Justin Timberlake's Superbowl 2018 half-time show: JT duets with Prince projection in spectacular performance

Tom Powell5 February 2018

Justin Timberlake performed a duet with a projection of late superstar Prince in a spectacular Super Bowl half-time show.

The singer blitzed through a string of his greatest hits at the US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis as millions tuned in all around the world for the legendary half-time show.

He began by singing Filthy while lasers shone around the stadium, before launching into Rock Your Body, Senorita and SexyBack. At one point he asked the 70,000-strong audience to raise their mobile phones, creating a magical scene.

Timberlake was then joined by a video of Prince, projected onto a huge hanging sheet, for a performance of ‘I would die 4 u’.

Prince, who was born in Minneapolis, is known for one of the greatest ever Super Bowl half-time shows when he performed in Florida in 2007.

Prior to this year’s game, which saw the Philadelphia Eagles pull off a stunning victory over the New England Patriots, rumours were swirling that a hologram of Prince would be used in the half-time show.

However, the star’s former drummer took to social media to claim Prince had always hated the idea of being brought back to perform as a hologram.

An angry backlash developed online and it was later confirmed that the performance would not include a hologram.

Justin Timberlake's half-time show at Super Bowl 2018

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Drummer Sheila E said: “Prince had told me... don't let anybody do a hologram of him for religious reasons, so I just posted that if this happened it's kind of messed up and not cool.

“And then Justin's people reached out to my manager and wanted to talk to me about it and we had a great conversation.”

Mirrors were held up during a performance of Timberlake's mirrors
AFP/Getty Images

It was Timberlake’s first appearance at the Super Bowl since his ill-fated show in 2004, when he accidentally ripped part of Janet Jackson’s costume off, revealing her bare breast and nipple accessory.

The performance was met with a mixed reaction on social media, with many comparing his use of a backing track with Lady Gaga’s rip-roaring vocals the previous year.

Some hailed Timberlake for an “epic” performance, agreeing that he “crushed it” or “killed it”.

But others were less impressed. “That was so eh,” wrote Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan.

Another Twitter user added: “That Timberlake performance was pretty lackluster, right? It’s irritating to see an artist barely sing and just rely on backtrack, especially the year after Lady Gaga sang her heart/lungs out.”

The use of a projected Prince also divided fans, with many claiming the late star would not have been happy with the move.

Punters inside the stadium were given the chance to purchase a ‘J-tea’ cocktail for $35, which involves whiskey, black tea and syrup.

Super Bowl Half-Time Showstoppers - In pictures

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