Second Take: Katy Perry lives up to hype in Super Bowl halftime show

Katy Perry belted out “Roar,” finishing with a full-bodied growl while standing in a flaming mini-dress on top of a 15-foot-tall robotic tiger.

Perry’s 15-minute Super Bowl XLIX halftime show included fan-favorites such as “Dark Horse,” “Kissed a Girl” and “Firework“ and featured guests Lenny Kravitz and Missy Elliot who sang “Lose Control” and “Work It.” The representation of three musical genres in combination with impressive visual effects set this year’s Super Bowl halftime apart as a full show rather than just a snooze-fest concert.

Among recent halftime shows, Perry’s delivered the most visually creative concept. The multimillion-dollar performance featured complex projection and light schemes that transformed the stage from a chessboard into a beachside dreamland. The show also incorporated flashy pyrotechnics and fireworks ultimately stepping up the performance’s drama.

Perry’s show also stood out from its predecessors Beyonce, Bruno Mars and Madonna for the way she integrated and engaged her larger ensemble. The dancers complemented Perry’s rendition of “Dark Horse” as a hard-hitting hip-hop crew of metallic chess pieces. Yet, they quickly transformed with cartoonish beach ball, shark and surfboard costumes while Perry sang “Teenage Dream” and “California Gurls.” The characters, resembling something from a children’s show, danced and sang backup for Perry in a way that was both slightly creepy but also impressive.

After ditching the fire dress, she dawned a festive beach ball-themed micro-dress for her beach set. A surprise appearance by Missy Elliot then had Perry in an oversized bedazzled jersey zip-up as they sang “Get Ur Freak On,” “Werk It” and “Lose Control.” Finally, to finish out the show with “Firework,” Perry put on a glittering full-length silver gown.

Perry’s co-performers were welcome additions for the tasteful contrast they brought. Kravitz lead into “I Kissed a Girl” with a guitar solo. He and Perry sang the pop-favorite as a backdrop of flames fanned out behind them. Following the whimsical beach set, Missy Eliot’s soulful hip-hop style provided an edge to Perry’s typical bubblegum pop routine.

The three musical artists were divergent in style, but the combination provided a bridge across generations. With younger college-age students, Missy Elliot’s “Lose Control” was a nostalgic treat, while Lenny Kravitz’s rock-funk guitar struck cords with Generation X viewers.

Vocally speaking, Perry gave a good performance, although she didn’t quite live up to Beyonce’s delivery from 2013. Perry performed mainly live, as opposed to lip-syncing, which brought ferocity to her stage presence that isn’t always prevalent in her cute-but-provocative music videos.

The show’s most striking difference from others was its deviation from a traditional concert vibe. Unlike 2014’s Bruno Mars and 2012’s Madonna halftime performances, Perry’s show provided on a visual spectacle much like an Olympic opening ceremony. She used a greater area of the stage, at one point gliding through the air while standing on a platform shaped like a shooting star. It was worth watching on a big screen in high definition, which hasn’t been necessary with the last few halftime performances.

– Kelsey Rocha