Madonna, Cee Lo Green, Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. performed a pop spectacular at the Super Bowl last night, with the latter predictably acting up as soon as she realised she was being upstaged by Minaj.
Surrounded by umpteen hot buff Romanesque dudes and dressed like Glenda Jackson as Cleopatra in the Morecombe & Wise Christmas Special, Madonna rattled through a medley of hits, including ‘Like A Prayer’, ‘Music’, ‘Vogue’ and new single ‘Give Me All Your Luvin’.
Madonna did a bit of vogueing (note – it was not a patch on the moves displayed by Azari & III at Heaven last week), there were soldiers drumming, there was bright light, there was Cee Lo looking pretty cool in an all-black vicarish outfit.
M.I.A., aware as ever at her role as bringer of ‘controversy’, stuck her middle finger up at the camera during her appearance in Madge’s new single ‘Luv’. Of course, the delicate and retiring fans of the gentle sport of gridiron may have been up in arms, prompting the NFL to issue a contrite apology: "The obscene gesture in the performance was completely inappropriate, very disappointing, and we apologise to our fans." Pitchfork too had a little cry, saying "Following the rep-shattering press surrounding 2010’s /\/\/\Y/\, it wouldn’t be the worst idea to draw as much focus as possible back onto her music. Instead, in the few bars Madonna was kind enough to grant her during the biggest television event of the year, M.I.A.’s message to America was simply, "Fuck you." Well, in M.I.A.’s own words, the little people will never win, but they can fuck shit up. Success might be the best revenge, but apparently, being an asshole is forever."
