It has been FIVE YEARS since pop and r&b superstar, Rihanna, performed live and SEVEN years since she released an album of her own. FINALLY, Ms. RiRi gave us an incredible, 13-minute live performance full of her biggest hits, a crowd of 80 background dancers, the best facial expressions, giant moving platforms, and more. Oh yeah, and there was a football game going on too.
Rihanna’s perfectly simple announcement on September 25, 2022, that she’d be performing the 2023 Super Bowl Halftime show. No caption needed 💁🏾♀️
Watch her full performance here!
Now, let’s get into it. Here’s everything I loved about Rihanna’s iconic performance:
- Badgal Riri Herself
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We already knew Rihanna had flawless, stunning vocals, that’s no surprise. But with this being the singer’s first live performance in a while, I was not expecting to see so much of her personality too.
Queen was making the best facial expressions. She knows she was killing it. You can see it right there on her face, and I’m here for it.
And let’s hear some commotion for the OUTFIT!
Rihanna didn’t have any dramatic outfit changes, which was a disappointment to some. She rocked an all-red flight suit with a matching catsuit and sculpted leather bandeau underneath all night. And of course, it was a costume designed by her own luxury labels Loewe and Alaïa.
At the start of “All of the Lights” (around 8:30), a dancer hands Rihanna a compact mirror and she fixes her makeup. Suchhh a cute moment.
Another sweet moment was at 9:42 when RiRi fist-bumped the guitarist as she walked across the stage. <33
For the last couple of songs, Rihanna added a massive — still red — puffy coat and gloves before she stepped up onto the platform and flew into the air like the angel she is.
- The Setlist
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Rihanna revealed in a media preview on Thursday that deciding on the set list was the most challenging part of the Super Bowl process. When you’ve got so many hits, have millions of fans all hoping to hear their favorites and only 13 minutes on stage, it has to be difficult. Rihanna said in the same preview, the list they landed on is, “a celebration of my catalog in the best way that we could have put it together.”
It was absolutely STACKED.
She opened with “B**** Better Have My Money,” then transitioned into “Where Have You Been” with hints of “Phresh Out the Runway.” After that, Rih referenced “Cockiness (I Love it)” before belting out (my favorite) “Only Girl (In The World).”
I totally did not tear up when she sang that 👀
From there, she went straight into “We Found Love” with traces of “S&M” in the backing vocals. Then, with the help of some awesome camera work, some of the dancers got a little feature at the start of “Rude Boy.” The classic, iconic “Work” was next, immediately followed by “Wild Thoughts.”
“Pour It Up” also featured incredible camerawork and came after a quick break for Rihanna to walk across the stage and soak in the applause.
The lights got suddenly significantly brighter, and the intro to Kanye West’s “All of the Lights” played. I don’t know about you, but I had honestly totally forgotten Rihanna was on that track. And she slayed.
After that, Rih walked away from her dancers to take center stage by herself for “Run This Town.”
Dancers helped her onto the middle platform, and “Umbrella” began as Rihanna was lifted up into the air. This was probably my actual favorite moment.
Then, to close, Rihanna chose a stunning “Diamonds.” The dancers left all the stages, all attention was on Rihanna, who was soaring. The fans in the stands all held up flashlights, and fireworks were bursting in the background, which made for the most amazing picture.
- The Set
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Rihanna’s set featured a long, bright red stage and five floating silver platforms that were raised and lowered throughout the performance. It was seriously brilliant.
- Choreography
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The dancers were absolutely ON 👏🏼 POINT 👏🏼
Dressed similarly to Rihanna, but in puffy, all-white ensembles, these 80 background dancers were truly doing the most.
- ASL Interpreter
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She popped off! 20-year-old Justina Miles interpreted the entire (13-minute!) halftime show as well as the pregame performances.
- My boyfriend and his FRIENDS knowing every song
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The boys went craaaazy for Umbrella.
- (SUbtle-ish) Pregnancy Announcement!!!
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Following LOTS of speculation on social media and in every house watching Rihanna’s performance, one of Rihanna’s spokespeople confirmed: the singer IS pregnant with her second child!
- Honorable mention:
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SHERYL LEE RAlph
For the first time ever, the Black National Anthem was performed live at the Super Bowl, and who better to take on the challenge than Broadway, film, and TV legend, Sheryl Lee Ralph? Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous!
Ralph herself even tweeted about her excitement with a gif of her “Abbot Elementary” character. ❤️
So basically, years without performing or releasing music hasn’t affected Rihanna’s performance a BIT. The 34-year-old legend can still bring the world’s biggest stages down. Though, it looks like we’ll have to wait a while longer for more music. But honestly, she just blessed us with this performance, Rihanna can take her time, she deserves it!