海角大神

When Lady Gaga took over the Super Bowl stage on Feb. 6 her show seemed to win over many reviewers with its spectacle, though some appeared to be displeased that the performer did not go further in expressing her political opinions during the performance.聽

Gaga started off the show sky-high, beginning her performance with portions of 鈥淕od Bless America鈥� and 鈥淭his Land Is Your Land鈥� that she sang from the top of the NRG Stadium in Houston. She then descended to the stage below hitched to cables and performed some of her older hits such as 鈥淧oker Face鈥� and 鈥淏ad Romance鈥� as well as a more recent track, 鈥淢illion Reasons,鈥� from her 2016 album, 鈥淛oanne.鈥澛�

Many reviewers seemed pleased with Gaga鈥檚 stagecraft choices, with calling the show 鈥渉igh-energy鈥� and noting that 鈥淕aga commanded the show herself,鈥� unlike previous shows that included multiple acts. 鈥淲ith that pressure, Gaga acquitted herself well,鈥� Mr. Bauder wrote. 鈥淗its like 鈥楶oker Face鈥� and 鈥楯ust Dance鈥� were frothy and fun. Her best performance came in her least-known song: 鈥楳illion Reasons,鈥� where she sat at the piano and explored a new style that has advanced beyond the dance pop of her youth.鈥澛�

And called it 鈥渆xplosive,鈥� writing that it was 鈥渁 set of pure pop bliss.鈥澛�

But in light of the current contentious political environment, however, some reviewers wanted Gaga to do more with her platform in front of an audience for what is regularly described as the year's biggest television event.聽 wrote of Gaga鈥檚 Super Bowl set, 鈥淔or an artist who continues to sell herself as an instigator, Gaga seemed content being a mere entertainer on Sunday night, putting in plenty of effort without taking any significant risks.鈥�

And felt that the performance 鈥渄idn鈥檛 even feel contemporary.... Gaga took the smarter route of commentary through sheer existence, asking the audience to accept her sexualized gyration and her country singing, her racially diverse backup dancers and her ballad about her love for God. But because the performance was overall a little weak, it still felt like a missed opportunity.... [S]he appears to have willingly sanded down the politically charged subtext of her own art into a commodified piece of Americana that could be experienced without being truly understood.鈥�

When asked in a press conference before the show whether she would comment on any political matters, Gaga said, 鈥渄uring the halftime show are the ones I have been consistently making throughout my career. I believe in a passion for inclusion. I believe in the spirit of equality, and the spirit of this country.鈥�

The singer did perform her song 鈥淏orn This Way鈥� during the show, which includes such lines as 鈥淣o matter gay, straight, or bi, lesbian, transgendered life, I'm on the right track, baby, I was born to survive.鈥�

Eccentricity and unpredictability have been part of Gaga's signature style () and fans may have been anticipating some of that shock value. Producers of the halftime show played it safe for several years in a row after Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction in 2004 with older music acts, including Paul McCartney and The Who but have more recently gone with more contemporary acts like Beyonce and Katy Perry.

But aside from impressive athletic feats in , Gaga's performance held no surprises.

Mark Quenzel, NFL senior vice president of programming and production, prior to Gaga's performance, 鈥淲e have no discussions about her or with her that have to do with the election, or the president.聽What we say to every artist, very clearly, and they all buy in: the Super Bowl halftime is the biggest musical event of the year, and it鈥檚 also a communal event for fans.... The performance should reflect a celebration, and it should reflect what it鈥檚 intended to be, which is a great musical performance in the middle of a great game. Anything that detracts from that is not something that we should be focusing on.鈥�

Mr. Richards wrote that he felt that Gaga was 鈥渞estrained鈥澛燿uring the show.

鈥淭his wasn鈥檛 Gaga鈥檚 party,鈥澛爃e wrote. 鈥淓ven through all the airborne pomp and pyrotechnic kablooey, she ultimately seemed like a guest 鈥� and one who didn鈥檛 want to overstay her welcome.鈥�