The 31-year-old had been
at the center of controversy leading up to her anticipated game day show
thanks to her decision to use a recorded track when she performed at President Barack Obama's inauguration in January.
That left some
questioning whether she'd do the same in New Orleans on Sunday, but
Beyonce clarified that she would "absolutely" sing live during the game,
something that seemed evident as she soared through a decade-plus of
hits.
As the drumbeat to her
single "Countdown" played in the background, an actual fan-made
countdown sponsored by Pepsi ticked off the final seconds to her
halftime set.
Perhaps in a nod to her
noted perfectionism, viewers heard that "Excellence must be pursued, it
must be wooed, with all of one's might and every bit of effort that we
have" as Beyonce emerged atop a platform to take the stage.
She began her show solo, kicking things off with an a cappella version of her single "Love on Top."
Clad in above-the-knee
black stiletto boots and a leather minidress, the 31-year-old strutted
to the tune of "Crazy in Love," stripping down to little more than a
leotard as she performed the familiar dance moves. Unfortunately for
Jay-Z fans, the singer's husband didn't accompany her to perform his rap
verse on the song.
But, as expected,
Beyonce did host a Destiny's Child reunion on the Super Bowl stage.
After performing the high-energy songs "End of Time" and "Baby Boy," the
latter of which got special effects treatment, Kelly Rowland and
Michelle Williams popped onto the stage to join their former groupmate.
Following a few vocal
runs of "Bootylicious," the trio segued into "Independent Women, Pt. 1,"
the popular single that was also highlighted on the soundtrack of
2000's "Charlie's Angels" movie.
The reunited Destiny's
Child paid homage by pausing to replicate the iconic silhouetted pose
before swinging into "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)." Beyonce
released that song as a solo artist, but Rowland and Williams joined in
on Sunday's show.
Beyonce took back the reins from there, closing out with a performance of "Halo."
"Everybody, I want to
feel your energy," Beyonce said as she asked fans to keep waving their
hands in the air, many of whom were equipped with blue lights.
It was a swiftly paced 12-minute show.
Beyonce told press ahead
of the show that she recognized how big of an opportunity she had with
the Super Bowl halftime gig but that she felt ready.
"I'm trying to learn to
live every moment, because these moments are not promised to us," she
said. "I've had a 16-year career, and all of the things that I've done
have prepared me for this. ... I'm ready."
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