The Weeknd Previews Super Bowl Halftime Show
The Weeknd is preparing a blockbuster show unlike anything he’s ever done before.
Ahead of his highly-anticipated performance at this weekend’s Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show, the “Blinding Lights” singer fielded questions from reporters during a press conference on Thursday (Feb. 4).
While he remained coy about the details, he did reveal that the cinematic 12-minute show will take place in the stands and on the football field at Tampa Bay’s Raymond James Stadium.
“Due to COVID and for the safety of the players and the workers, we built the stage within the stadium,” said The Weeknd. “We’re also using the field as well, but we wanted to do something we’ve never done before, so we built the stage in the stadium. I’m not going to tell you anything else because you’ll have to watch on Sunday.”
Despite his graphic music videos, he’s making sure the show stays family friendly. “For sure, I definitely want to be respectful to the viewers at home,” he said. “I will still incorporate some of the storyline. It’s a very cohesive story I’ve been telling throughout this era and throughout this year. So the story will continue, but definitely we’ll keep it PG for the families. I’ll try my best.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2igHNanLvk&t=90s
He hopes viewers will be able to draw their own conclusions when they tune in Sunday. “I don’t like to spoon-feed the audience,” he said. “Hopefully, they can pick up some of their own theories and conclusions of what the show is saying and the story I’m telling in the performance.”
According to Billboard, he’s invested $7 million of his own money into making sure the performance is something fans will remember forever.
“Sunday will be unlike anything we’ve seen on the halftime show before, and as you know, we’ve seen a lot of things on this stage over the years,” said Adam Harter, PepsiCO’s senior vice president of marketing for media, sports and entertainment.
The Weeknd has been studying the greats like Prince, Michael Jackson, and Beyoncé, but his favorite halftime performance was Diana Ross in 1996.
“The show just makes me smile, and she has a great exit with the helicopter, which she lands in the middle of the field, grabs onto it and flies out into the clouds,” he said. “It’s like—I wish I could’ve done that, I wish I thought of it, to be honest.”
While he didn’t reveal if he will be joined by any special guests, fans have speculated over the possibilities including Ariana Grande, Daft Punk, Kenny G, and Doja Cat.