Rihanna's Super Bowl Halftime 2023
On September 25, 2022, the NFL announced Rihanna being the headliner of the 2023 Super Bowl Halftime Show. Shortly after, Rihanna released her new single Lift Me Up on October 28, 2022; her latest release since her ANTI album in 2016. After eight years of being absent from the music scene, Rihanna is coming back with a grand entrance. How will this long duration of being away from the scene affect her performance at the Super Bowl Halftime?
Rihanna has spent her time away from the music industry working on her business, Fenty, and being pregnant with her and A$AP Rocky’s child. With the Super Bowl happening almost nine months after her pregnancy, there is some room to argue whether her performance at half time would be the same quality as her previous performances.
Super Bowl LVII takes place on February 12, 2022. With it only being a little more than two months away, I have my personal concerns about the quality of her performance. I don’t doubt her talent as far as singing and vocals. However, I am concerned about her performance. If Rihanna does plan to do any kind of choreography, her stamina might not be as it was before considering her recent pregnancy. There’s a constant questioning of if it’s safe or healthy to be extremely active and push oneself after experiencing a huge strain on one’s body.
This constriction, however, opens numerous possibilities for her choice in performance style. Rihanna could opt for a more relaxed style of performing or add special effects to make up for a lack of mobility . The only issue with that would be if those substitutes would match her song choices. Rihanna is known for making pop music; though she does have some calm songs, those songs can’t make up the majority of the Super Bowl Halftime. Creating a show that matches the energy of her songs could prove to be difficult.
Overall, I’m still excited to watch Rihanna’s performance at halftime. Though I have some concerns, it only makes me more curious and excited to see what she comes up with.
By Kayla Beasley