Beyoncé NFL half-time show review – country ho-ho-ho-down live-streamed on Netflix is playful and infectious

Beyoncé has delivered some of her most memorable performances on a football field. In 2013, she electrified the Super Bowl stage, reuniting with Destiny's Child for a show-stopping routine. However, her appearance during Coldplay’s halftime show in 2016 truly stole the spotlight, as she paid tribute to the Black Panthers, sparking outrage among segments of the American establishment. The right-leaning Heritage Foundation criticized her, saying it was becoming "acceptable" to promote violence and division in the name of civil rights. In 2018, although her Coachella performance, titled Homecoming, wasn't on a football field, it still showcased the spirit of historically Black colleges and universities through the involvement of college football majorettes and marching bands.

On Wednesday, during a Christmas Day halftime performance streamed on Netflix from her hometown of Houston, while the Texans faced off against the Baltimore Ravens, she once more utilized a football game as a platform to explore and experiment with symbols of American culture.

Beyoncé is involved in the football industry: since 2019, her husband Jay-Z’s company, Roc Nation, has teamed up with the NFL to arrange halftime shows and support their efforts in social justice. (However, Jay-Z has come under fire for his involvement, as it aligns him with a league that sidelined Colin Kaepernick after his kneeling protests against racial violence). There’s also a lingering impression that Beyoncé is determined to succeed: she approaches her artistry with the same dedication as a top athlete focuses on perfecting their skills, and just like elite sports figures, she inspires endless discussions among fans about who truly deserves the title of the greatest of all time.

The Christmas Day performance marks the debut of songs from Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé’s 2024 album that introduces a new element: country music. She starts off with a pre-recorded segment, riding a white horse while sporting an enormous cowboy hat, singing "16 Carriages" as she rides past people on horseback. This moment pays tribute to the tradition of African American horse riding clubs found throughout the southern United States and across the nation. A key aspect of the Cowboy Carter project is to highlight the influence of Black Americans on country music and culture—a message that hasn’t been embraced by everyone. This theme continues as she transitions to her rendition of the Beatles’ "Blackbird," accompanied by a group of Black country backing singers.

The serious atmosphere disappears the moment the live performance kicks off with "Ya Ya." While the studio version might come off as overly enthusiastic, the live rendition becomes something entirely different. Beyoncé has sometimes seemed a bit stiff or too formal during her performances, but on the Renaissance world tour, she really let loose, and that vibrant energy carries on here. She moves through the rows of brass musicians and dancers, her eyes wide with excitement, hands gesturing dramatically, and her dance moves are playful and lively, reminiscent of Black artists like Little Richard and Janelle Monaé.

Half-time shows often pack in more excitement than a holiday feast, and this one really turned out to be a mix of surprises: a mashup that included My House, Riverdance, and Sweet Honey Buckiin, featuring special guest Shaboozey. It seems a bit unfair, though, not to offer him at least a short snippet of this year's standout anthem from the Black Country, Tipsy (A Bar Song).

There's a greater focus on Levi's Jeans, with Beyoncé and Post Malone hanging out near a pickup truck that's been covered in denim. The sense of branding really stands out in this scene, and while some may think their playful take on the song's country-style melodies borders on mockery, it's done in a way that's self-aware and endearingly silly.

A sign humorously announces that we’re in the midst of a “ho-ho-ho down,” leading into her rendition of "Jolene." Even devoted fans of Beyoncé find it hard to fully embrace this version, which significantly alters the original’s feel. Beyoncé's commanding presence overshadows the raw vulnerability that Parton conveyed; instead of pleading, she serves up threats. During the live performance, the drummers and brass instruments of the marching band sound fantastic and add a vibrant flair, but there's so much happening on stage—like lasso tricks in the background while Beyoncé rides around in a lowrider—that it almost feels out of place for this heartfelt American classic.

Everyone is ready for a victorious conclusion, with Texas Hold ‘Em showcasing its wonderfully conflicting nature: its rhythm offers a warm, familiar feeling, much like a soft pat on the back of a reliable horse. But this time, it’s accompanied by a multitude of musicians and dancers, including Beyoncé with her daughter, Blue Ivy. The bright white attire of the performers is striking and clearly theatrical, yet there may also be a playful nod to the way her all-black outfits were perceived back in 2016.

In the end, she’s lifted high, with the word “Bang!” spreading out below her as though it came from a cartoon gun. This lightheartedness – mocking cowboys and even diminishing their toughness – is what annoys some country fans who view Beyoncé as an outsider. However, it’s also this fun spirit that makes her performances so enjoyable right now.