In the world of music, collaborations between artists often lead to unforgettable performances. One such collaboration took place during the Super Bowl halftime show in 2011 when Usher made a guest appearance alongside the Black Eyed Peas. Fast forward to the present day, and this time it was bandleader will.i.am who had the opportunity to return the favor.
During this year's Super Bowl halftime show, will.i.am joined Usher on stage to perform their hit song 'OMG,' which will.i.am had written and produced. Reflecting on the significance of the moment, will.i.am expressed his joy and admiration: 'How can I explain it? There's no words to really explain that. Now 13 years later, it means something totally different. It's beautiful. It was wonderful. It's fantastic.'
The electrifying performance of 'OMG' featured roller skaters dancing and flipping on stage, adding an unexpected twist to the show. Will.i.am described the roller skating spectacle as the 'most 'What the F'' moment of the entire event. He even likened it to the urban Olympics, emphasizing the uniqueness and excitement it brought to the Super Bowl stage.
However, the surprises didn't end there. Usher's performance also featured other notable artists like Alicia Keys, Ludacris, Lil Jon, H.E.R., and Jermaine Dupri. Together, they delivered an incredible show, running through a medley of Usher's iconic hits such as 'U Got It Bad,' 'Love In This Club,' 'U Don't Have to Call,' and of course, 'Yeah!'
Will.i.am was so impressed with Usher's performance that he couldn't believe the singer was already 45 years old. He jokingly mentioned, 'Damn, I didn't know Usher was 45. I thought he was at least 33.' Age certainly didn't hinder Usher's ability to captivate the audience with his energetic and flawless delivery.
The song 'OMG' holds a significant place in will.i.am's career. Released in 2010, it quickly climbed the charts, securing the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks. With its infectious dance flavor, 'OMG' gained incredible popularity, reaching an impressive 8x-platinum status, equivalent to selling 8 million singles. When will.i.am composed the song, he had a feeling it was going to be a smash hit. He shared that the inspiration for 'OMG' stemmed from the success of the Black Eyed Peas' earlier hit, 'I Gotta Feeling,' which features the catchy lyrics, 'Go out and smash it, like, 'Oh my God.''
After collaborating with Usher, will.i.am expressed his admiration for the talented artist and shared his desire to work with him again in the future. He commended Usher's recent album, 'Coming Home,' expressing his pride and admiration for his performance at the Super Bowl.
As fans continue to reminisce about the iconic halftime show, it's clear that Usher and will.i.am's collaboration brought an unforgettable energy to the stage. Their electrifying performance of 'OMG' alongside the roller skaters left the audience in awe and created a truly 'OMG' moment for everyone involved.
