Super Bowl XL

The Rolling Stones

Mick Jagger in the half time show looked amazingly sprightly. How does one as old as he and as ‘tried and tested’ as he stay so slim and full of energy? Compared to Ozzie, Mick is a teenager.

That could remain one of life’s mysteries.

Did you hear Mick’s quip?

Just before they started the song, “Satisfaction” he commented, “We could have played this at the first Super Bowl. I guess everything comes to those who wait”.

That could have been sour grapes. But more importantly it was good advice for everyone.
Was Mick bitter? Was he being obtuse? Was he just trying to be cute?

Just what did Mick mean by that comment?
Forty years ago was 1966. The Rolling Stones were created in 1962. The song Satisfaction came out in May 1965. So he was accurate. They certainly could have played Satisfaction for the first Super Bowl – if they had been invited.

So that means the Super Bowl started in 1966; a few years after the start of the Rolling Stones.

So who did the Super Bowl have for half time entertainment?
University Bands for the first few years. Carol Channing for year four. Then a bunch of university and military banks. Ella Fitzgerald and Al Hirt in year 6. They finally introduced Rock and Roll with Chubby Checker in Super Bowl 22 – 1988.

Michael Jackson made the scene in Super Bowl 27 – 1993 – which was followed by a string of popular entertainers. Last year it was Paul McCartney and the year before, the ‘malfunctioning’ Janet Jackson.

And finally, after 40 years, the Rolling Stones – the longest continuous Rock & Roll band.

Why did it take so long? Well some things just take time. And as Mick said, “I guess everything comes to those who wait”. They just stayed busy doing their business and doing it for more than 40 years.

Of course I wonder how much the Stones were paid. Consider that Super Bowl ads were sold for about $2.5Million for 30 seconds. The Stones played three songs – each about three minutes. You do the math. And to think that they probably would have played for free at Super Bowl 1 those 40 years ago. For the Stones it was definitely worth waiting for.

George Torok
http://www.powermarketing.ca/


PS: back in the sixties Mick Jagger said "I'd rather be dead than sing Satisfaction when I'm 45". He seemed quite happy to both be alive and singing Satisfaction at age 62.

PPS: That’s Sir Mick to you.

The official Mick Jagger site
http://www.mickjagger.com/


The official Rolling Stones site
http://www.rollingstones.com/home.php