During the Cowboys-Saints game on Thanksgiving day, after months of speculation, rumor, denial and, let's face it, turmoil, the NFL went ahead and formally announced the Black Eyed Peas as the halftime entertainment for the Arlington-hosted Super Bowl XLV on February 6, 2011. The NFL send out a press release announcing it, too, which you can check out after the jump.
In this week's upcoming issue of the Observer, Imma be going over all the reasons why this is a terrible idea.
But, for now, the initial reaction to the announcement is overwhelmingly positive, believe it or not.
Take industry favorite Bob Lefsetz's take in his near-daily Lefsetz Letter musings: "It's great! Fantastic! Because finally the NFL figured out that it exists in the twenty first century and classic rock is aged music from another era and represents not a whit what is happening in the game today."
He has a point, I guess. But, mostly, he just sounds like another tired old industry pro coming to grips with the way things work these days. Right?
Maybe not, if you think that actually being part of the performance would be a fun time. Find out how by glancing over the NFL's release after the jump. (Hint: It involves buying the new Black Eyed Peas disc, which comes out tomorrow. Commerce!)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NFL 11/25/10THE BLACK EYED PEAS TO PERFORM
FEBRUARY 6 DURING THE BRIDGESTONE
SUPER BOWL XLV HALFTIME SHOW ON FOX
THE BLACK EYED PEAS, the musical phenomenon that energizes crowds around the world, will perform in the BRIDGESTONE SUPER BOWL XLV HALFTIME SHOW on FOX at Cowboys Stadium in North Texas on Sunday, February 6, the NFL announced today on national television during NFL on FOX coverage of the New Orleans Saints at Dallas Cowboys game.
The Bridgestone Super Bowl halftime show is the most-watched musical event of the year. More than 153 million viewers in the U.S. watched last year's show. The Super Bowl and halftime show will be broadcast worldwide.
The Black Eyed Peas join an esteemed list of recent halftime acts that includes The Who, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Prince, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and U2.
Since forming in 1995, six-time Grammy award-winning, multi-platinum recording artists The Black Eyes Peas have sold more than 28 million albums worldwide and more than 30.8 million digital tracks. They will release a brand-new album, entitled The Beginning, on November 30, 2010, on Interscope Records that includes the hit new single "The Time (Dirty Bit)". The Beginning is the follow-up to the group's blockbuster CD The E.N.D. which has sold more than 11 million copies world-wide, while spending 52 weeks on the Billboard Top 200 chart. It is also the first album in two decades by a duo or group to yield five Top 10 songs on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, including the No. 1 hits "Boom Boom Pow," "I Gotta Feeling" (which is the best-selling digital song in SoundScan history), and "Imma Be," as well as the Top 10's "Meet Me Halfway" and "Rock That Body." The quartet, comprised of WILL.I.AM, FERGIE, APL.DE.AP and TABOO, has logged more than 300 headline tour dates in 29 countries with more than 2.2 million tickets sold.
Fans who buy a copy of The Beginning will have a chance to be a special guest of The Black Eyed Peas at the Bridgestone Super Bowl XLV Halftime Show.
This year marks the fourth time the Bridgestone brand has sponsored the Super Bowl halftime show.
The BRIDGESTONE SUPER BOWL XLV HALFTIME SHOW is an NFL NETWORK PRODUCTION and will be executive produced by RICKY KIRSHNER and directed by HAMISH HAMILTON.
