After an almost seven-year hiatus, Rihanna took the stage at the 2023 Superbowl halftime show. Fans were very excited to see her return, and she did not disappoint. Although many people have thought that her show was underwhelming, I disagree completely. I think that the lack of costume changes or celebrity guests helped the viewers focus on the most important part of the show: the celebration of music. 

Opening with “B***h Better Have My Money,” Rihanna is back and better than ever. Continually, in a surprising turn of events, Rihanna revealed her second pregnancy during the show. She went through many fan-favorite songs, including: “Umbrella,” “Only Girl in The World,” “We Found Love,” and more. Floating on a mirrored platform, Rihanna wore a gorgeous cherry-red puffer jacket and matching pants. Her backup dancers wore similar costumes but were dressed in white instead. 

The physical ground-stage matched Rihanna’s outfit, which I thought was an amazing choice. Rihanna also used mirrored floating platforms throughout most of the show. Some people did speculate that the floating platforms may have been used in order to keep Rihanna and her dancers off the field, while season-long debates on turf or grass continue. Throughout the season, players have argued that the fields need to be kept in pristine condition in order to play their best. Many players are even saying that they want to switch the fields to grass instead of the classic turf. 

After not putting out any new music or performing, Rihanna released two new singles for the “Black Panther” soundtrack. Although she hasn’t put out much music, Rihanna has still continued to strengthen her business ventures. Continually, Rihanna’s makeup line, Fenty, has become very popular since its 2017 launch. Users of the Fenty line continuously rave about the products. Rihanna even flashed her makeup brand while doing a quick touch-up during the show.

She faced little criticism for her performance compared to halftime shows of years past. I thought that it was a refreshing change from previous years’ spectacles to have the show be about the artist. Viewers definitely felt the confidence of Rihanna and her abilities during the show. Rihanna didn’t need flashy costume changes or big-name special guests to make her show incredible. She can do that all by herself.