Ever since the arrival of the pandemic, highly anticipated events, traditions, and celebrations have been postponed or rescheduled. Fortunately, with the availability of vaccines for young children, socializing with other people and attending holiday festivities have become safer. One of the most highly anticipated events, the Times Square annual Ball Drop, returns to give viewers a wonderful show with the help of celebrity performances. Also in the nation's biggest cities, the celebration kicks off the New Year with a bang. One of the most popular shows to watch on New Year's Eve, Dick Clark’s Rockin’ Eve, airs live and follows celebrity hosts all over the U.S. and their performances in some of the trendiest spots to celebrate.
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey, the Queen of pop, needs no introduction, with her many hit songs making it onto Billboard charts, like, “ All I Want For Christmas Is You,” “We Belong Together,” and “Always Be My Baby.” In 2017, Mariah Carey performed at Times Square, much to fans' excitement. Unfortunately, the performance didn’t turn out how anyone expected. The first few seconds of the performance, Carey sang beautifully. As the beat got louder and the show progressed, Carey seemed out of sorts and confused, aimlessly wandering around stage. According to CNN, Carey’s publicist said, “There was a production issue. Technical difficulties. Unfortunately, there was nothing she could do to continue with the performance given the circumstances." Carey, who had been “mortified,” thanked her fans in the interview, saying they “have been so supportive and I am so appreciative of them.” Overall, the performance Mariah Carey gave the world on New Years Eve had not been her best, but became a moment that no one would ever forget.
Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus, known for her role on Hannah Montana, gave fans a moment of nostalgia as she performed her hit song, “Party in the USA”, in 2020 on New Year’s Eve. Many fans had struggled with COVID-19 rapidly spreading across the globe, but Cyrus pumped up the crowd and delivered an amazing show, lifting the spirits of those watching. Since her days as a Disney Channel star, Cyrus changed her style, giving fans a new glimpse of the “new” Miley Cyrus. She posted pictures of the moment on her Twitter, saying “Was my honor to perform PARTY IN THE USA opening tonight’s @NYRE after the year we’ve experienced. This song represents TRIUMPH.”
Cyndi Lauper
Gen Z may not recognize the name Cyndi Lauper, but the singer of “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” and “Time After Time” delivered many hits in previous decades. When Lauper performed for Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Years Eve in 2021, alongside fellow singer, Billy Porter, fans felt “bewildered,” according to PopCulture. Towards the end of one of her songs, one of the members of her makeup crew approached Lauper, asking her to change her scarf. Lauper shooed them away, repeatedly saying, “I’m on camera! I’m on camera!” While that alone may not seem like a big deal, Lauper continued the show with her new song, “Hope.” PopCulture writes, “Lauper's uncharacteristic vocal performance mixed with an oddly aimless dance performance had commenters at a loss.”
According to the official Times Square website, no details have yet been announced regarding the 2022 performances, but the venue updated their website, saying “we hope to be able to celebrate in person if it's safe to do so.” More details can be found at the Times Square website; stay tuned for more information on how to celebrate the 2022 New Year.
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