Bonus Episode: Love It or Hate It—Why Everyone’s Talking About This Halftime Show

This Super Bowl halftime show wasn’t just a performance—it was a conversation starter. Kendrick Lamar’s bold artistic choices, layered symbolism, and powerful message had everyone talking. But was the deeper meaning lost in the debate? In this special bonus episode of the Psyched to Practice Podcast, Ray Christner and Paul Wagner break down the visuals, themes, and cultural impact of one of the most talked-about halftime performances in years. From Samuel L. Jackson’s surprising role to Serena Williams’ unexpected statement, we explore how this performance challenges perspectives and what it says about America today.

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Transcript

Welcome to the Psyched to Practice podcast, your one-stop for practical and useful clinical information, masterful insight from experts in the field, and a guide to daily living. Ray and I are back and we're talking about something a little different for today. Uh, we're going in depth on the Kendrick Lamar, uh, halftime show for the most recent Superbowl. Uh, in part because it's in the zeitgeist right now, but also, you know, some of the messages and themes just felt so important that we wanted to share a bit of our take Looking at some of the, you know, maybe the overarching unifying themes as well as hearing what your thoughts are on this. Yeah. You know, I mean, I think this was a, uh, this was an interesting halftime show and it definitely, if it, if it accomplished one thing, um, It accomplished conversation. People are talking about it, um, which I think is, is great. And, you know, it's interesting. So I, I'm actually, I've been a Kendrick Lamar fan for a while musically, um, Um, now the interesting part, and I'm going to get a little slack for this, wasn't my favorite musical performance. Like, so my initial kind of watch was I've seen him perform better music, but from an artistic standpoint, I don't know that anybody could have nailed it better. Between like the, the visuals, the symbolism, the choreography, the, the lighting, like all of the, it was just, it all came together so well. And I think that's a part of why. So many people are talking about it is because there's so much depth to it and the perspective taking, you know, it gives individuals a sense that there's a lot that's open to interpretation. You know, other pieces, not so much. Um, but you know, even down to like, you know, how it starts, you know, having CML Jackson as uncle Sam, you know, coming up and talking directly to the audience, welcoming them to the, uh, you know, the great American game. And, you know, from there, Kendrick kind of takes us on this journey with Samuel L. Jackson's narration at various points in time, but so many different themes that are coming up in that. Yeah, I mean, it's, it really, it's, it's amazing. I think that, I think that's what's, you know, I don't know, I think good art, good art evokes different emotions and I mean, I have heard some really nasty things people have been posting about it. And, and I've also heard a lot of celebration about it. I think that's what he wanted. I mean, I think that's the whole idea. Like, let's create this conversation. Yeah. You know, the, the symbolism, I mean, gosh, I don't even know where to begin. Like there's, there's just so many pieces, you know, I, I guess you, you mentioned, you know, Samuel, Samuel L. Jackson kind of starting with this idea of the, you know, great American game. And maybe let's start with that because, you know, I, I noticed pretty quick the game controller like that was like, ah, you know. That was interesting. Like I, I've heard, I've heard a whole bunch of different reasons on that, but, but for me, I, I actually thought it was in reference to the squid games. Now I've, I think I've been debunked by some other people out there. But for those that have watched the squid games, you know, it's about injustice. You know, it's about this government control, this, you know, this whole piece. And You know, whether that was his intent or not, the rest of the content, it kind of fit within, within that theme, right? It certainly did. And the patriotic theme, but also, you know, referencing gang culture between, you know, the Bloods and the Cribs and iconic moments from, you know, Him on the car to the, the divided American flag. Um, you know, the, just the, the panning, you know, the, the wrong way with just, you know, everyone's kind of going in these different directions. Um, it's, It's just incredible. And there's so many different elements to it. And, you know, actually one of the things I, I now I'll post a link to it in the, um, in the episode description, but, um, there's a few different, uh, video breakdowns that, um, You know, in preparation for this episode, I was looking through, but there was one I really liked, so I'll make sure to give credit for that creator there, but Um, you know, it's, it's sparking conversations and I guess one of the bigger themes that I really wanted to call out that I do think it's a unifying theme and just about every video or every article that I saw about it. Is talking about it. It's creating conversation. It's meant to be debated. In some ways, you know, the way that he tells this story He doesn't give enough context for there to be one definitive answer. And, you know, I, um, I think, you know, truly only Kendrick and, you know, maybe the, the choreographers know what they intended, but sometimes I have to imagine they intended for it to be Open ended and open to interpretation. And I think he nailed it. Yeah, I agree. I've heard so many people kind of go into against one political party or for another or, you know, what, whatever. I kind of interpreted it different. Like, I didn't see that the message was that it was to blame one party or not. I think he was talking about an American problem. He was talking about a country as a society and that it really wasn't about trying to blame somebody, but it was really this reflection of You know, and I think all the symbolism through it was highlighting different problems that we have as a country like the flag, which was brilliant. And honestly, I don't know much about dance. It was good. Like, I mean, the choreography, it was just, it was really, it was well done. But the, but the flag, you know, the idea of the divided flag and he's in the middle of it. But then that same flag at times started breaking off like there's a group that's just all the white people Um, parts of the flag and all the red parts of the flag and how they were positioned, you know, which for me was like, gosh, we are this. Segregated situation. And it, and it was, um, I just masterful. I mean, I think like that idea, that's not a po a problem just with a political party. This is representing I guess as a whole, we need to do a better job. And I think that's the theme of, you know, in some ways, because it's meant to be interpreted, it's starting divided. And I think almost in it starting divided, it It has a unifying quality rather than there being, you know, only a singular point that then divides us. And so it's not a, you know, a nice edge that we fall on one side or the other. But rather it's a puzzle that everyone's kind of has their piece of it and it's coming together. Yeah. Yeah. And it's, you know, I mean, and gosh, again, so many details like, you know, just even like, you know, and some of these I have to admit, like, I missed them during the initial show. Um, and then I was like, okay, I'm going to watch it again. I've just, then I'm like, oh my gosh, there's, there's this detail in that detail, but you know, just, just something as simple as. You know, in the one part behind the dancers and are, you know, in the audience, there's this light up of You know, this warning wrong way kind of sign. Um, you know, what a detail. Like it was like when you, and you kind of go like, oh, wow, that, you know, such a good kind of call out. I don't know that that's all that abstract. I think that's a pretty in your face, like. Like, yeah, hey folks, we're, we're really on, on the wrong path here. Um, but I thought it was brilliantly done. And some of the guest appearances between, you know, SZA with, uh, Mustard with Serena Williams and- You know, I, I want to talk about some of those individuals, but really, I just keep coming back to Samuel L. Jackson, who in so many roles, you know, even Prior to his acting career, I believe came into the light with a lot of the black power movement. And then in his, in his, you know, his career, you know, he has played unapologetic outspoken black man. And then in here, Whitewashed. Yeah. And he's telling Kendrick, you know, it's too ghetto. Right. And, you know, when Kendrick's playing a bit more of like, you know, the, the music that's, Popularized it, you know, telling him good job and then also, you know, calling out warnings surrounding Drake and like, so it's kind of this representation of lost identity. And I think again, another theme is The uniqueness, and I believe in the video that I was watching, every individual who was wearing the red, white, and blue of the flag had a different You know, it had a different outfit on like, you know, it wasn't all a unified outfit. It was everyone was an individual. However, they still be, they were a part of this, you know, collective with the flag and then again that the scattering, but that was such a. Cool element that, you know, there's not this unifying costume, but it's this expression that each individual gets to bring into that and is part of this, which is really, I think, again, that call to America. Yeah. And it's going back to Samuel Jackson. You know, I, I think, you know, those comments that he had, you know, the other part, I, I, again, kind of way I looked at it was, you know, he, he's doing, saying these things like, you know, the cultural cheat code and those types of things. But if you listen to Kendrick Lamar's lyrics and even things I don't think were really song lyrics, but things that he added in there, there's this This dilemma, but also then this strength to push back from that dilemma and to still send the message. And like, and so that, that dialogue, you know, even like, I think it was when he first kind of was hinting to the not like us song. Like, they don't want me to play it kind of deal. But it was like, just that, that little tension of this, yeah, I have to make decisions on, on, do I, Go with what I believe and my convictions or do I, I sell out like that kind of, and I felt that at a, Like a number of times through, through that performance, which again, I mean, what a, what an interesting way artistically to kind of Show that dilemma and the idea that, you know, we're always at these decision points and uh, it was brilliant. Yeah. I guess speaking to that, like that, do we sell out or do we embrace You know, the, the uniqueness and what, you know, uniqueness as a person, uniqueness culturally. And, um, you know, Serena Williams doing the Crip Walk, like I think was an, was such a, An impactful piece. And, you know, yes, there's that connection to Drake, but also kind of calling back to Emile Jackson saying to Ghetto when she won the Olympics and then was crip walking and then, you know, criticized for that's not how you act. What a way to come back and have that female empowerment, you know, a black female athlete that just have to respect, you know, She's phenomenal and, you know, just a display of embracing that uniqueness rather than saying I'm going to fold to what's expected. Yeah, I, I think that was probably the, uh, the biggest surprise kind of cameo that came in there. I actually like, I'm like, wow, she looks like Serena Williams. Like that was kind of my first and I'm like, Oh, wait, no, I think that actually is. And then I had to kind of take a double take, but yeah, I think that that's a, I mean, I, I think she, you couldn't have picked a better person to put in that role. I mean, I think for a couple reasons. I mean, one is, yeah, the idea that, you know, she does this dance that as a young athlete, she criticized that that's, I think, just one piece of it. But I think for me as a dad of daughters, um, you know, I, I, I appreciated throughout that performance the idea of empowering women. And I made a comment, there was not anything that was trying to objectify women. It was really about kind of this idea of showing the strength of women and then when Serena Williams came out. How could you pick a better person? So someone who dominated her, her field and entered a sport that That was a fairly white dominated sport and became just this icon in that sport. Like there were so many layers to her performance. And, and I, I, I get that the Drake piece of it was probably a little dig as well. He tried to get in there, but, but it meant so much more than that. Like, I mean, I think that was, you know, I, I said something the other day, the, the, the Drake thing and them saying a minor, like, That was the entertainment part for me like it was like I wanted to see him kind of if he was going to do it. But I hope that's not the only piece that people took out of it was this battle between break because It shouldn't be reduced to that moment. Like, it was a powerful moment, but it was just so much more than that. It wasn't about that beef. I mean, it's and Serena Williams being there. For me meant more than her relationship with Drake. And, and that's what I hope people kind of got from it. Cause that for me was like, again, you know, having, having two daughters, To see somebody in that role, it was just, I thought, a powerful moment. And talking about the, the not like us moment in it, like it really, I think connects with, I want to say it's his opening quote. The revolution is about to be televised. Pick the right time, but the wrong guy. That's the quote. And in some ways, and I don't hear it as a call to arms, so to speak. It's not, I don't hear that it's meant to be a violent revolution, but rather just Standing up against certain powers that do feel oppressive. And, you know, when he's talking about Drake's lawyers and, you know, the, the lawsuit and him doing it anyway. You know, him standing up and kind of, you know, sharing one of his most popular songs, but at the same point in time, going against what he's being told he's able to do and not doing it You know, in this, again, not in a violent way, but in a way that speaks and connects to this larger message. I think that's the frustration I've had in the back that I've heard from some people is that this idea that That the terms that were used like revolution, that somehow equates to a violent response. And, you know, I had said to a friend of mine who's been pretty cool about it, I said, Let's remember, like, there were protests in a way that were very peaceful, and I said, the idea of Some of the terms, again, I think he was pretty purposeful in, in using those terms. I mean, I think that there was a, it wanted to, he wanted to evoke emotion. But again, I think the people that have responded that way, I think they're missing the greater message. Um, because it, it, it wasn't presented in that way at all. I mean, it was much more, even the symbolism, like there wasn't violent symbolism in it. It was much more about the idea of seeing division, seeing people segregated in certain ways. The idea that the dance stage at one point was to represent a prison yard, to talk about our issues with incarceration and how that affects groups that are marginalized, that there is an over-representation in the Those facilities, that's just calling out that we need better. And I, I guess that was my message throughout was it was a call for us to do better. We deserve to do more as a country for each other. And I think. That that's that was my takeaway, I guess. Maybe as we start pulling back here, I want to share like a sentiment that was talks about his final message was one of advocating for Americans to unplug from corporate media And getting together to organize against those powers. And like, it's not, again, not a violent one, but it's one, let's not allow ourselves to be old or puppeteered in a way. Yeah, I, I didn't read that, but that's, I don't know that I could have summarized it any better than that. It's a, it's a great way to, um, a great way to, I think, to kind of wrap it all together and. You know, I, again, I think we could probably talk for an hour. I mean, I have my whole sheet of notes that we haven't addressed and I know we wanted to make this kind of just a small bonus content, but um. Yeah, I hope as you listen to this, you think about those moments from the performance that meant something to you. I, you know, for me, again, I had a number of takeaways that I appreciated and hope you find those as well. With that, we hope you enjoy this little extra bonus piece of content. You know, we'll be back and we'll maintain our typical schedule, but we just wanted to drop something in the feed to really call this out because it felt important and wanting to share this message. Check in next week for our next episode dropping, but until then, be well, stay psyched.