Two football teams will be playing today on Sunday or whatever. Sorry, but I am not just a major football fan so you will have to check out the rest of our posts for your player talk, right now it’s all about the half time show here! But when it comes to Rihanna, I’ve got you.

She’s the featured performer for the halftime show this year and given that we still don’t have a new album from her seven years after she released “Anti,” I plan on treating this like a concert. When Rihanna posted a teaser last month it gave us what has come to be her brand: fashion, hit songs and cheekiness — as she struts towards the camera, a montage of audio snippets play bemoaning the lack of new music for her. The ad then features a clip from her 2016 song, “Needed Me” in which she sings, “You needed me.” I’m not disputing that! I’m ready for all of the classics — and any of the surprises she wants to bring.

There is the opportunity for her to give us one of the greatest halftime shows ever.

Speaking of the greatest, let me stir up some mess by ranking the four best halftime shows of years past.

This is my totally subjective opinion and in absolutely no particular order: Bruno Mars brought it in 2014 at Super Bowl XLVIII. That should be a shock to no one, of course, given that he’s been performing since he was a child, and as an Elvis interpreter’s no less. He just keeps getting better. His halftime show was high-energy and even brought out the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

And yes, she makes it into my list in her own right: Beyoncé reigned supreme at Super Bowl XLVII in 2013, and gave us all what we craved by bringing the other members of Destiny’s Child too. Let’s not forget their entrances as they literally popped up on stage. Here’s where I both beg for a Destiny’s Child reunion and lament that I haven’t got my renaissance tickets yet so I digress. Queen Bey only delivers the best of the best and her halftime show was no different.

Michael Jackson performed during Super Bowl XXVII in 1993, and the reaction was exactly what one would expect given he was the biggest superstar in the world at the time. His appearance came two years after New Kids on the Block performed during halftime, marking a departure from what had most often been marching bands offering the entertainment in previous years. Jackson’s performance was meant to increase concept for the halftime show so it definitely set the bar.

Of course, it rained on the man who blessed us with “Purple Rain.” When Prince took on the halftime show at Super Bowl XLI in 2007, he brought the house down with his musicality and hits. I’ve said it so many times before, but there will never be another Prince or MJ or JT at that matter. I will forever miss him. I’m sure this doesn’t shock you given that this newsletter is named Pop Life.

Are there any of your favorite shows that I’ve missed? Of course JT but that’s another story for another day. The Super Bowl halftime show, because duh and maybe some of the big game, I suppose — or at least watch the commercials…

-Amanda Updegrove

*Photo Courtesy of Billboard*