NEW ORLEANS: Pop diva Beyonce thrilled the Super Bowl crowd Sunday with a pyrotechnic half-time spectacular that doubled as a much-anticipated Destiny's Child reunion.
Fireworks burst into the sky from the Superdome field just vacated by the game-leading Baltimore Ravens and lagging San Franciso 49s as the 31-year-old chart-topper took the stage with “Crazy in Love”.
Blowing a kiss to the live television camera after her opening number, she looked relieved to get the much-hyped, 15-minute show underway, but the real treat came when Destiny's Child bandmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams joined her on stage.
They appeared in matching Rubin Singer black leather warrior-woman bodysuits and dizzying stilettos as did an ever-growing, all-female army of dancers, with musicians cast on the sidelines.
“Bootylicious”, “Halo” and “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” rounded out the greatest-hits performance with a sci-fi edge that set it apart from Madonna's hyperactive Super Bowl half-time effort last year.
“Thank you for this moment,” a beaming Beyonce told the cheering crowd at the conclusion. “God bless you all.”
Beyonce had promised to sing live at the Super Bowl, acknowledging that she had sung over a pre-recorded version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at President Barack Obama's second-term inauguration on January 21.
Singing the pre-game national anthem on Sunday was Alicia Keys, performing solo at a grand piano, after Jennifer Hudson and the Sandy Hook Elementary School choir from Newtown, Connecticut sang “America the Beautiful.”
