C-FBN--Super-Bowl-Weblog,3370
Super Bowl Weblog: Gameday Dispatches from Miami
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By PAUL NEWBERRY
AP National Writer
MIAMI (AP) -
8:34 p.m. EST: Never has there been a more appropriate song for
a Super Bowl halftime show. Prince brought the water-logged crowd
at Dolphin Stadium to its feet with a rousing rendition of "Purple
Rain" - performed in a driving rainstorm.
While these Super Bowl extravaganzas have often drawn harsh
reviews - Janet Jackson's costume malfunction, that dismal "Blue
Brothers Bash" in New Orleans a few years ago - I've got to give
the Purpled One a thumbs-up for his performance.
Performing on a stage designed like that symbol he once used in
lieu of his name, Prince started out with "Let's Go Crazy,"
morphed into an aborted version of "Baby I'm A Star," ripped off
a few verses of "Proud Mary," performed the Foo Fighters' hit
"Best of You," then finished off the show with a song that
everyone in the crowd could relate to on this messy night.
Accompanied by the Florida A&M band (who took part at Prince's
invitation), the fans roared in unison, with flashlights sprinkled
throughout the darkened stadium, "I only want 2 see u in the
purple rain!"
While I'm no expert on Super Bowl halftime shows, that might be
the best once I've seen since U2's emotional 2002 show in the wake
of 9-11.