Sound CheckGrey Cup fans more interested in fireworks than Justin Bieber, Gordon Lightfoot at halftime show
The 100th Grey Cup halftime show at the Rogers Centre on Nov. 25 began with Canadian folk singer Gordon Lightfoot performing his tune "Canadian Railroad Trilogy," which transitioned into pop/rock band Marianas Trench singing their new track "Stutter."
See more: Fans boo Justin Bieber at the 100th Grey Cup
Although both performers are well-known to Canadians, they seemed like the supporting acts for what was to come; a fiery spectacle by "Call Me Maybe" hitmaker Carly Rae Jepsen and her mentor Justin Bieber, who closed the show with a multitude of fireworks that some fans thought were more interesting to watch than the actual performances.
"It was entertaining, but I didn't know who the first guy was and the fireworks were awesome, " 13-year-old football fan Cole Resnick told Yahoo! Music Canada after the halftime show.
See more: Watch our Grey Cup music chat
"It was kind of lame," his mother Lori Resnick, a 49-year-old from Toronto, added. "We are celebrating the 100th Grey Cup and this show should have been more up to the Super Bowl's halftime show calibre. The fireworks were great, but having Gordon Lightfoot in there didn't work and it was too short of a show to go from two extremes."
She also said, "The stage position was also awkward with it being in the end zone. I expected more."
Bruce Duncan, a 51-year-old musician from Mississauga who plays guitar and keyboard called the show "disastrous" and expected more for his money.
See more: Best and worst Grey Cup halftime shows
"[The show] should have been bigger and more profound for what we paid for tickets," Duncan said, who was seated at field level.
Commenting on the mixed bag of artists, he also said, "You don't put a polish polka in the middle of a 1970s disco party. The acts didn't work together. Whoever organized it should lose their job."
We learned from The Black Eyed Peas' Super Bowl gig that it's a good idea to favour the performances over the spectacle, but do you agree that the fireworks were more impressive than the performers? Let us know in the comments below!
