Welcome to the latest TGJ Roundtable!
Over the years, That Grape Juice has established a distinguished voice that – whether loved or loathed – sparks discussion, debate, and on occasion drama!
Though comprised of seasoned writers who share a similar outlook on Urban Pop culture, the idiosyncrasies of the TGJ team members often lend for quite heated debates “behind the scenes” about the hottest topics.
Now, we give you a front row seat to the show. In a format similar to ‘The View’ or ‘The Real’, TGJ editors – Sam, David, Rashad, and Joe – get real in a very candid way.
Today’s roundtable topic asks each anchor their thoughts on the…
J.Lo & Shakira’s
Super Bowl Halftime Show
Sam
One word: Fire!
Heading into Halftime, my anticipation for the performance far outweighed my expectation.
See, on paper, both ladies boast a catalogue and performance gravitas that demands a certain level of excitement.
Yet, it was hard to attach expectation for a few reasons. First, there’s the unique differences in their performance styles. Would it work? Could it work? Then there’s the reality that, since launching her Vegas residency, J.Lo has pretty much been performing medleys as promo for years. How would this up the ante satisfyingly? I’ve also not been floored by the little I’ve seen from Shakira live in recent times.
Thankfully, any doubt was dispelled with their dynamite diva masterclass.
Shakira’s raw, free-flowing exhibition complimented Lopez’s glossy spectacle and, combined, it served as a buffet table of everything one could want from a Halftime Show.
The song choices were wise, stadium-suited, and universal, while the modern mixes + interpolations (‘Mi Gente’, ‘I Like It’) gave the ladies’ classics life anew.
Choreo was tight, right, and synchronised. Especially with 50-year-old J.Lo; there was an Olympian-like pace to her moves that gave new definition to the term “age ain’t nothing but a number.”
I also lived for how daring aspects of her show were, from the ‘Hustlers’ nod with the pole to the flaunting of her assets. All on a platform that has crucified others for much less. The commitment to delivering “her” undiluted made me smile and hopefully will allow the show to be more embracing of artistic expression (within reason) moving forward.
If there was any snag, it was that I don’t feel guests J Balvin or Bad Bunny added much to the performance. Though brief, the time allotted to them is time I’d have much preferred gifted us more J.Lo and Shaki.
Still, overall a phenomenal Halftime. One that easily obliterates the nonsense of the last two years and one that sets the bar high for such spectacles to come.
Major shout-out to the creatives behind the scenes, whose magic manifested in earnest: JaQuel Knight, Nappy Tabs, Parris Goebel, Kim Burse, and Adam Blackstone.
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Rashad
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Joe
The ladies came for blood last night!
This year’s performance took me way back to what I love about the Halftime Show: excitement, production, glam and hits!
The best thing about the showing is that both performers got their time to shine, never allowing anybody to be “upstaged.” And they somehow managed to bring their catalogues and overall brands together in a very cohesive way.
While Shakira served her classic citizen-of-the-world vibe, Jennifer went for her iconic street-showgirl flavor.
And they did all of it with a pronounced Latin-flair that turned the whole thing into a rather unique affair.
J Balvin and Bad Bunny weren’t the most needed additions as the divas and their dancers filled up that stadium in more ways than one. Still, it was a great way to celebrate Latin pride and showcase just of powerful and beautiful their culture is, as well as how far they have come as a unit on a mainstream tip.
With the girls slaying their respective sets, it’s actually quite surprising – and a shame – they weren’t ever offered to headline the halftime on their own before.
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Do you agree with our views? Who was spot on? Let us know your thoughts on the latest TGJ Roundtable and your thoughts on the 2020 Super Bowl Halftime Show.
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Shakira Slayyed!!!! Jlo did great!!!
Biggest mistake jlo made, allowing shakira to perform first.
Jlo probably allowed shakira to go out first cause she wanted shakira to be the “opening act” while she will be the main act but it backfired big time
Shakira stole the show and set the bar so high, jlo couldn’t match it. Dont get me wrong, jlo did good but shakira was mesmerising.
She played the guitar, she did that tongue thing, she danced with a rope.
They both did great.
Dont forget jlo’s daughter, she inherited her dad’s vocals.
Bad bunny and j balvin should have stayed home. They brought nothing to the show.
Bad bunny nearly ruined shakira’s set with his bad singing
Pitbull should have done a song with shakira
Then come out again and do another song with jlo
Alejandro sanz would have also been a better choice than bad bunny. La tortura is a fire song.
Never thought i’d see the day when I would agree with you lol. Shakira won the SB last night. JLo became a backup dancer again lol.
Agree A to Z. LOL’d at Emma’s vocal inheritance. That rope dance, tho. ?
Jlo was and is the bosss …jlo all the way
only facts better finish guzzling on that cüm and swallow it before IT speaks my name again!
You’re disgusting. Obsessed with Normani and clearly now obsessed with me.
Chile I don’t speak on no Normani! G***** that hot load bïiiiiitch before yo a$$ steps to me!
If I didn’t have a life, I’d pull receipts like you always so CLARKSON. Running multiple profiles like a loser. Meanwhile, I’m running to the bank multiple times.
Oh so you a PAID cüm guzzler! Now we now why you have so much time on yo nasty a$$ hands! Back it up!
Jlo did her thing and shakira fans are mad case she made shakira looked like a back up dancer
But shakira is number 1 right now on itunes with her song whenever wherever
Not from what I saw. Shakira was on fire last night, JLo was her backup dancer/hype man for the night.
Shakira was THE SHOW. don’t try it. she’s been the talk.
Both of them have been the talk. Why are we as people like this ugh
Since when backup dancers OPEN a show?
Sorry but Shakira won the Superbowl show. i don’t even remember JLo’s set.
Your comment made me realize JLo only has If You Had My Love and Get Right as passable hits. Her set betrayed her lack of hits last night. Me thinks SHE needed Shakira more than Shakira needed her.
Shakira won. End of story.
I somehow agree that supporting acts were not needed and were distracting but I love Bad Bunny. Nevertheless SHAKIRA killed it she brought so many elements and showed he is so talented. Jlo did good but my only issue is i feel like she has done this at every award show….. it didn’t feel fresh except the pole and the kids in the cage scene.
That s*** was horrible
I didn’t like J-Lo’s set. I kept waiting for her biggest hits, but that wasn’t the main focus of her set.
It’s VERY possible to like both women’s performances WITHOUT making a comparison. Jennifer Lopez shut it downnnnn and attacked her choreography liked the seasoned, trained, ENTERTAINER that she is. Shakira is a SUPERSTAR who rose to the occasion and chile her hips still don’t lie.
THEY KILLED!!!!!
My thoughts exactly. The entire performance was a victory. No need for the comparisons. Pretty much agree with all of the TgJ writers.
Exactly and they had people of all colors behind them. Phenomenal!
they BOTH did amazing. stop saying shakira won or j-lo won. the halftime performance wasn’t a competition.
Shakira won.
Jlo won b****
Shakira is a has been resucitaded by JAY-Z she is an roc Nation artist, thats the reason she was there even opening the Superbowl. Jennifer is an icon vanguard awarded, in 2019 Jennifer was person of the year by time and people. #Facts
But JLo’s set proved she has no classics. And the only songs considered classics by her fans are simple, sing-along-y elevator music. I had never realized that until last night.
You’re a lunatic if you think Jlo has no classics. Yal just hate jlo, because I doubt any of you know who a shakira is until the other night. I’m over yal
THE REACH! Shut your troll ass up Uncookt. Regardless of JLo Shakira is winning right now.
PREACH YES . SOME PPL ARE DELUSIONAL SHE IS BEEN SO LUCKY THX TO JAY Z . I HEARD JLO AND JAYZ WERE ARGUING CONCERNING THAT . I COULD HAVE IMAGINED THE SB FOR JLO ONLY WOW
im so sprry i had to skip shakira s set . she was great but not at jlo s level for sure . some ppl are delusional here . jlo at 50 doin a pole dance wth that was the highlight of the SB . PERIOD
They ate period! Jlo omg!! ???