A lot of people have been asking me what I thought of Madonna’s half time performance, so I thought I’d summarize my thoughts here. The headlines are all “Madonna show gets mixed reviews.”  Well, duh. She’s always had a million haters, which is fine.  But bless her for making this the gayest Super Bowl ever (which is saying something!)

1) I gasped during the first moments of the performance because they ripped off Kylie’s Aphrodite tour so thoroughly — the set, the dancers’ costumes, the theme, some of the dancing. Whereas Kylie was a goddess of love, cute as a button in white and gold, maybe Madonna is Artemis — on the hunt in black? Whatever, America only has a smattering of Kylie fans, so I’m sure this is not an issue for anyone else. The Aphrodite tour was amazing, I can’t blame M’s set designers for wanting to copy it.

2) Speaking of Kylie’s tour: years ago K. started emulating Madonna’s Blonde Ambition-era habit of having all attractive, male, gay dancers.  I heartily approve.  M. has been working this street-guys-and-girls-in-track-suits-breakdancing FOREVER now.  I’m sick of it. Bring back the eye candy!

3) She looked like she was having fun, which is not always the case with M.  She’s that type-A, super-driven personality that thrives on challenges. She’s been bored with the music world for a long time, and it’s showed.  I loved seeing her exhilarated again.

4) Dancing on bleachers in high heels for “Music” was so Madonna—I swear she always chooses the most aerobic dance scenarios (see the jump roping during the Sticky & Sweet tour). Granted she wasn’t dancing hard, merely risking a broken ankle the entire time.  Feel the danger.

5) OK, the new song…I feel medium about “Give Me All Your Luvin.” It sounds like “Beautiful Stranger” to me. I don’t agree with people who bitch about how she’s trying to come off as young by using guest rappers on the song.  Um, like everyone in pop music uses guest rappers on their songs.  It’s just the formula now.  As for the performance: it made me smile.  I’m charmed by Madonna calling back her high school cheerleading days. She looked really happy. 

6) The drumline mini-medley was cute. I can’t think of anyone else who integrated football themes so well into their half time performance.

7) I think Cee-Lo got that sequined choir robe from the Home Shopping Network’s Liza Minnelli collection. I mean it.  Her monkish robe made me nostalgic for this outfit.

Does this mark the dawn of a new day, where Madonna actually puts some effort into her music career again, has some inspiration? The video for “Give Me All Your Luvin,” while not groundbreaking, is the best she’s done in a while.  That, combined with her demeanor during this half time show is making me hopeful.