Katy Perry’s Super Bowl halftime show a triumph of kitsch

Nothing does excess and wholesomeness quite like the Super Bowl, and as the halftime show proved, Katy Perry remains the unchallenged queen of that particular flavour of apple-pie pop. Spectacular, kitsch and over the top, Katy Perry's halftime show was a sensation of high-octane entertainment.

Perry made a dramatic entrance on an enormous ruby-eyed feline singing her hit single Roar, while wearing a dress resembling a human flame. From there she descended into a silver human chessboard from which she emerged to sing along to Lenny Kravitz’s rendition of I Kissed A Girl.

She performed California Gurls and Teenage Dream next, on a beach-themed stage accompanied by giant beach-balls, palm trees and two dancing sharks (the 'left shark' has come under criticism for its out-of-sync dancing.)

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From there she descended into a silver human chessboard from which she emerged to sing along to Lenny Kravitz’s rendition of I Kissed A Girl Photograph: Christopher Polk/Getty Images

The second surprise performance was provided by Missy Elliott, who performed her noughties hits Get Ur Freak On and Work It, while Perry grinded accordingly.

But the grand finale is where Katy Perry’s show surpassed all others. Dressed in an all-silver sequined dress , she stepped astride a comet-shaped plinth which sped her around the stadium amid a flare of sparklers and pyrotechnics as she sang her hit song Firework.

As Perry herself said upon finishing her performance, God Bless America.