I don't think I'm going out on a limb (or sounding too much like my Dad) when I say that the Black Eyed Peas failed to live up to the high standards set by previous Super Bowl halftime shows.

Granted, they were at a disadvantage, with neither the huge back catalog of Paul McCartney or the Rolling Stones, nor the years and years of big venue experience like U2 or Bruce Springsteen.

Unfortunately, they also lacked the straightforward showmanship of Prince. Or Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson for that matter.

It was a worthwhile experiment, deviating from the ageing white rocker for a year, but now it's time to revert to form. Next year, Super Bowl XLVI is in Indianapolis and there's only one choice to perform at halftime: John Mellencamp.

How much more Middle America can you get than a homegrown Indiana boy from down the road in Seymour? This is a guy who grew up in a small town and sang about it. Although he left it and toured the world for years, he came back.

Mellencamp's a big sports fan who donates money to the Indiana University basketball program. He'd understand the importance of a Super Bowl performance, especially in his home state.

Songs? Mellencamp's got plenty to choose from. Maybe start with a couple of Midwest classics like "Hurt So Good" and "Jack And Diane," move on to patriotic jams like "R.O.C.K. in the USA" and "Our Country" and finish off with "Authority Song," "Lonely Ol' Night," and "Small Town."

And to top it off, he's a hell of a showman. I can guarantee you that Mellencamp won't phone it in front of a hometown crowd. He might even have the corporates on their feet singing. At least they'd know some of the words.

Here are five other suggestions if Mellencamp isn't available:

1 Bon Jovi: Would be perfect, but surely they're locked in for the 2014 game at the New Meadowlands in New Jersey.

2 Kanye West: Chicago-raised West would be a great pick if he wasn't so unpredictable. You're never sure what you're going to get with him (ask Taylor Swift), which probably makes him too risky for the NFL.

3 Midwest Rock Spectacular: How good would it be to trot out some of the classic Midwest rockers for an old-fashioned hard rock hootenanny? REO Speedwagon, Ted Nugent, Cheap Trick and Head East could crank out the hits and pay tribute to a bygone era in rock and roll.

4 Foo Fighters: Great songs, good stage presence and not too offensive. The only question is do they have a broad enough appeal?

5 Pearl Jam: Arguably the best big band in America at the moment, Pearl Jam are arena veterans who put on a superb live show. But they may not have enough recognisable "hits" and front man Eddie Vedder could be a little too intense for Super Bowl Sunday.