View source for Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show

{{Short description|none}}
{{Infobox halftime show
| SBNumeral = XXXVIII
| logo = Super Bowl XXXVIII Halftime Show logo.png
| date = February 1, 2004
| network = [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]
| location = [[Houston|Houston, Texas]]
| venue = [[NRG Stadium|Reliant Stadium]]
| headliner = [[Janet Jackson]], [[Justin Timberlake]], [[Sean Combs|P. Diddy]], [[Nelly]], [[Kid Rock]], [[Jessica Simpson]]
| guest =
| sponsor = [[AOL|AOL TopSpeed]]
| director =
| producer = [[MTV]]
| guests = [[Spirit of Houston]] marching band, [[Ocean of Soul]] marching band
| Last = [[Super Bowl XXXVII halftime show|XXXVII]]<br/>(2003)
| this = '''XXXVIII'''<br/>(2004)
| next = [[Super Bowl XXXIX#Halftime show|XXXIX]]<br/>(2005)
}}

The '''Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show''', known through corporate sponsorship as the '''Super Bowl XXXVIII AOL TopSpeed Halftime Show''' took place on February 1, 2004, at the [[NRG Stadium|Reliant Stadium]] in [[Houston|Houston, Texas]], as part of [[Super Bowl XXXVIII]]. It featured [[Janet Jackson]], [[Justin Timberlake]], [[Sean Combs|P. Diddy]], [[Nelly]], [[Kid Rock]], and [[Jessica Simpson]].

The halftime show was produced by [[MTV]], and the show was centered on the network's [[MTV#Choose or Lose|Choose or Lose]] campaign (the year 2004 was a [[2004 United States presidential election|presidential election year]] in the United States).

[[Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy|Immense controversy]] arose from an incident during the show in which one of Jackson's breasts—adorned with a nipple shield—was exposed by Timberlake.

==Background and development==
In 2002, ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' reported that Jackson was the original choice to perform at the [[Super Bowl XXXVI halftime show|halftime show for Super Bowl XXXVI]]; however, the NFL ultimately decided to select [[U2]] to headline it after a group of NFL owners and officials attended the band's concert in [[New York City]] shortly after the [[September 11 attacks]].<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Pro Bono Work: Carey, McCartney and U2|url=https://ew.com/article/2002/02/15/pro-bono-work-carey-mccartney-and-u2/|author=Josh Young|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=February 15, 2002|access-date=January 30, 2014}}</ref> In September 2003, the NFL announced that Jackson would be the headline performer of the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show.<ref>{{cite news|title=The NFL and CBS Look to MTV to Produce the AOL Super Bowl XXXVIII Halftime Show|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-nfl-and-cbs-look-to-mtv-to-produce-the-aol-super-bowl-xxxviii-halftime-show-73262057.html|agency=[[PR Newswire]]|date=September 12, 2003|access-date=April 1, 2014}}</ref> Because the event was occurring during an election year, MTV, who was tasked with producing the show, decided that the theme would heavily focus on the network's "Choose or Lose" campaign, which encouraged younger viewers to be politically active and register to vote.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Decency Wars: The Campaign to Cleanse American Culture|author-mask=Frederick S. Lane|last=Lane|first=Frederick S.|publisher=[[Prometheus Books]]|location=[[Amherst, New York]]|year=2006|isbn=1-59102-427-7|url=https://archive.org/details/decencywarscampa0000lane}}</ref> [[AOL|AOL Topspeed]] spent $10 million to sponsor the show.<ref>{{cite web |title=AOL's $10M Super Bowl Spend To Debut New Top Speed Campaign |url=https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2004/01/15/Sponsorships-Advertising-Marketing/Aols-$10M-Super-Bowl-Spend-To-Debut-New-Top-Speed-Campaign.aspx |publisher=Sports Business Daily |access-date=6 February 2020 |date=15 January 2004}}</ref>

Prior to the halftime show, Jackson and Timberlake had a friendship and working relationship. Timberlake had attended Jackson's ''[[Rhythm Nation Tour]]'' as an [[adolescence|adolescent]], and Jackson's energetic dance routines and daring performing style made a deep impression on him.<ref name=biography>{{cite book|title=Justin: The Unauthorized Biography|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Cki-FYnGCu8C&pg=PA184|author=Sean Smith|publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]]|page=184|year=2005|isbn = 9781416516040}}</ref> While Timberlake was a member of pop group [['N Sync]], Jackson selected the [[boy band]] as the opening act for many dates of her blockbuster ''[[Velvet Rope Tour|Velvet Rope World Tour]]'', which helped promote and introduce the then-relatively unknown group and Timberlake to the public worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|title=Janet Extends Velvet Rope|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1430407/janet-extends-velvet-rope.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202181118/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1430407/janet-extends-velvet-rope.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 2, 2014|publisher=[[MTV News]]|date=August 9, 1998|access-date=April 1, 2014}}</ref> While on the tour, Jackson further promoted the group by performing with 'N Sync on several dates, including joining the group for a live [[a cappella]] duet of [[Stevie Wonder]]'s "[[Overjoyed (Stevie Wonder song)|Overjoyed]]".<ref>{{cite book|title=Justin: The Unauthorized Biography|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Cki-FYnGCu8C&pg=PA112|author=Sean Smith|publisher=Simon & Schuster|page=112|date=January 11, 2005|access-date=April 1, 2014|isbn = 9781416516040}}</ref> Following the tour, Timberlake and Jackson became "good friends", with Jackson also praising Timberlake.<ref name=bio>{{cite book|title=Justin: The Unauthorized Biography|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Cki-FYnGCu8C&pg=PA189|author=Sean Smith|date=January 11, 2005| publisher=Simon and Schuster |access-date=April 1, 2014|isbn = 9781416516040}}</ref> When asked who he thought was "the sexiest woman on the planet", Timberlake said "I've thought Janet Jackson has nothing but [[sex appeal]], so I'd probably say her."<ref>{{cite web|title=Justin article|url=https://www.angelfire.com/me2/NSYNCLane/justinarticle.html|publisher=Angelfire|access-date=April 1, 2014}}</ref> Timberlake later asked Jackson to sing backing vocals on "(And She Said) Take Me Now", a song from his debut solo album ''[[Justified (album)|Justified]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Timberlake, Janet Jackson Make Sexy Pair On Justified|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1457770/janet-gets-sexy-on-justin-cd.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322204001/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1457770/janet-gets-sexy-on-justin-cd.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 22, 2012|publisher=MTV News|date=September 25, 2002|access-date=April 1, 2014}}</ref>

The performance's sound engineer Patrick Baltzell complained of the acoustics in the stadium during the performance, recounting: “It was a disaster. You couldn’t understand a single lyric.” He stated that the shape of Reliant Stadium and its P.A. system produced a muffled sound, and stadium ownership as well as the NFL refused to allow Baltzell to place temporary speakers in locations that might block any fan's view of the stadium's video screens.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Larsen |first1=Peter |title=The audio expert behind the Super Bowl halftime show reveals secrets about the year's most-watched musical performance |work=Press Enterprise |url=https://www.pe.com/2018/02/01/the-audio-expert-behind-the-super-bowl-halftime-show-reveals-secrets-about-the-years-most-watched-musical-performance/ |access-date=10 February 2020 |date=1 February 2018}}</ref>

==Synopsis==
The performance was preceded by [[Sway Calloway]] introducing the show and its lineup in a voiceover, followed by a video montage encouraging people to vote.<ref name=thrillist>{{cite web |last1=Schneck |first1=Anthony |title=The Biggest Super Bowl Halftime Shows, Ranked |url=https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/best-super-bowl-halftime-shows |publisher=Thrillist |access-date=6 February 2020 |date=3 February 2020}}</ref> The montage featuring celebrities such as [[John Elway]], [[Beyoncé]], [[Tony Hawk]], [[Jennifer Lopez]], [[Elijah Wood]], [[Chris Rock]], [[Julia Roberts]], [[Muhammad Ali]], [[Jay-Z]], [[Tom Cruise]] and others declaring things people can "choose", concluding with an urging that viewers choose to vote.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Reid |first1=Shaheem |title=N.E.R.D., P. Diddy Campaign For Involvement At Rock The Vote Awards |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1484882/nerd-p-diddy-campaign-for-involvement-at-rock-the-vote-awards/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328175924/http://www.mtv.com/news/1484882/nerd-p-diddy-campaign-for-involvement-at-rock-the-vote-awards/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 28, 2016 |publisher=MTV News |access-date=7 February 2020 |language=en |date=8 February 2004}}</ref><ref name=Esquire>{{cite web |last1=Holmes |first1=Dave |title=Revisiting the Justin Timberlake-Janet Jackson Wardrobe Malfunction, Minute by Minute |url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/a16020580/justin-timberlake-janet-jackson-super-bowl-halftime-show-wardrobe-malfunction/ |publisher=Esquire |access-date=6 February 2020 |date=2 February 2018}}</ref> The performance then began with a brief introduction by Jessica Simpson who shouted, "Houston, choose to party!".<ref name=thrillist/> This was followed by a joint performance of "[[The Way You Move]]" by the [[University of Houston]] "Spirit of Houston" marching band and the [[Texas Southern University]] "Ocean of Soul" marching band.<ref name=Esquire/><ref>{{cite web |title=UH - News Releases - TSU, UH Marchingo Bands to Perform with Janet Jackson in Super Bowl Halftime Show |url=https://uh.edu/news-events/archive/nr/2004/01jan/012704bands.html |publisher=University of Houston |access-date=6 February 2020 |date=27 January 2004}}</ref>

Jackson then took stage to perform "[[All for You (Janet Jackson song)|All for You]]". At the start of the song, she descended in a stage [[elevator]].<ref name=Esquire/> 

Following this, lights dimmed and P. Diddy took stage on a secondary stage, located elsewhere on the field,{{citation needed|date=February 2020}} emerging from a cloud of stage [[fog]]. He proceeded to perform "[[Bad Boy for Life]]". He was then joined by [[Cheerleader|cheerleaders]] who performed a version of the song "[[Mickey (Toni Basil song)|Mickey]]", which substituted "Diddy", and later "Nelly", for "Mickey". Nelly then entered in a car, joining Diddy on stage to perform "[[Hot in Herre]]", during which the cheerleaders proceeded to remove articles of their clothing.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Moylan |first1=Brian |title=Every Super Bowl Halftime Show Since 1993, Ranked |url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/02/best-super-bowl-halftime-shows-ranked.html |publisher=Vulture |access-date=6 February 2020 |language=en-us |date=3 February 2020}}</ref> Diddy then performed "[[Mo Money Mo Problems]]".<ref name=Esquire/>

Following this, Kid Rock took stage on yet another secondary stage, located elsewhere on the field,{{citation needed|date=February 2020}} and performed "[[Bawitdaba]]" followed by "[[Cowboy (Kid Rock song)|Cowboy]]". He did so wearing an [[Flag of the United States|American Flag]] as a poncho.<ref name=Esquire/><ref name=thrillist/>

Jackson then took stage on the main stage again performing "[[Rhythm Nation]]" with the song's music video choreography. She donned mostly the same outfit she had during "All for You", with some differences, such as different skirt than before. Timberlake joined her, and performed "[[Rock Your Body]]" with her, at the end of which song he tore off a part of her top, revealing her breast (baring a nipple shield).<ref name=Esquire/>

The show ended with voiceovers, again, declaring things to "choose", including getting involved.

==Setlist==
* "[[The Way You Move]]" (Spirit of Houston and Ocean of Soul marching bands)
* "[[All for You (Janet Jackson song)|All for You]]" (Janet Jackson)
* "[[Bad Boy for Life]]" (P. Diddy)
* "Diddy" to the tune of "[[Mickey (Toni Basil song)|Mickey]]"
* "[[Hot in Herre]]" (Nelly)
* "[[Mo Money Mo Problems]]" (P. Diddy)
* "[[Bawitdaba]]" (Kid Rock)
* "[[Cowboy (Kid Rock song)|Cowboy]]" (Kid Rock)
* "[[Rhythm Nation]]" (Janet Jackson)
* "[[Rock Your Body]]" (Justin Timberlake with Janet Jackson)

Sources:<ref name=Esquire/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://vodpod.com/watch/667756-super-bowl-xxxviii-halftime-show-full|title=Super Bowl XXXVIII Halftime Show - Decalz - BMW of TX (vodpod) &#124; Lockerz|publisher=vodpod|access-date=February 1, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222030832/http://vodpod.com/watch/667756-super-bowl-xxxviii-halftime-show-full|archive-date=February 22, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

==Controversies==
{{Main|Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy}}
Major controversy arose from the exposure of Jackson's right breast, which was adorned with a nipple shield. Jackson and Timberlake both denied the incident was intentional, with Timberlake characterizing it as a "[[wardrobe malfunction]]". The controversy had a long-lasting impact on media and popular culture.

===Other controversy===
Kid Rock received criticism from [[Veterans of Foreign Wars]] and Senator [[Zell Miller]] for wearing the [[American flag]] with one slit in the middle as a [[poncho]] during his performance. Kid Rock was accused of "[[Flag desecration|desecrating]]" the flag.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.biography.com/people/kid-rock-251986|title=Kid Rock|website=Biography.com|date=5 December 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2004/02/04/Artsandentartainment/VFW_slams_Kid_Rock_fo.shtml |title=Artsandentartainment: VFW slams Kid Rock for flag poncho |publisher=Sptimes.com |access-date=2012-02-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/senator-blasts-kid-rock-for-wearing-flag/|title=Senator Blasts KID ROCK For Wearing Flag|date=February 13, 2004|website=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=February 1, 2018}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Super Bowl halftime shows}}
{{NFL on CBS}}
{{Janet Jackson}}
{{Justin Timberlake}}
{{Sean Combs}}
{{Nelly}}
{{Kid Rock}}
{{Jessica Simpson}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Super Bowl 038 halftime show}}
[[Category:American football controversies]]
[[Category:2004 in American music]]
[[Category:2004 in American television]]
[[Category:2004 in Texas]]
[[Category:Janet Jackson]]
[[Category:Justin Timberlake]]
[[Category:Sean Combs]]
[[Category:Nelly]]
[[Category:Jessica Simpson]]
[[Category:Mass media-related controversies in the United States]]
[[Category:NFL controversies]]
[[Category:Super Bowl halftime shows|038]]
[[Category:Television controversies in the United States]]
[[Category:2004 in Houston]]
[[Category:2004 controversies in the United States]]
[[Category:February 2004 in the United States]]
[[Category:Clothing controversies]]
[[Category:Obscenity controversies in television]]
[[Category:Nudity in television]]
[[Category:MTV]]
[[Category:AOL]]
[[Category:Obscenity controversies in music]]