Halftime lessons from Shakira, 43, and J Lo, 50

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Halftime lessons from Shakira, 43, and J Lo, 50
US singer Jennifer Lopez (R) and Colombian singer Shakira (L) perform during the halftime show of Super Bowl.- AFP

J Lo had been famously snubbed by Oscars last month for her mesmerising performance in Hustlers.

By Vicky Kapur (From the Executive Editor's desk)

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Published: Mon 3 Feb 2020, 7:00 PM

Last updated: Tue 4 Feb 2020, 4:37 PM

Kansas City Chiefs pulled off a sensational fourth-quarter comeback to beat San Francisco 49ers and win their first Super Bowl title in 50 years. And US President Donald Trump sent out a congratulatory tweet to the team's fans - and the state of Kansas: "You represented the Great State of Kansas and, in fact, the entire USA, so very well. Our Country is PROUD OF YOU!" Just one issue with that. The Chiefs, it so happens, don't play for the state of Kansas. They're based in Kansas City, Missouri. Yeah, oops. Anyway, Trump's tweet fiasco dovetailed an otherwise superb on-field action during a befittingly thrilling finale of an exceptional season of American football.
The cherry on the cake named Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, however, had to be the halftime entertainment. Two Latina superwomen brought alive the halftime show at Super Bowl 2020 on February 2, 2020, and how! Jennifer Lopez, fresh off the 'It's My Party' concert, her 50th birthday tour, and Shakira, who celebrated her 44th birthday on the big day in front of a large crowd, are both masters of their craft - and they were outstanding during the show. The biggest lesson from the two artistes was, quite clearly, that age is just a number. The duo may have 90+ years between them, but their rebellious moves and vivacious energy made them look not a day over 16.
J Lo, famously snubbed by Oscars last month for her mesmerising performance in Hustlers, proved that she did not need vindication from Academy Awards and that her accomplishments were not at the mercy of the critics. She just won the Super Bowl! And to share the stage with her daughter, the 11-year-old Emme Maribel Muñiz who performed Bruce Springsteen's Born in the USA as part of the children's choir, was a huge statement in itself. But perhaps the most interesting lesson was from Shakira's ululation during her opening set, which gave the world a small lesson in Arab tradition. After the initial memes, Internet soon reminded everyone that that was zaghrouta, a high-pitched ceremonial chant typically made by Middle Eastern women. Shakira's dad has Lebanese roots and her name means 'thankful' in Arabic. Who said entertainment can't be enlightening?
 
 


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