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Poets at the Super Bowl

in Poetry Discussion

So the Super Bowl is approaching I hear? Other than the sports side of it, I know performers are a big talking point and I wondered if anybody thought that poetry could one day make an appearance?

The only way I can realistically see it being done, is kind of like they did for the BBC UK NYE fireworks broadcast, opening th event:

(Skip to around 5:40) - though it wasn’t well received by the general public and labelled as a waste of time, so I guess raging sports fans might not be ready for it either.

The only do major poets I can see being invited to do such a thing are

Rupi Kaur

Or poet of the moment Amanda Gorman

So the question is:

In an ideal world how would you see Poetry at the Super Bowl? Do you think it’s even possible to mix the two!

6 comments

Comments (6)

Feb 08, 2022

•

Its a very cool idea.

It can work.

Most likely in the future.

As far as super bowls go,I don't think it would work.

When I think of super bowl performances I think of glitz,glamour and majesty.

Fun,excitement and explosiveness.

Also,a bathroom break.

All due respect for poets,poetry doesn't fit one of those things.

Don't get me wrong,it can work.

By perhaps a poet and musician come together,and a poet opens the halftime show,with a poem.Could be their best poem they're known for,but I suggest a super bowl theme poem just to make relatable to the audience.

And then,musician comes after.

Or an original song where the poet raps(yes you read that right) raps during musical performance.Since spoken word,when done well,is rapping without accompaniment.Just NOT at the end.

You get them all hype up for third and fourth quarter only to have them asleep???

In any case,and this is mainly mainstream,spoken poetry primarily works in a recorded setting.

Because as I said before,tone of modern poetry is mainly motivational.

Due to nature of sports,poetry might feel more like a wasted tack on,since they have to think than a beautiful surprise fill with energy.

Side note:As crazy as it sounds,poetry might work better at a personal development conference(Think Grant Cardone's 10X conference or Tony Robbins Unleash Power Within).As poetry and motivational speeches are NOT that different at all,only difference is technique they use,which is very minor.And personal development is HUUUUGGGGGGEEEEEE,best and worst part,will get bigger and bigger.

But thats a whole other story for another time.

Adam Gary

Feb 09, 2022

•

Replying to

@Bendy Nguyen I’m not sure I agree with this. I’ve seen poets, particularly spoken word artists hype an audience. Just last month I saw a poet Tomara Goddard captivate an audience (although we were poetry fans) I guess sports fans would be harder to convince. BUT all it takes is one special poet to change that. As long as they know their audience, and speak to them and their needs/experiences I think it could work.

Probably at the start of the game though… it might be a dropped ball if it was in the middle… but again, all it takes is one innovative poet to prove us all wrong. I can see Eminem being able to pull off a half time poem. He’s just amazing.

Feb 09, 2022

•

Replying to

@Adam Gary Oh Eminem will surely pull it off.

As you said,it's all to do with knowing audience.

Will say,it's not exactly a fair game,since as you said,there were poetry fans in the building.And since super bowl fans are there to have a fun time,they might reciprocate through power of language.

Then again,still unsure if poets can pull it off in a setting like this,however,will be intrigued if a poet does.

A poet working in beginning works well too.I was thinking in terms of how I would implement poetry,however,if poet did perform in middle of the song,it would create a screeching halt for the atmosphere being created.

Rachel Glass

Feb 04, 2022

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Hm. I'm not a sports fan to any degree. The only time I kind of pay attention is when it's the olympics. Anyway, with poetry becoming more of a mainstream medium (with the likes of insta poetry), it could very well happen. I mean, think what you want about the likes of Rupi Kaur but she's a reason why some people go to the poetry section of waterstones.

That being said, does poetry have the same 'hype' factor of live singers like Pink and Beyonce? For me, yes. For American football fans? I'm not entirely sure.

I realise I kind of contradicted myself so to conclude: I don't know lol

Adam Gary

Feb 04, 2022

•

Replying to

@Rachel Glass hahaha it’s a tough one right?

If you were in charge of entertainment at the Bowl, and was told you needed to implement poetry… how would you do it!?

Adam Gary

Feb 04, 2022

•

Interestingly I just remembered, one of my favourite poets did a poem for my football team this year, so I guess the two mediums can mix… but at a live event? You tell me 😉