Fierce, B – And...

So Beyoncé brought it, when she performed during halftime at the Super Bowl in New Orleans yesterday – in such an extraordinary way that even electricity was like, “Nah...not following that.”

Oh, Superdome.... A blackout? Really?

And for the record, Madonna did that – having a show so hot it blew a fuse – first.

Alright, alright – I’m not even gonna front and try to play favorites here because any habitual reader of this little operation already knows the answer: M is It for me. But Queen B can be compared only a little to that last great bastion of excellence to provide the entertainment at the big game, no? That happens to be the Queen of Pop. And like I said, Beyoncé brought it and she served it, too.

So this isn’t a cool serving of haterade. Crowns for both.

Starting with “Crazy in Love”? Terrific, and obviously the strong way to go. But then girlfriend just danced, and gave the spotlight away (to one of her gurrrl-power band members), and danced, and Sasha Fierced her hair around, and danced, and was that a little doo-wop? All great elements of a Beyoncé show – a longer show – not things to cram into 13 minutes for football fans. It was a lot to take in and follow and appreciate in that live context. And what was with all the taking of breaks. There were spots there where B looked like a sweaty asthmatic. I was worried. Because I can be a sweaty asthmatic, and I am not required to perform in heels And, really? Projected, albeit badass images of yourself to do your thing is so 2011. Derivative. But necessary. Let the world see you, woman. Women. Beyoncé repped hard. 

Loved the Destiny’s Child section ’cause “Independent Women, Pt. 1” is the s----, although it felt a bit thankless, right Kelly and Michelle? Those girls just had to be put back in their places and be asked to do the Single Ladies thing on their way out.

I guess what I’m getting at is Beyoncé, unlike Madonna, had to put a lot of thought into delivering, whereas M just, you know, just did/does it. B even reached and served a song that to most four people I know, myself included, sounded like a new single (“End of Time”); it is now the song. Her halftime felt studied and overworked. You could kinda see the seams of it. Yes, vocally superior to my Queen’s, but just a tad underwhelming.

Not.

I get it – she has to try harder at everything, that is why Beyoncé is Beyoncé and that is why she is the future. I guess I simply recognized a little bit of this...exhaustion.

Last year, Madonna rocked it: everyone knew she would; she did; the lot of us moved on. This year, ’twas a solid B.

It was fierce. It was Beyexcellent.

Photo: SocialiteLife.com.

Update: Further proof that Beyoncé stopped short of throwing the kitchen sink at us? The announcement of her upcoming “Mrs. Carter Show” world tour immediately following the show, which she hinted at during her Super Bowl press conference.

Why do I sense that Beyoncé is a paradigm shift?

The tour will kick off in Serbia on April 15, before coming to North America on June 28. Stateside tickets will go on sale Feb. 11.

No word on South American dates yet, btw.