In 1993, Michael Jackson put on what many consider to be the greatest Super Bowl halftime show of all time. It was an incredible show. Because of Michael’s historic performance at Super Bowl XXVII, the stakes were raised dramatically for future Super Bowl halftime performances. While Michael’s performance was historic and awesome, the greatest halftime performance of all time to us was when ’80s icon Prince performed during Super Bowl XLI on February 4, 2007.
I remember watching this show and being in awe of Prince’s performance. First of all, it was pouring down rain during the performance, but this didn’t bother Prince one bit. It had never rained during a Super Bowl halftime show until then. Prince’s Super Bowl halftime show was a huge safety hazard and if it occurred today, it would probably have never happened. The stage was slippery when dry, but when wet, this particular stage was very slick. Prince along with two of his dancers were wearing high heels and moved around the stage the entire time.
Reportedly, when the director of the halftime show, Don Mischer called Prince the day of the show and said it’s going to be raining during your performance, Prince said, “Can you make it rain harder?”
What transpired that night during the show was without a doubt the best performance we’ve ever seen at a Super Bowl. Prince’s setlist for the show was:
We Will Rock You
Let’s Go Crazy
Baby, I’m a Star
Proud Mary (Creedence Clearwater Revival cover)
All Along the Watchtower (Bob Dylan cover)
Best of You (Foo Fighters cover)
Purple Rain
You can watch the entire show on the NFL’s YouTube channel here, but the best performance from the show was the last song, Purple Rain. Enjoy this look back at the greatest Super Bowl halftime show of all time from one of the ’80s greatest singers/guitarists/musicians of all time, Prince performing Purple Rain live in a downpour!
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