Bruno Mars ‘ain’t scared’ over Super Bowl show

Bruno Mars who will headline the half-time show at the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII football game hold the game ball during a press conference Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014, in New York. AP

NEW YORK – Hit singer Bruno Mars shrugged off the pressure of his half-time performance at Sunday’s Super Bowl, saying he’s not scared of the National Football League championship spectacle’s global spotlight.

The 28-year-old from Honolulu, whose mother was from the Philippines and whose father was from New York, will perform during Super Bowl 48, which pits the Seattle Seahawks against the Denver Broncos for the NFL crown.

“It’s my job to uplift the people,” Mars said Thursday. “I’m going to give it all I’ve got. Whatever happens happens. I ain’t scared if that’s what you think… I want the world to watch.

“I don’t do trapeze and all that stuff. I hope to get people dancing and smiling. It’s just us with our instruments up there. I hope that’s enough.”

Mars said after he accepted the offer to perform that he was told he could have another act join him and selected the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who will also sing during the half-time show.

“They are the first band I thought of. They are just a soulful band,” he said. “It’s an honor to be sharing the stage with them. They are one of my favorite bands of all time.”

Asked about some of his favorite prior half-time performers, Mars named Bruce Springsteen, Prince, Beyonce and the late Michael Jackson.

“It’s prestigious they gave a new guy a shot,” Mars said. “We were all watching last year and wondering what if we got the call to do that.

“We’re honored. Some greats have performed on that stage. We’re excited about it.”

Mars refused to side with one team or the other for the big game, saying that growing up, he followed the University of Hawaii team and attended the annual NFL Pro Bowl all-star game in Honolulu.

“Whoever has got the most Polynesians on their team, that’s who we’re rooting for,” Mars said.

Thanks to Denver defensive lineman Sione Fua, an American of Tongan heritage, you can mark down Mars as a Broncos fan, sort of.

One issue the players and Mars will have to contend with is the cold. This will be the first Super Bowl to be staged outdoors in a cold-weather city and temperatures near freezing are predicted.

“You never know what to expect,” Mars said. “We just started rehearsing two nights ago. The microphone turned into a popsicle. It was frozen. Things like that you don’t take into consideration.

“We’re working on getting heaters for everything.”