This Sunday, FIFA premiered its vaunted halftime show in the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, which ended with Spain’s victory. The poster was a delirium of grandeur: Madonna, Shakira, BTS, Justin Bieber and Burna Boy have shared the stage in a show that has sought to transfer the Super Bowl model to football. Some, like Robert Smith of The Cure, didn’t like the idea at all, although it’s hard to imagine that the singer didn’t end up tuning into the game. The full show is uploaded on the FIFA channel on YouTube.
The music started well before the opening whistle, although with a considerable role of the playback, as is usual in this type of televised macro events. Post Malone premiered his new single, ‘Chrome Heartbreaker’, live during the pre-match show, and also “sang” ‘Wow’ and ‘Sunflower’ with Swae Lee. And, as announced, Jennifer Hudson performed the national anthem, while Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger and Laura Pausini presented ‘Desire’, the official FIFA anthem. Tom Cruise, for his part, appeared on the grass to offer a brief speech of encouragement before the final.
@clipzforyou108 #postmalone #worldcup #worldcupfinal #messi #argentina ♬ original sound – Clipzforyou108
@la1_tve Music and sport come together in the World Cup FINAL. #HolaSegunda 🌟🌟 #MundialRTVE ♬ original sound – La1 de TVE
Behind the poster is Chris Martin, leader of Coldplay, along with Global Citizen. None of the artists have been paid to perform: the show is part of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund campaign, aimed at raising funds for educational projects.
With the score still 0-0, Madonna has opened the first halftime show in the history of the World Cup with an apparently pre-recorded performance, that is, a video clip, although with every intention of continuing to promote ‘Confessions II’. Madonna has recovered ‘Music Inferno’ – the disco remix of ‘Music’ – alongside Stuart Price, on the decks, on a stage that recreated a skating rink very similar to the one in the ‘Sorry’ video clip. The remix has included a nod to ‘Danceteria’ with Madonna and Price riding in a huge convertible driven by Ronaldinho and Ronaldo. Only in the last seconds has Madonna physically appeared on the grass, accompanied by both footballers: the rest of the number has been pre-recorded, or at least that has been the impression.
@la1_tve The final of the #MundialRTVE is a queen. If someone had to start this historic performance from the break of the final, it had to be her: ✨MADONNA✨ #ojaLaSegunda #LaCasaDeLaMusicaRTVE ♬ original sound – La1 de TVE
The baton has been taken by Gustavo Dudamel, leading the New York Philharmonic and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, with a not predictable orchestral version of ‘Seven Nation Army’ by the White Stripes, a melody that a physically present Donald Trump will have listened to with great pleasure, given his enmity with Jack White, and which The Muppets have also joined in, in an obvious attempt by Martin to appeal to children. Later, BTS opted for ‘Dynamite’ using the expected chorus and Justin Bieber surprised by performing an acoustic version of ‘Everything Hallelujah’ accompanied by his guitar. It has been quite a “vibe kill”, as Madonna would say.
There has been less surprise with Shakira and Burna Boy, who have repeated ‘Dai Dai’, current global number 1, already presented during the opening of the World Cup. This time, yes, both have taken off their sunglasses and have taken more care of the staging, surrounded by a children’s dance troupe. The closing has been in the hands of the PS22 Chorus – which you will remember for its viral version of ‘Jóga’ by Björk – and Chris Martin, who in his usual role as pop messiah, has turned the motto “We Believe in Love” into a gigantic choral finale full of color and excitement. Shakira later joined the collective hug. Madonna, on the other hand, has no longer appeared. Music makes the people come together. Well, almost.
@la1_tve The K-pop band @BTS conquers MetLife Stadium with their song ‘Dynamite’ 💥 “Cause I, I, I’m in the stars tonight…”. Yes, today we are among stars! #ojalaSegunda #MundialRTVE #LaCasaDeLaMusicaRTVE ♬ original sound – La1 de TVE
@la1_tve @Justin Bieber, the Canadian icon, shines in the half-time show with ‘Everything Hallelujah’ 🥹✨ #ojalaSegunda #MundialRTVE #LaCasaDeLaMusicaRTVE ♬ original sound – La1 de TVE
@la1_tve The queen of World Cup anthems is back. @Shakira returns to football’s biggest stage. #ojalaSegunda #MundialRTVE #LaCasaDeLaMúsicaRTVE ♬ original sound – La1 de TVE
