Hang on to your beehive because Beyoncé just upgraded the standard for what a halftime show can be. And no, we don’t mean the Super Bowl. We’re talking about the NFL’s first Christmas Day game ever streamed on Netflix, and I mean to tell you, Queen Bey was out there burning down the house.
When Beyoncé performs, it’s not just a concert but a cultural event. The Internet is still trying to wrap its head around what happened because this was more than music; it was a declaration and a spectacle. It was history in motion.
This was not a standard NFL halftime show. It was larger, bolder, and possibly more devastating than any Super Bowl performance in recent memory. That was enough to send the rumor mill into overdrive. Has the NFL just changed the game for live entertainment? Is the birth of something bigger than the Super Bowl halftime show itself happening before our eyes? If anyone could pull that off, it’s Beyoncé.
And we can’t overlook the Jay-Z factor. As the head of Roc Nation’s joint venture with the N.F.L., Jay-Z drives much of the entertainment direction of the league. Having his wife give a game-changing performance? Power move of the century.
And Beyoncé didn’t just perform; she acknowledged it. Her Country Carter album, a genre-defying tour de force, was robbed by country music bodies that should’ve been scrambling to pay tribute to her. The CMAs? Silent. The industry gatekeepers? Exposed.
So what did Beyoncé do? She sent a message right from her home state of Texas. With the world as her audience, she reminded us all that country music isn’t just for certain people; it’s for everyone. And that included a subtle yet salient critique of the country music establishment that so badly mistreated her.
This wasn’t a halftime show but a moment of cultural reckoning. Texas has proved a cauldron of political strife, both in the wake of Trump’s recent victory there and more generally. Beyoncé, a Texan by birth, imbued her performance with the themes of Black excellence, harmony, and a statement that this country belongs to everyone. The symbolism was audacious, and the performance was impeccable.
Now, let’s talk money. This was a different ballgame from Super Bowl halftime performers, famously not paid. Wading into live NFL broadcasts for the first time, Netflix wasn’t just breaking new ground but was making a statement. And that statement probably had a pretty big check attached.
Did Netflix pay off traditional networks to do this? Is this the start of a drastic change in how we consume live sports? The speculation is rampant, and we’re all for it.
And don’t forget about Blue Ivy. On stage to prove again that the talent runs deep in the Carter family: Beyoncé’s heir to the throne. If social media is anything to go by, just the presence of Blue Ivy was headline-making. But paired with her mother? It was pure magic.
Beyoncé gave a halftime show that was not only about the music; it was about the impact. It was about culture. It was about ensuring the world knows precisely who she is and what she’s about. And guess what? The Internet is still trying to catch up.
One thing is sure, whether you love or hate her: when Beyoncé hits the stage, she comes and doesn’t just put on a show. She dominates. And this Christmas halftime show? It might just be her most iconic move yet.
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