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Music News: Lady Gaga dives into Super Bowl history

Lady Gaga performs at Super Bowl LI
Lady Gaga performs at Super Bowl LIPatrick Smith/Getty Images

by Jay Gabler

February 06, 2017

Performing the Super Bowl halftime show — the world's biggest live music gig — on Sunday, Lady Gaga sang a medley of hits in a big-budget spectacular that included dozens of light-enabled drones and a heart-stopping tethered jump from the roof of NRG Stadium. While it's become common in recent years for halftime performers to include musical guests in their sets, Gaga went it alone (except for legions of backup dancers).

Gaga's set was seen by some as surprisingly short on political statements for an artist who's been among the most vociferous opponents of President Donald Trump, but others thought she made a clear statement with her set list. Starting with portions of "God Bless America" and "This Land Is Your Land," the star went on to sing hits including "Born This Way" — with lyrics including, "No matter gay, straight, or bi/ Lesbian, transgendered life/ I'm on the right track baby/ I was born to survive." (New York Times)

After the show, Gaga announced a world tour that stops at the Xcel Energy Center on Aug. 21.

During the Super Bowl, local music fans were delighted to hear Lizzo’s song "Good as Hell" featured in televised spots for HealthPartners.

Bob Marley recordings unearthed in basement

Recordings of several live shows played by Bob Marley and the Wailers in the mid-1970s have been unearthed in the basement of a London hotel. The recordings, made on a mobile recording unit and left by the band at a hotel where they stayed during their European tours, had been neglected and were severely damaged. However, thanks to a meticulous yearlong restoration process, most of the music from 13 reel-to-reel master tapes has been saved. The tapes' current owner, who bought them at a clearance sale for retrieved refuse, plans to release the music at some point in the future. (Telegraph)

Black Sabbath say goodbye

On Saturday night in Birmingham, England, Black Sabbath played what they said would be their last-ever show. According to the New York Times, the show included "thrashing renditions of the band's well-known songs, including 'War Pigs,' 'Into the Void,' and 'Iron Man,' and deeper cuts like the instrumental 'Rat Salad.'" Some fans remain hopeful, remembering that Ozzy Osbourne has announced his retirement before, only to get back onstage.

Pet Sounds documentary set for release

A new documentary about the making of the classic Beach Boys album Pet Sounds is coming to Showtime. Beach Boys: Making Pet Sounds, featuring interviews with Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston, and David Marks, will be released in April. (Pitchfork)

Alessia Cara impersonates Lorde

It was a big week for Alessia Cara, who both played Saturday Night Live and stopped by The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon to impersonate Lorde among other artists. (Billboard)

Remembering Mark Spitz

Music journalist Mark Spitz has died, of causes unknown to the public, at age 47. A writer for publications including the New York Times and Vanity Fair, Spitz published biographies of David Bowie and Mick Jagger, among other books. (Rolling Stone)

James Hetfield takes a break

Metallica postponed a Copenhagen show over the weekend, citing a throat ailment afflicting frontman James Hetfield. (Billboard)

Crashed Ice pays tribute to Prince

On Saturday night, a massive crowd of Crashed Ice fans in St. Paul had a singalong to Prince’s classic song "Purple Rain."