Springsteen hopes to inspire in Super Bowl show
2009-01-30

Nations U.S. States Florida Category Regions People Jennifer Hudson David Petraeus Tom Petty Bruce Springsteen Paul McCartney Barack Obama Janet Jackson Faith Hill Event 2008 NFL Super Bowl Clubs Pittsburgh Steelers Arizona Cardinals Bands Rolling Stones

TAMPA, Florida (AFP) - Rock legend Bruce Springsteen will try to bring smiles and inspiration in dark economic times with Sunday's Super Bowl half-time show.

The performer, nicknamed "The Boss", and his E Street Band will perform for 12 minutes during the National Football League's championship extravaganza between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals.

"We come out to inspire. That's part of what we do," Springsteen said. "We just want to come out and give people some smiles on Sunday and carry on and have a good time."

Springsteen, preparing for a world tour to support a newly released album, extends a tradition of superstar Super Bowl performers that includes Prince, U2, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Sting, Tom Petty and Aerosmith.

"There are mercenary reasons for it," Springsteen said. "Bands like us, we are out on a stage like this or not seen. This is a tremendous venue."

Famous for high energy, marathon shows, Springsteen will try to pack a three-hour concert experience into a short window with 1,000 volunteer dancers on the field.

"Basically we want it to be a 12-minute party," Springsteen said. "That's what you have to bring when you step out there for that."

Springsteen's versatility in such songs as "Born to Run", "Born in the USA" and "I'm on Fire" has entertained generations.

"We've been on the road a while. We're some old soldiers. You're working alongside the same people you went to high school with for 40 years. It's corny but it's the long, long ride it's all about."

Springsteen played a celebration at the Lincoln Memorial before the inauguration of US President Barack Obama last week in Washington.

"It was a good warm-up for this," Springsteen said. "We will have a lot of football fans but you won't have Lincoln staring over your shoulder."

Springsteen said he has had the final say in what music will be performed, not the NFL, even in the wake of tighter controls since Janet Jackson's breast was exposed in the 2004 half-time show.

"As for who decides the songs, 'The Boss' decides," Springsteen said. "People hint, suggest, beg, cajole. But I decide."

Springsteen, who has a new hit song in the film "The Wrestler", is clueless when it comes to football, however.

"I don't know anything about it," he said. "I did play the game in my backyard around the summer of 1958 but I haven't played it a lot since."

US General David Petraeus, the US military commander in Iraq, will make the opening coin toss while the flight crew of a US Airways plane that rescued 150 people after a river crash in New York last month will be honored on the field.

Jennifer Hudson will sing the US anthem and Faith Hill will sing "America the Beautiful"

It will be the first major appearance for Hudson, whose star turn in "Dreamgirls" earned her an Academy Award for best supporting actress in 2007, since her mother, brother and nephew were murdered last October.