Before the presentation, a humorous disclaimer informed viewers that they would experience “singing, dancing, sweating, gyrating, and possible relationship issues”. It would go on to fulfill all expectations.
Usher took the stage at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas wearing an all-white outfit and entering into a flurry of animated dancers. He immediately broke into one of his classic songs, Caught Up.
It began a lively performance that capitalized on the 45-year-old’s experience dancing and extensive repertoire.
Usher acknowledged that it had been “a challenge to squeeze 30 years in to 13 minutes” prior to his half-time performance. However, the singer did a commendable job of fitting in as many of his best-known songs as he could.
During his performance, acrobats and a brass band so big that its members could form the word “USHER” on the stadium’s lawn were part of the show.
The vocalist skillfully transitioned between the two genre-defining songs of his career, sex jams and club anthems.
The dancers surrounding him, many of whom had traveled little more than a few miles from their Vegas residency, wore bright, even garish, costumes that accentuated the spectacle and perfectly complemented his main act.
After Usher had settled into a comfortable flow and was several songs into his set, Alicia Keys—his first guest—came out from behind a bright red piano, decked out in a matching glittery red dress and launched into one of her own greatest hits, If I Ain’t Got You.
One of the most endearing moments in a show full of reunions came when the two joyfully reprised their 2004 hit song, “My Boo,” as a duet.
The other guest stars began to appear one after the other quickly after Keys was rushed offstage as the song was coming to an end.
As Jermaine Dupri, a producer and rapper, joined Usher for a brief screening of Confessions Part II, several viewers ridiculed the way his suit revealed his nude legs, sparking one of the evening’s viral trends.
Ballads and club hits mixed together so perfectly that Usher had time to gather his breath, flex his vocal muscles, and—most importantly—take off his shirt.
Other guests of Usher’s included H.E.R., who performed a thunderous guitar solo during U Got It Bad before breaking into the iconic Bad Girl riff while Usher vanished to change into a new costume.
The singer reappeared with a sparkly black-and-blue ensemble, replete with roller skates, and introduced will.i.am for their joint song, OMG, which captured the energy of the audience.
Lil Jon made an unexpected but very welcome cameo on his own popular song, Turn Down For What. But they knew exactly what was going to happen when he stepped onto the stage.
The excitement reached a fever pitch when the flamboyant Ludacris made an appearance. The group burst into a throbbing performance of Usher’s breakthrough song, Yeah!
The song, which was an absolute hit and a global number one in the mid-2000s, was the ideal way to cap off a half-time show full with highlights.
US megastar Taylor Swift, rapper Jay-Z, Hollywood actor Paul Rudd, and former NBA players LeBron and James Shaquille O’Neal were all present to watch Usher’s concert.