Carlos Santana wrote a letter to the NFL saying that they'd have done better hiring local Bay Area bands for the Super Bowl halftime show. Instead of Coldplay, Beyonce and Bruno Mars, he suggested Journey or Metallica. He also suggested they'd do better with "live music and real live vocals". 
 
I agree. I might have even watched the show.

Yep.. that entire game was a fiasco. 
 
The game was slow and filled with lots of mistakes and errors that you might expect from a high school team but not at the superbowl level....
 
and the commercials..... aye carramba!!!  Very few were innovative or creative. Most were boring or had me thinking ..What was that?  ...
 
and the halftime show.... disappointing on so many levels... that one time you were hoping the PA would malfunction.... nope, it had to work perfectly.
 
And I had such high hopes for that game.... since it was a local team that made the cut.... it was the only football game I watched in the entire season.... even several seasons... I'm not a sports fan.... but hey, I figured I'd watch this one.... I could have been doing something else more useful, such as vacuuming the house.

Your post titled 'Re: Carlos Santana critical of Super Bowl show' in forum 'Coffee House' was restored from the recycle bin. 

The Super Bleh.

What a drag it is getting old.......

Ya... but as for me. I have only seen Bruno Mars on Super Bowl halftime shows, I wouldn't buy his music but the guy is a really talented performer. Beyoncé almost completely ruined it for me and I didn't get Coldplay. I've never been a fan. You have to remember that Carlos was a local talent who was "found" and put on the stage a LOT by Bill Graham so I'm sure he has a bias toward local SF talent, if there is any these days.
As for the commercials, I agree with Herb... they are supposed to be something special but they were really weak. The sheep were sort of nice but it was just a "one off" on one of Gary Larson's cow cartoons.
 
Bruno Mars was the best part of the show by FAR IMO... that and Denver's defense taking Cam's lunch money. The Panthers did not look like they belonged there but really, neither did The Broncos. I don't care for either team. I sort of liked Denver because of Manning, he seems to be a class act but he didn't win the game in any way... the defense did that. I see too much of Cam since I'm a Falcons fan and both teams are in the NFC South, we play twice. We beat them once this year, twice next year! We used to have Wade Phillips with the Falcons but someone must have been holding him back, probably "coach Blank". He did a great job! I have absolutely NO use for John Elway so it was hard pulling for Denver but I just compartmentalized it and pulled for the Denver Defense and Manning... he really should retire now though. Cam should just go away. He could be a role model and a really great player if he had just a little humility. He is all smiles when they win but seems to be a sore loser. Then again, benefit of the doubt, maybe he is just super competitive and takes it hard when he loses, takes it personal. Also, IIRC after SB 48 Manning left the field without shaking hands with anyone... so ehh. IDK.
 
Halftime shows are getting harder for me because most of the people, I have never listened to. I had heard of Coldplay and one song sounded familiar, I wouldn't know a Bruno Mars song if I heard it but with him I don't think it is so much about the music as it is about the "personality" and stage show and he does it very well. He should just go to Las Vegas and set up shop. Beyoncé should just go home, she does have nice legs though.
 
Sometimes this old world just SUQ!
J

carlos = really old man.

The "Bore Bowl" I called it. Boring on all levels.
 
For the non-football enthusiast, the game had very little for the highlight reel. Best play came early with the fumble recovery for the TD. One nice punt return. That was pretty much it. A defensive game, but that does not appeal to many folks.
 
I do not think there has been a very good SB commercial for a few years now. I think back to the 90's with the really clever, innovative ads they had then.
 
Half time: For one thing, the sound was so bad this year. I don't know if it was the networks or the venue, but the mix was really off. As to the entertainment: Why not just a good band that can play? Why all the staging? BTW All those people surrounding the stage are brought in and rehearsed (as I recall) three time. The are swept in for the show, and then after half-time booted out of the stadium. They do not get to see the game. It looks so contrived...All standing there with their arms up in the air waving to and fro. Really diggin' it. Right.
 
The best and coolest thing of the whole event was how they were able to get most of the old MVPs there to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the gridiron classic. That must have taken some work.
 

@ rbecker: Half time: For one thing, the sound was so bad this year. I don't know if it was the networks or the venue, but the mix was really off.
 
I forgot about that. It was my first thought.. "I can't hear the singer". I mean, yes I could hear him but not the way I should have. You're right... and BTW, didn't Carlos play something? He did a short clip for something. Carlos isn't THAT old... he is only 4 years older than me thank you. I don't feel that old but I do stay away from mirrors. A beard helps.
 
..and now for something completely different. I was talking to my grand daughter. She said she had slaw dogs on Tuesday. (I'm making them tonight). Tuesday crossed wires in my head and I wrote her back. Tuesday's Gone wit the wind. Then I sent her to Tuesday's Gone from Lynyrd Skynyrd's first album... then I listened to it... then I put on Pronounced and am listening to Free Bird as I type this.. lol.
Bob's (Bob Burns) step daughter used to live with us, he lived nearby. He was killed last year in a single car accident coming home from playing somewhere.. RIP. He was their original drummer on the first two albums and was in rehab when the plane went down. It's a crazy life... Free Bird!!!!!
 
Anyway.
 
J
 

1. The NFL just doesn't do "local talent" for SB halftime shows. When the SB was in NJ a few years ago, Jon Bon-Jovi practically begged to do it to no avail as the NFL made it clear that local flavor wasn't going to be given any consideration and Bruno Mars got the gig that time instead.
 
2. It's a hard gig to fulfill - they want an artist who has wide appeal, can put on a greatest hits show (you have to have some), is a compelling live performer who can hold their own in the midst of a huge spectacle. And it basically either has to be a mainstream artist or an aging artist that's still somewhat relevant. On top of that, anyone too "controversial" need not apply. Oh, and the artists won't get paid and the sound for the gazillion people watching on TV will probably suck.
 
3. They're running out of aging artists that haven't already done it and/or big current acts that meet their standards. Hence this years choices - a popular enough but not exactly legendary band plus two repeat performers as guests. I'd also bet that a number of people who might fit the bill have turned them down.
 
4. All in all, I thought it was OK given the circumstances - Coldplay didn't embarrass themselves, Bruno Mars is obviously a very talented performer (even if he's way too slick for my tastes) and Beyonce did her thing (even though I'd rather see her sing than chant).