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Attempts to sanitize the critical reception section
I've brought it up on their talk page, but @
Mgkrulez: appears to have repeatedly attempted to sanitize the critical reception section to give the appearance of a more favorable reception than the performance was actually afforded by review. They have removed key context from mixed reviews in order to make them appear outright positive, and have removed some negative reviews entirely, among other problematic edits. This needs to stop.
SecretName101 (
talk)
07:11, 10 February 2021 (UTC)reply
Summarizing critical reception
Some seem to take issue with calling the reception "mixed". The current cited source says it is "mixed". If we reach a consensus disagreeing, we can remove that citation and summarize it otherwise. I'd argue the reception was pretty mixed. A handful positive, many lukewarm/mixed, and some incredibly negative.
SecretName101 (
talk)
17:29, 10 February 2021 (UTC)reply
SecretName101, Maybe, for now, we not say negative, mixed, or positive and just jump straight into commentary? We can always summarize at a later date. Just a thought, until clear trends in comments emerge. ---
Another Believer(
Talk)18:59, 10 February 2021 (UTC)reply
I think "mixed" is perfectly suitable, because reviewers pointed out both the good parts and the gaping problems. The issue we have here is not whether "mixed" is appropriate, it is the behavior of one editor:
J.O105-The Weeknd. J.O105-The Weeknd has been edit-warring to convey an overly positive image, which is a violation of
WP:Neutral point of view. Half of J.O105-The Weeknd's edits are to put a positive spin on the Weeknd.
Binksternet (
talk)
17:54, 20 March 2021 (UTC)reply
What the sources say
To get a sense of the critical reception, let's look at a bunch of sources and see what they say. I have evaluated the following reviews to summarize their stance.
Binksternet (
talk)
01:31, 23 March 2021 (UTC)reply
Very negative
Chicago Tribune –
"Review: The Weeknd’s Super Bowl halftime performance was an expensive nothing". "There was no amount of spectacular visuals for the at-home viewer that could make up for what Tesfaye lacks in vocals, stage presence and charisma. ...it was often difficult to hear Tesfaye sing. But that was not enough of a factor to explain the utter weirdness of the set."
Negative
NJ.com –
"Super Bowl 2021 halftime show review: The Weeknd dims under blinding lights". "The problem: He’s just not a particularly dynamic live entertainer. Sure, his smash singles spoke for themselves during his pseudo-explosive spectacle Sunday night in Tampa, but beyond the mindless sing-alongs, the rest dimly flickered, devoid of exciting choreography, outrageous vocal moments... Instead, it was a 30-year-old man in a sequined crimson sport coat playing to the camera with all the charisma of a dental hygienist who just got into TikTok."
Pacific San Diego –
"The Weeknd, though underwhelming, made history with first Super Bowl halftime show held during a pandemic". "...a visually arresting but musically tepid performance... The Weeknd’s meh of a performance, which was visually sleek, slickly delivered and largely devoid of musical (as opposed to actual) fireworks... Alas, his pleasant but decidedly drama-free vocals on Sunday sounded so processed for much of his set that it was questionable exactly what he meant by 'live.' "
Fox 5 DC –
"The Weeknd's Super Bowl LV halftime show gets mixed reviews from fans". "It didn’t take long for viewers to take to Twitter to pan the performance, which saw the singer merely jump from song-to-song with little showmanship or surprises. In fact, he didn’t even leave the stands to perform in the field until the very end.... However, not everyone was in agreement that the performance wasn't up to par for the Super Bowl." (Followed by examples of positive tweets.)
Vulture.com –
"So Now the Weeknd Is Our Collective Escape From Hell?" 'Jamming nine songs into a 14-minute set, the Weeknd made a case for himself as a pop phenomenon with staying power but also highlighted some of the least-interesting moments in his catalog... this show nailed its aesthetic with ease, but it struggled to make you feel anything."
Pitchfork
"The Weeknd’s Super Bowl Halftime Show Was a Fever Dream for the Whole Family". "And while it wasn’t anywhere near the Weeknd’s edgiest showing to date, even after going through the NFL’s blandification process he remained strangely adept at code switching between mainstream and underground pop tropes. ...there was never that kumbaya moment we’ve come to expect from modern halftime shows."
FTW –
"Super Bowl halftime show review: The Weeknd wasn't great (but it's not all his fault)". "...the sound mix on the first song was so bad that many fans at home were left turning up the volume or wondering what was even happening.... moments that felt more disorienting than inspiring or cool... The Weeknd’s one true shining moment of the halftime show... 'Blinding Lights' ...a great song playing and a bunch of people all running around at a concert, dancing their faces off. "
Entertainment Weekly –
"The Weeknd, pop's anti-pop star, glides through the Super Bowl halftime show". "It was a greatest-hits setlist, and it might have worked well if the sound wasn't off; the Weeknd's voice often felt lost in a thicket of lush strings and synths... Even the few fun creative elements... couldn't quite get over the show's lack of tech-savvy pageantry..."
GQ"The Weeknd’s Super Bowl 2021 Halftime Show Dazzled And Overwhelmed". "Did it pay off? Yes and no. The Weeknd’s halftime show set was certainly dazzling and visually overwhelming, with chaotic choreography... Tesfaye was drowned out, physically and sonically (thanks to some obvious mixing issues), by nearly everything around him. He didn’t even come close to commanding the stage the way previous performers had..."
The Atlantic –
"The First Super Bowl Halftime Show About the Depravity of Halftime Shows". "[the audience was] left slightly amused, slightly bored, a little disturbed, and a lot confused... The sound improved over time, and Tesfaye managed to flaunt his significant vocal chops while mugging at the camera with impressive hamminess. Still, he did not quite prove himself as a standalone superstar capable of holding an audience with pure charisma."
Los Angeles Times –
"The Weeknd’s chilly pop makes for a socially distant Super Bowl halftime show ". "Spooky yet darkly funny, this appealingly bizarre spectacle reflected the COVID era in both mood and logistics... And because he stuck so closely to his signature vibe, he seemed incredibly at ease as he performed for the tens of millions of people watching at home. He grinned; he winked; he took opportunities to look deep into the camera..."
Vox –
"Watch: The Weeknd’s Super Bowl halftime show was mellow but satisfying". "All in all, even though this was an unlikely halftime show featuring an unlikely performer at an uncertain Super Bowl, it was exactly the halftime show we needed. The Weeknd strode through it with confidence and charm..."
Revolt.tv –
"The Weeknd performs epic set for Super Bowl LV halftime show". "The Weeknd lit up the stage. ...people watching the show... loved every single minute... social media reacted with positive reviews about the set, as everyone gave Weeknd props..."
Deadline.com –
"The Weeknd’s Super Bowl Halftime Show Scores A Touchdown – Review". "[The Weeknd] swooped in to take America’s great sports spectacle up a notch or two... the savvy singer tore through his greatest hits like a post-modern R&B legend in the making. ...which is exactly what you want out of a great halftime performance."
This list makes it plain that various sorts of mixed reviews are the median, leaning in the positive direction. Definitely not purely positive.
Binksternet (
talk)
01:31, 23 March 2021 (UTC)reply
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Florida. If you would like to join us, please visit the project page; if you have any questions, please consult the FAQ.FloridaWikipedia:WikiProject FloridaTemplate:WikiProject FloridaFlorida articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject National Football League, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of the
NFL on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join
the discussion and see a list of open tasks.National Football LeagueWikipedia:WikiProject National Football LeagueTemplate:WikiProject National Football LeagueNational Football League articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject R&B and Soul Music, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of R&B and Soul Music articles on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join
the discussion and see a list of open tasks.R&B and Soul MusicWikipedia:WikiProject R&B and Soul MusicTemplate:WikiProject R&B and Soul MusicR&B and Soul Music articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject United States, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of topics relating to the
United States of America on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the ongoing discussions.
Attempts to sanitize the critical reception section
I've brought it up on their talk page, but @
Mgkrulez: appears to have repeatedly attempted to sanitize the critical reception section to give the appearance of a more favorable reception than the performance was actually afforded by review. They have removed key context from mixed reviews in order to make them appear outright positive, and have removed some negative reviews entirely, among other problematic edits. This needs to stop.
SecretName101 (
talk)
07:11, 10 February 2021 (UTC)reply
Summarizing critical reception
Some seem to take issue with calling the reception "mixed". The current cited source says it is "mixed". If we reach a consensus disagreeing, we can remove that citation and summarize it otherwise. I'd argue the reception was pretty mixed. A handful positive, many lukewarm/mixed, and some incredibly negative.
SecretName101 (
talk)
17:29, 10 February 2021 (UTC)reply
SecretName101, Maybe, for now, we not say negative, mixed, or positive and just jump straight into commentary? We can always summarize at a later date. Just a thought, until clear trends in comments emerge. ---
Another Believer(
Talk)18:59, 10 February 2021 (UTC)reply
I think "mixed" is perfectly suitable, because reviewers pointed out both the good parts and the gaping problems. The issue we have here is not whether "mixed" is appropriate, it is the behavior of one editor:
J.O105-The Weeknd. J.O105-The Weeknd has been edit-warring to convey an overly positive image, which is a violation of
WP:Neutral point of view. Half of J.O105-The Weeknd's edits are to put a positive spin on the Weeknd.
Binksternet (
talk)
17:54, 20 March 2021 (UTC)reply
What the sources say
To get a sense of the critical reception, let's look at a bunch of sources and see what they say. I have evaluated the following reviews to summarize their stance.
Binksternet (
talk)
01:31, 23 March 2021 (UTC)reply
Very negative
Chicago Tribune –
"Review: The Weeknd’s Super Bowl halftime performance was an expensive nothing". "There was no amount of spectacular visuals for the at-home viewer that could make up for what Tesfaye lacks in vocals, stage presence and charisma. ...it was often difficult to hear Tesfaye sing. But that was not enough of a factor to explain the utter weirdness of the set."
Negative
NJ.com –
"Super Bowl 2021 halftime show review: The Weeknd dims under blinding lights". "The problem: He’s just not a particularly dynamic live entertainer. Sure, his smash singles spoke for themselves during his pseudo-explosive spectacle Sunday night in Tampa, but beyond the mindless sing-alongs, the rest dimly flickered, devoid of exciting choreography, outrageous vocal moments... Instead, it was a 30-year-old man in a sequined crimson sport coat playing to the camera with all the charisma of a dental hygienist who just got into TikTok."
Pacific San Diego –
"The Weeknd, though underwhelming, made history with first Super Bowl halftime show held during a pandemic". "...a visually arresting but musically tepid performance... The Weeknd’s meh of a performance, which was visually sleek, slickly delivered and largely devoid of musical (as opposed to actual) fireworks... Alas, his pleasant but decidedly drama-free vocals on Sunday sounded so processed for much of his set that it was questionable exactly what he meant by 'live.' "
Fox 5 DC –
"The Weeknd's Super Bowl LV halftime show gets mixed reviews from fans". "It didn’t take long for viewers to take to Twitter to pan the performance, which saw the singer merely jump from song-to-song with little showmanship or surprises. In fact, he didn’t even leave the stands to perform in the field until the very end.... However, not everyone was in agreement that the performance wasn't up to par for the Super Bowl." (Followed by examples of positive tweets.)
Vulture.com –
"So Now the Weeknd Is Our Collective Escape From Hell?" 'Jamming nine songs into a 14-minute set, the Weeknd made a case for himself as a pop phenomenon with staying power but also highlighted some of the least-interesting moments in his catalog... this show nailed its aesthetic with ease, but it struggled to make you feel anything."
Pitchfork
"The Weeknd’s Super Bowl Halftime Show Was a Fever Dream for the Whole Family". "And while it wasn’t anywhere near the Weeknd’s edgiest showing to date, even after going through the NFL’s blandification process he remained strangely adept at code switching between mainstream and underground pop tropes. ...there was never that kumbaya moment we’ve come to expect from modern halftime shows."
FTW –
"Super Bowl halftime show review: The Weeknd wasn't great (but it's not all his fault)". "...the sound mix on the first song was so bad that many fans at home were left turning up the volume or wondering what was even happening.... moments that felt more disorienting than inspiring or cool... The Weeknd’s one true shining moment of the halftime show... 'Blinding Lights' ...a great song playing and a bunch of people all running around at a concert, dancing their faces off. "
Entertainment Weekly –
"The Weeknd, pop's anti-pop star, glides through the Super Bowl halftime show". "It was a greatest-hits setlist, and it might have worked well if the sound wasn't off; the Weeknd's voice often felt lost in a thicket of lush strings and synths... Even the few fun creative elements... couldn't quite get over the show's lack of tech-savvy pageantry..."
GQ"The Weeknd’s Super Bowl 2021 Halftime Show Dazzled And Overwhelmed". "Did it pay off? Yes and no. The Weeknd’s halftime show set was certainly dazzling and visually overwhelming, with chaotic choreography... Tesfaye was drowned out, physically and sonically (thanks to some obvious mixing issues), by nearly everything around him. He didn’t even come close to commanding the stage the way previous performers had..."
The Atlantic –
"The First Super Bowl Halftime Show About the Depravity of Halftime Shows". "[the audience was] left slightly amused, slightly bored, a little disturbed, and a lot confused... The sound improved over time, and Tesfaye managed to flaunt his significant vocal chops while mugging at the camera with impressive hamminess. Still, he did not quite prove himself as a standalone superstar capable of holding an audience with pure charisma."
Los Angeles Times –
"The Weeknd’s chilly pop makes for a socially distant Super Bowl halftime show ". "Spooky yet darkly funny, this appealingly bizarre spectacle reflected the COVID era in both mood and logistics... And because he stuck so closely to his signature vibe, he seemed incredibly at ease as he performed for the tens of millions of people watching at home. He grinned; he winked; he took opportunities to look deep into the camera..."
Vox –
"Watch: The Weeknd’s Super Bowl halftime show was mellow but satisfying". "All in all, even though this was an unlikely halftime show featuring an unlikely performer at an uncertain Super Bowl, it was exactly the halftime show we needed. The Weeknd strode through it with confidence and charm..."
Revolt.tv –
"The Weeknd performs epic set for Super Bowl LV halftime show". "The Weeknd lit up the stage. ...people watching the show... loved every single minute... social media reacted with positive reviews about the set, as everyone gave Weeknd props..."
Deadline.com –
"The Weeknd’s Super Bowl Halftime Show Scores A Touchdown – Review". "[The Weeknd] swooped in to take America’s great sports spectacle up a notch or two... the savvy singer tore through his greatest hits like a post-modern R&B legend in the making. ...which is exactly what you want out of a great halftime performance."
This list makes it plain that various sorts of mixed reviews are the median, leaning in the positive direction. Definitely not purely positive.
Binksternet (
talk)
01:31, 23 March 2021 (UTC)reply