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If you admitted that you weren't exactly blown away when you first heard that The Weeknd was the Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show performer, you would probably be in the majority. It's nothing against the artist! It's just that we had a hard time picturing his music, coupled with COVID restrictions, making for an exciting, heart-pumping show. And while it definitely didn't, I was actually pleasantly surprised.
I wasn't bored by The Weeknd, which I had fully expected to be; I think he pulled off the best performance with what he was given (plus the $7 million of his own money he reportedly put toward the show), and his finale was actually very entertaining! Since there were no fans on the field, he was able to pull a 2016 Beyoncé and bring his dancers down with him for a big, choreographed "Blinding Lights" finish, which, coupled with some fun camera work and a fireworks show, honestly looked awesome.
There's only so much you can do when the majority of your audience is cardboard cut-outs, you know? The Weeknd made it work, finding creative ways to connect with everyone watching at home.
Like when he ran around a gold tunnel, singing directly into the camera. Sure, it was a bit used to make the performance a little more intimate, but it also inspired the meme of the night.
Twitter has had a field day playing with this one specific bit since The Weeknd's performance, and we can't get enough, either. Vote your favorite to the top!