Why is Music Rarely Judged Like Sports? Oh, Except During the Super Bowl Halftime Show

 Why is Music Rarely Judged Like Sports? Oh, Except During the Super Bowl Halftime Show

Let’s be honest: the halftime show is the Super Bowl of music judgment. And while we usually don’t judge music the same way we do sports,come Super Bowl Sunday, it's like the whole country becomes a panel of judges at American Idol or America's got talent.

But here’s the kicker: no one really has any idea what they’re talking about. I don’t, and I’ll admit it. I’ve never been one to judge rap music, and I don’t think I ever will. The only time I hear rap is when someone flies past me in traffic blasting it at a volume that surely could be heard from space. Or when " Rapper's Delight" by the Sugar Hill Gang comes on. Still, I have opinions, because, well, everyone has opinions when it comes to the Super Bowl halftime show.

This year, they chose Kendrick Lamar. Kendrick Lamar? Okay, okay—don't come at me, rap aficionados! I get it, the man’s a legend. But here's the thing: Did he achieve mainstream appeal? Let me tell you, to someone like me—who's a little more into Disco and rock 'n roll and maybe the occasional pop anthem—the answer is  no.  ( I did appreciate the local Debbie Deb Freestyle sample on one  of his songs "Squabble Up" , it gave me hope )And I’m not alone. It seems like the halftime show was designed to make me feel like the out-of-touch uncle at a family reunion.

According to various outlets, the biggest group of people planning to watch the Super Bowl are ages 30 to 44. This got me wondering: Who decides these halftime performers? I dug a little deeper and found out it’s the NFL’s entertainment team. You know, a mix of NFL executives, production experts, and Roc Nation, the entertainment company founded by none other than Jay-Z. And guess what? The person ultimately pulling the strings behind all the music choices? Yep, Jay-Z himself.

So... why Kendrick Lamar? According to Seth Dudowsky, the NFL’s head of music, Lamar has had an unparalleled impact on both music and culture. “Few artists have impacted music and culture as profoundly as Kendrick Lamar,”  (As of January 2025, Lamar has garnered five number-one songs, none that I can name )  I mean... I guess that’s true if you are a fan of Hip hop music  but we may not share the same sentiment.

I get it, the younger crowd is all about it. It’s their time. But what about the rest of us? The ones who grew up listening to "classic" music and the ones who just want to hear a song they recognize? The halftime show is supposed to be for everyone, but this year, it felt a little more tailored to the Gen Z crowd, leaving us older folks, like me (and yes, anyone over 50), scratching our heads.

And it wasn’t just me. A lot of my friends, people who typically listen to Top 40, also felt like Kendrick didn’t really "connect" with them. The energy just wasn’t there. But hey, what do we know? Maybe a rapper who speaks in code is the future of mainstream entertainment.

Now, before I get dragged into the “you just don’t understand rap” debate, let’s step back. We don’t watch football to just see the Xs and Os of the game. We watch to feel something. And the same goes for the halftime show—music should move us, whether it's a powerful guitar solo or an anthem everyone knows the lyrics to.

But here's the ultimate twist: While everyone was busy dissecting Kendrick Lamar's set, the real decision-maker behind this choice was Jay-Z. So, if you didn’t like the show, remember: It's his fault.

Now, historically, Super Bowl ad campaigns have aimed at younger, hipper crowds, but this year they seemed to be targeting the older generations, particularly Gen X. They’re smart. Gen Xers are the ones who remember when CDs still existed. They still remember when music was music—not just a string of complex rhymes that seem more like a cryptic crossword puzzle than a catchy hook.

And look, I’m not saying Lamar wasn’t a brilliant choice for some. But maybe if they paired him with someone more recognizable—let’s say a rapper who could sprinkle in a song or two we might know—it could have bridged the gap between old-timers like myself and the youth. But alas, it seems Jay-Z had a different vision. Super Bowl stage, meet Kendrick Lamar.

In conclusion, let’s remember one important thing: whether it's sports, music, or anything else, we all have the right to judge. But, let’s be real, only Jay-Z gets to make the final call. And this year, it was his choice... to drop the mic.

Thanks, Jay-Z. Maybe next year we’ll get a halftime show where I can sing along.

Maybe.