Bruno Mars, Red Hot Chili Peppers rock Super Bowl show

MANILA, Philippines – Explosive.

Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chili Peppers put on a grand show at the Super Bowl XLVIII Halftime show on Febuary 2 (February 3 in Manila), which delighted 79,000 fans crammed into New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.

(AS IT HAPPENS: Super Bowl XLVIII)

Following in the footsteps of some of the biggest names in the American music industry – Beyonce, Bruce Springsteen and Madonna have all performed at the event in recent years – the 28-year-old did not disappoint.

Ever since Janet Jackson triggered an outcry with her breast-baring “Nipplegate” stunt during a duet with Justin Timberlake in 2004, Super Bowl organizers have been careful to steer clear of controversy.

With the clean-cut Mars headlining the half-time concert this year, there was never the remotest chance of anything other than a family-friendly show.

Sporting his trademark quiff and dressed in a sparkling blazer and slim-fitting trousers – a reference perhaps to one of New Jersey’s most famous acts, The Four Seasons – Mars opened with a virtuoso drum solo before launching into a medley of hits.

The show opened with a children’s choir singing a short but sweet version of “Billionaire,” followed by a drum solo by Bruno Mars. According to Marketwired, the drum kit used by the singer was made to honor his late Filipino mother Bernadette Hernandez, who died June last year. The “Bernadette” design on the drum kit is similar to the singer’s tattoo.

Soon after, bright lights went on and Bruno Mars’ band of men in flashy gold suits appeared on stage, dancing to the upbeat tempo of “Locked Out of Heaven.”  The jazzy sound of the saxophone was as smooth as Bruno Mars’ dance moves, which pumped up the audience as they waved their lights and glowsticks to the beat of “Treasure” and “Runaway Baby.”

But the energetic performance was just about to get even more spectacular as the Red Hot Chili Peppers entered with their smashing hit “Give It Away.” 

The performance continued with Bruno Mars jamming with a shirtless Anthony Kiedis. The contrast between the rock band’s laid back outfits and Bruno Mars’ dressed-up look made the show all the more interesting. Not long after, the stage was filled with a chaos of dancers and musicians jumping up and down, and rocking to the hardcore guitar riffs.

As the show reached that music-induced high, the lights dimmed once more and a certain quiet filled the air. As the Burno Mars’ “Just the Way You Are” blasted through the speakers, fireworks exploded in the sky, a dramatic performance which came after a video tribute to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces.

Two images of the Stars and Stripes were then beamed onto the field as the music gave way to a montage of video messages by US military personnel serving overseas.

By the end of the show, the stadium had exploded, not only with cheers, but with bright fireworks that lit up circling the whole venue.

This is not the first time an artist with Filipino lineage performed at the anticipated Super Bowl Halftime show. The Black Eyed Peas, with Filipino-American member apl.de.ap performed in 2011 Super Bowl XLV in Texas.

Here’s a video of the performance:

– With reports from Agence France-Presse/Rappler.com