After nearly seven years since her last big performance, Rihanna delivered a refined, memorable halftime show at the Superbowl LVII. 

Though some critics say her performance was underwhelming, I found it to be an incredible mix of her 12 most iconic songs, transitioning seamlessly from each number with simple, yet mesmerizing visuals. 

I loved the lineup and honestly didn’t realize that I knew so many of Rihanna’s songs. I was nostalgic the whole time and now want to listen to songs that I haven’t played in years like “Where Have You Been?” and of course “Umbrella.”  

While some people prefer flashier acts, I enjoyed how the simplicity of the performance highlighted Rihanna’s vocal talent rather than distracting from it. 

The opening image of the floating platforms was really powerful like she was in command, and you could tell how excited Rihanna was to be performing for such a big audience again. I liked her outfit, too. It wasn’t a crazy costume but it still made a statement. 

Prior to the show at the Superbowl Press Conference, Rihanna shared how much effort she put into making this year’s performance a strong return to music, saying that even though the scale of this performance was the largest she’s seen since 2016, there was “something exhilarating about the challenge of it all,” and I found her hard work definitely paid off. 

The show was choreographed by 2022 Emmy winner Parris Goebel, who also choreographed JLo’s 2020 Halftime performance. Goebel previously worked with Rihanna at a Fenty Runway event in 2020. 

The dancers were very in-sync, with high energy and attention to detail through all 13 minutes of the show. The choreography was very intricate but they made it look easy. Their outfits weren’t my favorite, but they added to the unison and simplicity of the overall picture. 

The moving platforms had me on the edge of my seat. The choreography was hard enough on the ground, let alone 15-60 feet in the air. While Rihanna was stationary and secured by a pole, the dancers were only attached by a rope, which was nerve-wracking but all the more impressive. I could sometimes see their platforms shaking which had to be terrifying, but they still danced full out like nothing was happening. 

Rihanna’s quick Fenty Beauty flex was sneaky but so clever, not only showing off what she’s been working on during her hiatus from the music industry but also promoting her already successful makeup line.

Leading up to the show, Rihanna dropped hints about how she might bring a “special guest.” Many people were disappointed that Jay-Z didn’t come out during “Run This Town”, and that instead it was confirmed that the singer is expecting her second child with partner ASAP Rocky.

I, however, thought this announcement was adorable; again, very subtle yet important to her, especially considering that her son was one of her biggest motivations in preparing for the Halftime show. 

“When you become a mom there’s something that just happens where you feel you could take on the world, you can do anything,” Rihanna said.

Overall, I really enjoyed this Halftime performance. I can understand how some people might have found it more plain than past shows, but I loved the simplicity of it all. Rihanna sounded great, the dancers looked clean, and I’m excited to see what else she has planned for the future.