Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
BY MELISSA RUGGIERI
It’s tough to get much peppier than Katy Perry.
Even though, thanks to the ubiquitous spoilers online, we all knew she’d launch her super-swift Super Bowl halftime performance with “Roar” – though a cool surprise arrived in the form of that groovy lion straight out of a futuristic “Wizard of Oz” – and that Missy Elliott and Lenny Kravitz, an announced guest , would participate.
But even with that knowledge, Perry still dazzled.
Perry wisely nipped the “is she singing live?” controversy that seems to erupt every year early on, saying she intended to sing some parts live and others with a track.
In a setting so large, with so many variables, she – or any other artist – gets a pass.
True to her word, Perry, wearing a flame-splattered short, short dress that somehow managed to look chic and not slutty, partially sang “Roar” before she bopped around a CGI-enhanced stage with metallic-clad dancers for “Dark Horse.”
Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
Credit: Melissa Ruggieri
Kravitz, whom most expected to trot out his well-worn cover of “American Woman,” instead made what amounted to a cameo on Perry’s frothy “I Kissed a Girl,” adding some rock muscle to the proceedings.
Perry made an impressively quick change for "Teenage Dream" into a cheerleader-like blue, yellow, red and white dress and engaged in her playful side while dancing with felt sharks. In fact, all of Perry's show time was as sweet and cutesy as during her Prismatic tour, which played Philips Arena last summer (and was one of my top picks of the year).
For the sunshiny burst of fizz known as “California Gurls,” Perry cavorted with a troop of polka-dot clad dancers.
Sorry, Snoop Dogg fans, the Doggfather did not make a surprise appearance, but a slimmed-down Elliott was a welcome sight, busting onto the stage with “Get UR Freak On,” “Work It” and “Lose Control.” As Elliott lip-synced (badly), Perry embraced her funky-girl side – backward lyrics and all -- with some knee bends.
On the expected closer, “Firework,” Perry sang live as glowing balls – not even deflated! - swayed below as she was swept high on a scary-looking flying contraption.
There was nothing exceptional or particularly noteworthy about Perry’s performance except that she performed exactly as expected and provided a fun, frothy diversion delivered with polish - and maybe a few nerves.
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