Music
The Weeknd Will Be The 2021 Super Bowl Halftime Act
Getty Image The Canadian star confirmed his participation via a tweet after a cryptic teaser. …

The Weeknd and the NFL have announced that the Canadian superstar will perform at the next Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show on February 7, 2021.
performing on the iconic stage. see you 02/07/21 @pepsi #pepsihalftime #SBLV pic.twitter.com/oYlQyvKRwh
— The Weeknd (@theweeknd) November 12, 2020
In a press statement, Pepsi’s Vice President of Marketing, Todd Kaplan, said, “The Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show is one of the most anticipated performances of the year and we are thrilled to welcome The Weeknd to the stage,” said Todd Kaplan, VP of Marketing, Pepsi. “Pepsi has worked with some of music’s biggest artists over the years – from Prince to Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, and most recently, Jennifer Lopez and Shakira. After a year that’s largely been void of live music, we can’t wait to watch The Weeknd transform the world’s biggest stage with his limitless talent and creativity, delivering what will most certainly be an unforgettable performance that will be remembered for years to come.”
Adam Harter, Senior Vice President of Sports, Media, and Entertainment added, “We can’t wait to welcome multi-award-winning artist The Weeknd to the Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show stage. In collaboration with the NFL and Roc Nation, we continue to reimagine what a Pepsi Halftime Show looks like with some of the biggest musicians in the world. We expect The Weeknd will continue to raise the bar, setting a new precedent both musically and visually for the most-watched performance of the year.”
The announcement caps a stellar year for The Weeknd, whose March album After Hours has proven to have legs a mile long, with a deluxe version featuring a who’s-who of star artists, a string of well-received television appearances including a VMA win for Best R&B, and a virtual concert on TikTok. The Weeknd himself has also popped up Ariana Grande’s new album, Oneohtrix Point Never’s new EP, and Calvin Harris’ latest single.
Artist Spotlight
Cheryl Craigie reimagines “What’s Going On” through a classic soul lens
Some songs belong to an era, and others keep talking to every generation. Cheryl Craigie’s cover of “What’s Going On“ is a prime example of the latter, imbuing a classic soul sensibility into a song whose themes of compassion, understanding, unity, and concern for others are as relevant today as ever.
Cheryl Craigie is an independent singer, songwriter, and musician, and she has a strong artistic purpose with this release. She does Marvin Gaye’s beloved original justice while letting the timeless message sing in her own voice. Craigie’s approach is to speak to the need for kindness and human connection.
“What’s Going On“ is rooted in a timeless identity that is soulful and classic in style, and emotionally it’s about reflection and empathy. This approach relies on the vocal performance, which injects a unique element that helps magnify the song’s bigger message. The production does not detract from the themes that make the song so long-lasting, but rather supports the release by reinforcing its classic character.
What’s particularly interesting about Cheryl Craigie’s release is the balance she strikes between respecting the source material and asserting her own artistic presence. She knows the power of a song already part of music history and uses her interpretation to reconnect listeners with its core ideas. For Craigie, “What’s Going On” is a manifestation of an artist in love with music, with emotional and social weight, and of using her voice to carry the ageless soul message forward.
Artist Spotlight
With “Who Am I Now” Intaluks explores identity, healing, and renewal
“Who Am I Now” is the Intaluks’ method of shifting the atmospheric emotion, an introspective melodic trance on loss, identity, healing, and the hard work of rebuilding when life takes an unexpected turn. The musical direction is a slow emotional journey, starting in darkness and gradually opening to hope and renewal.
This production frames that journey with expressive male vocals, emotional piano, and trance textures. “Who Am I Now” leaves its mark in the feel department through progression and atmosphere, not with a dramatic festival-type drop. The arrangement gives the song a reflective feel but still maintains the forward momentum of melodic trance.
The male delivery lends a human presence to the themes of uncertainty and self-reconstruction in the song’s vocals. The track tells of an inner journey, accompanied by the piano, the cinematic production, and the experience of confronting a changed reality, asking yourself who you are now, and slowly finding the strength to move forward.
Rather than relying on spectacle, Intaluks focuses on emotional development, letting the song’s mood build organically rather than through a traditional climax. The result is a trance piece so cinematic it feels as much about reflection as it does about forward motion, connecting electronic atmosphere with a highly personal theme. In “Who Am I Now,” Intaluks offers a release defined by transition rather than closure. The sound is its greatest triumph, reflecting that journey and making darkness the beginning of a brighter artistic path.
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