Review by Charlie Okeke

“Don’t act like you forgot." Trust me, Rihanna, we did not. A disappointing night for Philly, but a spectacular night for The Navy (Rihanna’s fanbase). In her first onstage performance in almost seven years, Rihanna completed a bucket list item some artists only dream of. 

The nine-time Grammy-winning artist began her setlist with a reveal. Rihanna is now pregnant with her second child; last May she and longtime partner A$AP Rocky welcomed their first son. The show began with an edited version of her hit song "*... Better Have My Money” before transitioning into her most popular hits including, “Where Have You Been,” “Umbrella,” “Pour it Up” and more. She ended her electrifying performance with an elevated (literally; she was on a platform dangling from the stadium) rendition of her smash-hit “Diamonds.” She also sang “All of the Lights,” a popular but unexpected song for her to play, since its creator is Kanye West, who has been completely shunned out of the public eye due to offensive and inappropriate comments. 

Overall, Rihanna had a performance that reminded everyone exactly why she is regarded as one of the best performers and vocalists of the generation. She was one of the few halftime artists to perform solo, bringing out zero guests over the course of the show. That fact alone shows you the sheer amount of stage presence she has. The Super Bowl Halftime show is said to be one of, if not the, biggest stage for any artist. Rihanna did it alone. Now whether this means new music is on the way or she she will return to private life, one thing is for certain: Rihanna will never be forgotten.