“Bland”, “smooth” and too long: Madonna and Shakira’s concert at half-time of Spain-Argentina under criticism

For the first time in its history, FIFA organized a half-time show for the FIFA World Cup final in New York on Sunday. Bringing together Madonna, Shakira, Burna Boy, BTS, Justin Bieber, the Muppet Show, all under the direction of Gustavo Dudamel, the show is far from being unanimous among football fans and music fans alike. For the Spanish daily The Country, it was a “disturbing spectacle” which symbolizes “the Americanization of football”. “The billions of viewers were treated to a grand parade of stars that was smoothly conducted, if not spectacular”estimates France 24. “A bland Half-time to conclude a disproportionate World Cup”, judge The World .

For the French daily, the direction entrusted to the singer of Coldplay, Chris Martin, “brought together artists from all over the world” before finishing « ce fade concert » by a New York choir presented by FIFA as raising funds for its education program.

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Surrounded by Brazilian players Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, American singer Madonna kicked off the show with her 2000s classic, Music, launched in the galleries of the Metlife Stadium transformed into a nightclub. For The eveningthe tone was set: “smooth and American”. Especially since many are wondering about this first sequence, apparently recorded in advance, away from the public.

The spirit “Everyone is beautiful, everyone is nice” is mocked by the New York Times who yawns with boredom in front of a show “perfectly choreographed” bathed in “feelings that no one would dispute”. The show then “went at full speed” piling on Shakira, Madonna and Coldplay. The only artist to stand out was Justin Bieber“who showed a certain degree of independence by playing a newer song, not yet released as an official single: Everything Hallelujah », underlines the New York daily.

“A pop fever dream”

The pill was even less popular with football fans as the half-time dragged on. Under FIFA’s own rules, the regulatory break lasts 15 minutes. With its Super Bowl-style show lasting almost 12 minutes, Sunday evening’s show ultimately lasted 27 minutes. A new departure from the rhythm of the matches, not without consequences for the athletes, which is added to the highly contested “cooling breaks” instituted by the federation in the middle of each playing time.

Result: football fans « will perhaps not be convinced of the necessity of this spectacle in the middle of the match »estimated The Team. A half-time which “transformed the most sacred match in sports into an eleven and a half minute pop fever dream,” écrit Billboard.

Without turning to “disaster”, the show did not really arouse enthusiasm, summarizes the New York Times. “ The turf appears to have been protected, the players survived their long quiet periods and none of the performers made complete fools of themselves. » A very meager record to place such a spectacle in tradition.