Soon, the wait will be over. A trailer for Rihanna’s Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show was made available on Apple Music on January 13. She will perform for the first time in five years on February 12 at the State Farm Stadium in Arizona, and Riri is proving that the wait was worthwhile.
In the 30-second teaser, Rihanna is seen walking down a white runway while the cries of fans and journalists for a new album play in the background. It’s been six years since the nine-time Grammy winner released an album, one voice remarked, adding, “Dude, Rihanna we’ve waited for you.” When Rihanna appears in the spotlight, she motions for everyone to quiet down as her 2016 hit song “Needed Me” starts to play.
Rihanna unveiled a Super Bowl-themed line for her Savage x Fenty brand in addition to the teaser to get the public pumped for the big event. The “Property of Fenty” logo can be found on multicoloured football jerseys, hoodies, sweatpants, and even an oversized T-shirt that reads, “RIHANNA CONCERT INTERRUPTED BY A FOOTBALL GAME WEIRD BUT WHATEVER.”
A startling image of Rihanna’s tattooed arm holding a football served as the announcement that she would perform as the lead act at the Super Bowl Halftime Show in September. Many people believed her Super Bowl performance also signalled the release of her new album, given how fans have been anticipating her ninth studio album since 2016, when she released Anti. Riri, however, put an end to those rumours by stating to the Associated Press in November that the Super Bowl and new music were two distinct events. She questioned, “Do you hear that, fans?” Because I knew they would believe my record was on the way, I exclaimed, “Oh my God, I need to get to work,” as soon as I revealed this.
While recording two songs for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, “Lift Me Up” and “Born Again,” Rihanna did release some new music in November that wasn’t tied to her album. The former, a remembrance of late Black Panther actor Chadwick Boseman, was nominated for Best Original Song at the Golden Globes but lost to “Naatu Naatu” from RRR. It is currently on the Oscars shortlist for the same category. Rihanna would join Phil Collins and Lady Gaga as the only performers to play at both the Super Bowl and the Oscars in the same year if nominated. Rihanna’s reign just won’t end.
