The Super Bowl Halftime Show is the zeitgeist of our time — the last true spectacle that can provide years of conversation fodder for people with even the tiniest pop culture inclinations. In September of last year, when Rihanna, one of the biggest artists of all time, was announced as the Halftime Show performer, I thought it was going to be the performance of a lifetime. However, if you saw my Instagram story the night of Feb. 12, then you know that I was severely disappointed by her performance. The long-awaited comeback of the artist with nine Grammys and 14 number-one hits felt less like a crowning achievement and more like a kiss goodbye to any dreams of Rihanna one day returning to her musical glory.
I am not here now to reopen last week’s wounds and belabor my grievances. What I will do is explain why exactly I was so disappointed and suggest areas where I was maybe a bit harsh. In the past 10 years, the standard for performing the Halftime Show has been set unbelievably high. If you don’t believe me, then watch Beyonce’s, Katy Perry’s, Lady Gaga’s, or Jennifer Lopez and Shakira’s shows. This background, paired with the understanding that Rihanna is in a league of her own, culminated in a perfect storm of impossibly high expectations that made my first viewing of her show quite underwhelming. I was disappointed by the lack of energy, set changes, costume changes and crowd interaction. Additionally, the set list seemed a bit overstuffed and incoherent, while lacking the heart that some of her earlier hits like “Pon de Replay”, “Don’t Stop The Music” and “SOS” could have provided.
However, one week later, I’m older and wiser. And after watching the show again with lower expectations, I realized it wasn’t nearly as bad as I originally thought. Sure, she didn’t have Beyonce’s flawless choreography or Katy Perry’s distinct visuals, but the continuous flow between songs was really captivating, and the dancers and aerial staging made for some really stunning effects — if you were able to take your eyes off of Rihanna for a moment. Starting the show by singing “Don’t act like you forgot, I call the shots, shots, shots” was an impeccable display of dominance that reminded everyone why she has remained one of the most popular artists in the world, despite not having released an album since 2016. Rihanna’s catalog is impossible to resist, and her performance came to life most when she seemed to be having some fun, like when she sang “Rude Boy” and “Where Have You Been.” “Diamonds” was a beautiful closer as she levitated — you know, like a diamond in the sky — but I wish her lead vocals had been turned up because she gets a bit drowned out by the backing track as the show comes to a close.
The most memorable part of the show may have been that it was perhaps the greatest pregnancy reveal in human history, all while really having nothing to do with the fact that she is pregnant. The message was simple: She’s expecting, but that’s not about to stop her from doing what she’s always done. It was a bit strange to me that there wasn’t one big revelatory moment a là Beyonce at the 2011 VMAs, and instead, most people were left squinting at the screen saying, “Wait, is she pregnant?” But this is Rihanna we are talking about, and she’s never been about the frills. So, while this show lacked the bombast and whimsy I had hoped for, I’m certain it will enter the Halftime Show hall-of-fame due to Rihanna’s star power alone. If I walk away with one sentiment, it’s this: Rihanna is one hell of a boss and a businesswoman for performing all thirteen minutes without a special guest and even stopping halfway to promote her beauty brand.
Eric Burchill '23 (he/him/his) is the Digital Director for the Campus. He previously served as a copyeditor and online editor.
Eric is from Palm Beach, FL and is majoring in Psychology with minors in Japanese and Religion. He loves horror movies, pop music, animals, Oreos, and Survivor.
