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Super Bowl Halftime: What’s The Second-Best Halftime Show?

Because, seriously, we all know what #1 is.

Super Bowl XLI: Pepsi Halftime Show Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

We’re just a few days away from Super Bowl LI, and it’s hard to talk about the big game without talking about the halftime entertainment. This year, Lady Gaga will be the featured performer in Houston, and we don’t know exactly what she has in store yet, but we can look back over the years at some of the other Super Bowl halftime performances.We’re just a few days

Naturally, every other halftime show in Super Bowl history is in a battle for second place, because the performance in the #1 spot has lapped the field so many times it seems insulting to include it with the rest.

Yes, quite frankly there’s Prince and then there’s everyone else. But there have been some other pretty solid performances over the years, particularly recently.

Some of my personal favorites:

U2 (2002) - Given that it occurred just months after the 9/11 attacks, Bono and the gang put together a great show with a touching tribute to the victims of the attack.

Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, and a bunch of people you forgot about (2004) - Not a particularly great performance, but it was memorable. You know why.

Michael Jackson (1993) - This was the one that really put Super Bowl halftime on the map as a big event. Say what you will about him, but the man could perform his ass off.

Katy Perry (2015) - Because LEFT SHARK~! And LENNY KRAVITZ~! And MISSY ELLIOTT~~! I mean, Katy Perry was good, Missy Elliott was incredible. Bumped the show up significantly, in my opinion.

I’m sure there are plenty that I missed or that some will feel that I left off. . .those are just my personal preferences.

So, what were some of your favorite Super Bowl halftime performances? Who do you think is the second-best halftime show the Super Bowl has given us?