HOUSTON -- Everyone wondered if Lady Gaga would make a political statement in the Super Bowl LI halftime show. The pop star didn't waste any time, delivering a heartfelt rendition of "God Bless America" that segued into the Woody Guthrie folk classic "This Land Is Your Land."
It was an understated but pointed way to start the proceedings -- before the 13-minute show veered sharply into more, let's call it Gaga-like territory.
Some takeaways from a really solid show performed in front of more than 100 million people worldwide:
» Gaga promised a "tremendously athletic show" during her press conference on Thursday, which I correctly predicted would lead to Gaga swinging from wires.