really got the crowd warmed up with some of her show.
One particular favourite was Night Crawling with Billy Idol. So hot!
Super Bowl history: all the championship rings
Celebrity bling!
The Weeknd apparently splashed more than $7 million of his own sizeable fortune to ensuring that the set for tonight's show was just right.
And if you like shiny, elaborate items...this is a Super Bowl Gallery you are going to enjoy.
Halftime show: what else to expect?
As well as The Weeknd headline performance, there's more, much more, to enjoy.
There will be a pre-game show by Miley Cyrus, the National Anthem sung by country artist Eric Church and R&B singer Jazmine Sullivan, and “America the Beautiful” sung by H.E.R.
There will also be a poem read by Amanda Gorman, who you'll remember spoke at President Joe Biden’s inauguration, wowing the watching world with her words and delivery.
The Weeknd: inspiration
Our main artist today has a number of musical influences, but in a recent interview with CBS ahead of his performance he pointed to James Brown as the true inspiration.
Check the master below...
Super Bowl LV 2021 Buccaneers vs Chiefs live online: scores, plays, results | updates
Game time is getting closer
Despite us keeping the focus on the non-sporting action here, we wouldn't be here without the Bucs and the Chiefs.
And for that reason, we will also be bringing you all the action from Super Bowl LV live! That's right, build-up from the wise-cracking wordsmith David Nelson who will then hand off to Mr NFL himself, Robbie Dunne, who will take you through every pass, tackle and fumble as it happens.
You. Are. Welcome.
What a tease!
Miley Ray Cyrus looks every bit the rockstar preping for a Super Bowl appearance in this black and white ditty.
She is all set to perform along with Alicia Keys in a post game extravaganza.
Indiana Jones and the terror of the lip sync
OK, so this wasn't the title of a more obscure Harrison Ford remake, but it certainly made for some enjoyable Super Bowl halftime viewing 26 years ago.
'Nipplegate' and the halftime show history retold
The aphorism goes: your life can change in a split second. And no one knows this better than Janet Jackson, who went from pop music royalty to scapegoat pariah in a matter of 9/16th of a second, the blink of time her breast was accidentally exposed to an estimated 140 million people during 2004's Super Bowl Halftime Show.
What came after was a national overreaction that had very little to do with Janet and everything to do with America's long history of sexism, racism and puritanism.
Read Emmanuel Hapsis' intriguing piece for KQED.
Super Bowl in pictures
Getting some quick pics on the field before Super Bowl LV. As we mentioned earlier, the musical performances will spread further than just the centre of the field.
(Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images/AFP)
Super Bowl food, snacks & appetizers recipes to enjoy the game
Halftime snacks sorted
Are you still wondering what to prepare for the game or show?
Whether it’s a selection of hot wings, garlic bread pizza dip, "walking" tacos or chicken cheese steak sloppy joe sliders, we’ve got your culinary needs covered.
Pepsi, the NFL and Roc Nation: the halftime collaborators
Marking the second year of this collaboration, Pepsi, the NFL and Roc Nation are excited to bring The Weeknd to the world's biggest stage for what is sure to be a transcendent performance.
The Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show telecast will be produced by DPS with Roc Nation and Jesse Collins serving as executive producers, and Hamish Hamilton serving as director. Roc Nation is also serving as the strategic entertainment advisors of the live performance.
"We all grow up watching the world's biggest acts playing the Super Bowl and one can only dream of being in that position. I'm humbled, honored and ecstatic to be the center of that infamous stage this year," The Weeknd said.
"The Weeknd has introduced a sound all his own. His soulful uniqueness has defined a new generation of greatness in music and artistry," said Shawn "JAY-Z" Carter. "This is an extraordinary moment in time and the Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show is going to be an extraordinary experience with an extraordinary performer."
"We are thrilled to have The Weeknd join us in Tampa Bay on the Pepsi Halftime Stage," said Brian Rolapp, NFL Chief Media and Business Officer. "Halftime Show performances have a history of excellence and creativity and we look forward to seeing what he will bring to Super Bowl LV."
More Beyonce
...and three years after that she stepped onto the stage with Coldplay and Bruno Mars.
What a show!
CBS getting technical
The coverage of the Chiefs vs the Buccaneers showdown - yes, I'll ocassionally mentioned that there is a game going on - will see CBS use 120 cameras in total in, around and above the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
There will be ten 4K cameras (that is cameras with at least 8 million active pixels - usually a resolution of 4,096 x 2,160), two 8K cameras (four times as many pixels as 4K), a brand new Trolley Cam that runs the length of the field and two Sony Venice cameras that produce a cinematic feel.
With this attention to bringing the extravaganza in the best way possible to viewers, you can bet that The Weeknd and guests will be getting solid lens treatment.
Super Bowl LV 2021: what time, TV and how to watch online
How to follow the halftime show
Clearly we hope you'll be staying with us for the duration of the show but if you're here because you want some other viewing options then check out our handy guide.
We cover all the timings, what you can expect to see, and the TV channels that are bringing it to you.
Back to The Weeknd
30-year-old Canadian Abel Makkonen Tesfaye is the man behind The Weeknd, who initially came to the attention of executives at Republic Records via a series of mix-tapes.
His first commercial release in 2015, one which saw the "Trilogy" album featuring re-worked versions of his early songs, was critically acclaimed upon release and went on to be certified a platinum seller in the US.
Tesfaye, who endured a complicated upbringing, was often compared to compatriot Drake in the early stage of his career, with the Toronto native contributing with The Weeknd in much of his earlier work. Citing R.Kelly, Prince and Michael Jackson as influences, Tesfaye has a rich personal musical taste also calling out UK indie artists such as Cocteau Twins and Siouxsie and the Banshees as rubbing off on him.
The debut studio offering from The Weeknd was released in 2013 entitled "Kiss Land". The album debuted in the Billboard charts at number 2 and was positively received by the critics.
Super Bowl in pictures
The fans gather, generally taking precautions, at the Tampa Bay Harbour a day before the Super Bowl match between Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They will be the fortunate few to watch The Weeknd too!
(Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP)
Home viewing records
The coronavirus pandemic was just stretching its reach following last year's Super Bowl, but we all know now how devastating it has been here in the United States and around the world.
One potential impact of that this evening is that millions more people are likely to be getting together in small groups, most probably at home with the family.
Could that mean a record audience for The Weeknd? We'll look at the viewing figures for other recent performers to see what sort of number would need to be surpassed.
Purple Rain... in the rain
One of the greatest ever Super Bowl halftime performances came from Prince, back in 2007.
Some of those that witnessed it live said that it was the highlight of the whole day, more than anything the players could do. The heavens opened in a climax that paid tribute to his guitar solo.
At that point it was the most-viewed musical performance in American history.
How much do Super Bowl LV commercials cost?
Halftime show: more than the music
As part of our build-up this evening, we'll also be reflecting on years gone by, the best and worst performances, the history of the show and the high-valued commercials that come hand in hand with it.
Did you know for example that CBS, the network broadcasting the showdown between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs, is reported to have sought around $5.5 million per half-minute spot.
This may seem extreme, but it's actually down from the average price of $5.6 million charged by Fox during 2020’s Super Bowl LIV - the costliest ever for advertisers, who paid $42,500 during Super Bowl I in 1967.
Ker ching!
What covid-19 restrictions will there be for Super Bowl LV 2021?
A covid-19 affected halftime show
Clearly this year's Super Bowl has a major difference: a lack of fans.
While most performers during the Super Bowl, which is the most watched television event of the year in the United States, spend their entire 12-15 minute set confined to an on-field stage, The Weeknd will also use the surrounding area.
"Due to the covid and for the safety of the players and the workers we kind of built a stage within the stadium," he said. "We're also using the field as well but we wanted to kind of do something that we've never done before. I'm not going to tell you anything because you have to watch on Sunday."
We've put together some more details on the restrictions and protocols in place.
Super Bowl LV 2021 halftime show: who is performing? Artists and line up
Halftime show: Who is The Weeknd?
First things first, the headline act of the show will be The Weeknd. What do you need to know?
The Weeknd, who is known for pushing the limits of creativity in his performances maintained that his Super Bowl halftime gig will continue to follow a story he's been telling but in a more family-friendly way with the artist spending 5.7 million euro of his own money on creating a set "as he imagined".
The Canadian singer, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, has performed recently with his face covered in bandages and released gory videos, including one in which two women come across his disembodied head as part of his performance art storyline.
Super Bowl LV halftime show welcome
Hello and a very warm Super Bowl welcome to our build-up and live coverage of the entertainment between the football.
Tonight is going to be a lotta fun and whether you're here for the football AND some music, or you're JUST checking in for the tunes, glamour and everything else that goes with it, we've got you covered.