If you were watching the Super Bowl this past Sunday and just weren’t feeling Coldplay, Bruno Mars, and Beyoncé, you were not alone. Rock legend Carlos Santana wasn’t too into to either, and called out the National Football League earlier today, asking for “real live music” and better representation of local talent from the game’s host city.
“I do feel compelled to point out to you that the Halftime Show should have included some of the local iconic bands that the World would have loved to see perform,” Santana wrote on Facebook. “Bands like Metallica, Steve Miller, Journey and yours truly. We would have rocked the Half Time Show and done the SF Bay Area proud. This is just an invitation for you to consider iconic bands as part of your Half Time entertainment.”
He then signed his note, which he also posted in Spanish, with this kicker: “Real live music, real live vocals, and give the audience real live chills.”
Thirteen years ago, Santana performed with Beyoncé at the Super Bowl XXXVII pregame show, and was shown during Sunday’s Super Bowl 50 during a pre-recorded highlight package.
It should be noted that next year’s Super Bowl takes place at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. So if the league takes Santana’s advice and dips into the local talent, we could be seeing ZZ Top, Kenny Rogers, and maybe even the Geto Boys up there at halftime.
Of course, they could also just invite Beyoncé back — she’s a Houston native.
Read Santana’s full note, in both languages, below…
Dear NFL/CBS….I would like to take this opportunity to thank you both for including me as a part of your Super Bowl entertainment. I do feel compelled to point out to you that the Halftime Show should have included some of the local iconic bands that the World would have loved to see perform. Bands like Metallica, Steve Miller, Journey and yours truly. We would have rocked the Half Time Show and done the SF Bay Area proud. This is just an invitation for you to consider iconic bands as part of your Half Time entertainment. Real live music, real live vocals, and give the audience real live chills.
Carlos Santana
Estimados NFL/CBS….Me gustaría aprovechar esta oportunidad para agradecer a ambos que me incluyeran como parte del entretenimiento de la Super Bowl. Me siento obligado a señalar que el espectáculo del descanso del partido debería haber incluido a algunas de las icónicas bandas locales que a todo el mundo le habría encantado ver actuar. Bandas como Metallica, Steve Miller, Journey y quien les habla. Habríamos hecho estremecer el espectáculo del descanso y habríamos enorgullecido al área de SF Bay. Esto es tan solo una invitación para que consideren a las bandas icónicas como parte de su entretenimiento del descanso del partido. Música real en vivo, voz real en vivo y estremecer realmente a la audiencia en vivo.
Carlos