Super Bowl LIX saw the Kansas City Chiefs face the Philadelphia Eagles, seven years after the Eagles’ last championship win in 2018 over the New England Patriots. The Super Bowl remains a cultural phenomenon nearly six decades since its inception, drawing millions of viewers worldwide. Held in New Orleans—a city deeply tied to civil rights activism—the event’s branding reflected its rich history, incorporating Mardi Gras colors and French architectural elements. Sponsored by Apple Music, the halftime show featured five-time Grammy winner, Kendrick Lamar, with guest star SZA, captivating an audience of 133.4 million and sparking widespread discussion.
ACT I
Samuel L. Jackson opened the show as Uncle Sam, embodying the influence of American media and power. Calling football the “great American game,” he set the stage for a deeper message—American politics and culture are also a game.
Lamar began with Squabble Up, symbolizing resistance. Performers dressed in red, white, and blue, were initially divided and then united to form the American flag, with Lamar dividing them at the center. He then declared, “The revolution is about to be televised. You picked the right time, but the wrong guy,” reinforcing his critique of America’s political and social climate.
ACT II
Uncle Sam interrupted, demanding Lamar change his songs: “It’s too reckless, too ghetto. Mr. Lamar, do you know how to play the game? Then tighten up.” Artists, he implied, must conform to succeed. Lamar performed HUMBLE, symbolizing this constraint, as others descended the stairs in submission while he remained defiant.
He continued with DNA, addressing Black identity and inherited stereotypes, followed by Man at the Garden, celebrating perseverance despite oppression. The setting, featuring Black men in white, evoked the resilience of Black Americans—until Uncle Sam halted the performance again.
ACT III
Uncle Sam scoffs, “I see you brought your homeboys with you. The old culture cheat code. Scorekeeper, deduct one life.” Just as Hip-Hop and video game cheat codes (codes meant for players to advance unfairly) surged in the 1980s, Lamar suggests success often requires its own “cheat codes.” He then performs Peekaboo, a witty critique of media facades. Teasing Not Like Us, his Drake diss track fueled speculation about bringing their feud to the Super Bowl stage. Uncle Sam quickly interrupts—“Oh, you have done lost your damn mind”—as Lamar acknowledges the legal risk: “I want to perform their favorite song, but you know they love to sue.”
ACT IV
Guest star SZA joins Kendrick Lamar to perform Luther and All the Stars. During All the Stars, the choreography highlights a symbolic message—everyone moves in unison to one side, while those in red and white continue walking in a circle, representing America’s progress and the struggle of those trapped in cycles they can’t escape. Uncle Sam praises Lamar and SZA, saying, “Yes, that’s what I’m talking about, that’s what America wants—nice and calm. You’re almost there, don’t mess this up,” alluding to the media’s preference for less rebellious, more polished Black artistry.
ACT V
Lamar interrupts Uncle Sam, launching into Not Like Us, but his pre-performance dialogue is key. “It’s a cultural divide, I’m going to get it on the floor,” sets the stage for his message. “40 acres and a mule, this is bigger than the music,” references the unfulfilled promise of land to freed African Americans, now symbolizing broken promises to Black Americans. “They try to rig the game, but you can’t fake influence,” highlights the power of influential voices to drive change. The choreography reflects this struggle—performers in red, white, and blue collapse, while an inner circle in white remains standing. He ends with “TV off,” urging the audience to reject media-driven conformity, a nod to Gil Scott-Heron’s The Revolution Will Not Be Televised—a call to action, emphasizing that real change begins with awareness and action.
Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Performance was truly revolutionary and powerful. It sparked widespread discussions on social media, various platforms, and even in classrooms. With millions of people watching across the country and the world—including millionaires, billionaires, influencers, and even the President—Lamar delivered his societal critiques loudly and clearly, hoping to inspire a revolution.
