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8 Times Usher Gave Super Bowl Halftime Show-Level Performances
The former The Voice Coach has a repertoire of amazing throwback and recent live shows.
R&B legend Usher, who has been making charting-top hits since the 90s, has an electric history of live performances. While his energetic dance tunes call for grand live shows equipped with vivid lights, precise choreography, and the works, he also knows how to make his performances low-key when he sings his classic downtempo soul songs.
There’s no denying that Usher is the perfect choice to be the halftime act at the 2024 Super Bowl, as he has shown time and time again that his singing and dancing skills make for jaw-dropping entertainment. Here are eight times Usher has proved to us that he is Super Bowl halftime material.
1. ''U Remind Me'' at the BET Awards (2001)
A few years after Usher burst onto the R&B scene with full force, he performed a mind-blowing rendition of his 2001 number-one, Grammy-winning hit ‘’U Remind Me,’’ at the BET Awardds (watch here). There, he made an epic entrance by being thrust on the stage and showed off his extremely agile dance moves, all without missing a note.
2. ''Burn'' on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno (2004)
By this point, Usher had reached mega stardom in the pop and R&B universe with his 2004 album Confessions. He managed to impress the world even more with his super smooth performance of his number-one single ‘’Burn’’ while on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno. Before launching into the song, he whispered to the audience, serenading the song’s story to them. He then sang the melody with ease, his voice gliding along perfectly.
3. ''Love in this Club'' on BBC Radio 1 (2008)
Naturally, Usher went on to have more major hits, and performed his 2008 number-one dance single ‘’Love in This Club’’ on BBC Radio 1 to a massive, cheering crowd. He sang in front of a slew of bright lights and gave some effortless dance moves that would give Michael Jackson a run for his money. The drums and bass were on point, keeping up with his unmatched energy.
Check out the performance here.
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4. ''DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love'' at the London iTunes Festival (2012)
Usher continued to make some memorable club bops well into the next decade, starting with 2010’s ‘’DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love.’’ When he performed the song in London two years after its release, he commanded the stage with some super interesting choreography while putting a creative spin on the melody.
5. ''Confessions Part II'' at the Crickets Wireless Lounge (2020)
While ‘’Confessions Part II’’ came out in 2004, Usher proved that he’s still got it by performing the hit over 15 years later. During his 2020 intimate rendition of the song, he knew the crowd would eat up his every last note as he riffed his heart out. He then hit a super high notes towards the end with ease, and ended the performance on a suspenseful note.
Listen to the amazing performance here.
6. ''OMG'' at the iHeart Radio Music Festival (2020)
Usher would never forget a 2010s club banger, which is why he brought back a version of his number-one dance hit ‘’OMG’’ a decade after its release while at the iHeart Radio Music Festival. During his performance, he used his rare low register, showing off his versatile vocal range. And while the autotune is a fun creative choice for the song, we all know that he totally doesn't need it to sound great.
7. ''Yeah!'' at the Global Citizen Festival (2022)
Arguably Usher’s most recognized song to date, 2004’s ‘’Yeah!’’ has certainly withstood the test of time. That’s why the crowd at the 2022 Global Citizen Festival in Ghana instantly went wild as soon as the intro notes to the song played. His stage presence was magnetic as always, and the background dancers made for an explosive performance.
8. ''U Don't Have to Call'' NPR Tiny Desk (2022)
Usher’s 2022 concert with NPR’s Tiny Desk series went ultra-viral for a reason. One highlight of the setlist was when he showed us another side to him by toning things down with a revamped take on his 2001 tune ‘’U Don’t Have to Call.’’ His charm and silky tone shone through, and the horns added a layer to the song that we totally didn’t know we needed.
RELATED: Usher Accepts Honorary Doctorate Degree from Berklee
If these performances have convinced you that seeing Usher live is a can’t-miss experience, you’re in luck, as he recently announced his 2024 tour. Find out more about it here.
