If you sat down to indulge in Rihanna’s Super Bowl half-time performance expecting it to be bad, you must have gotten confused during her time away from the stage — dabbling with multi-million dollar businesses and motherhood — and forgotten who she was.
When the camera cut to Rihanna, her eyes piercing daggers through her brows, it was immediately clear what kind of performance this would be.
The focus is on her — as if the cameraman got lost in her gaze and was quickly snapped back into reality by the familiar “YAYO” of the command for her cash.
The screen zooms out, revealing two things: her iconic and unending fashion sense, and her pregnant belly. I don’t know about anyone else, but I audibly gasped.
Like any good half-time performance of this caliber, there will be key factors in play to enhance the viewing experience. The first being her outfit.
Let’s start with her red lip — no doubt a Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint in shade Uncensored, matched perfectly with a shiny breastplate and oversized red jumpsuit. Her hand cradles her belly, which is purposefully on display, as she rocks back and forth to the start of her hit, “B**** Better Have My Money.” It’s chic, it’s trendy, it’s Rihanna.
The second factor won’t surprise you: Riri is in the air. Now, I’m not talkin’ Gaga-style, where she leaps from the rim of the Super Bowl arena, suspended by a harness, and lands on her stage.
No, Rihanna is suspended on a moving platform, alongside her entourage of dancers. But from her cool expression, you would think she was standing in her own living room.
As iconic as Gaga’s performance was, that just isn’t Rihanna. It never has been. Even if she wasn’t pregnant, her performance would have the same feel. It’s difficult to describe, but you know it when you see it.
Aside from her unmatched stage presence, her voice has never sounded better. Only she could stroll across an elaborate stage, pausing briefly to dance to her perfectly blended medley of songs you wouldn’t skip if they queued up in your car, and deliver a memorable performance while barely breaking a sweat. Though, she touched up her makeup in a shameless Fenty Beauty plug halfway through. As she should.
Like the beginning of the performance, Rihanna remains the focus throughout its entirety. There are no featured artists like in previous shows, and that’s because she doesn’t need them.
Rihanna doesn’t need features, hairography or elaborate dances to pad her performance. She proved that on stage.
Her dancers, who did an incredible job bringing intensity and emotion when required, only aided her performance.
Despite their stark white outfits and unified movements, they did not overpower her. In fact, only by watching a second time was I able to give them my full attention, and they deserve credit for their role, as well.
Rihanna’s entire performance felt like a statement to the world that she’s still got it. Her absence from the music scene has not gone unnoticed, but since taking over the beauty and lingerie industries, people have downplayed her ability behind the mic.
Let’s be real — Rihanna has neither made nor been featured in a bad song. There was no way it could have been a bad performance.
The Chiefs may have won the Super Bowl, but we all won by experiencing Rihanna’s return to the stage.