# Rihanna halftime show **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** football-nfl, music\ **Created:** [February 13, 2023, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rihanna-halftime-show/979715 "2023-02-13T15:14:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rihanna-halftime-show/979715/61 "2023-02-13T18:23:33Z")
I recognized one song that’s on the GTAV soundtrack. I was really put off by the lip synching. Singers should sing. My other thought was: Golly, she’s pretty. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rihanna-halftime-show/979715/62 "2023-02-13T18:26:18Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Do you really consider it a “problem”, or is that just a phrase? Just a phrase. Indicating that my lack of Rihanna awareness is more a description of me than a description of her. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rihanna-halftime-show/979715/63 "2023-02-13T18:30:09Z")
I’m not proud of being ignorant of anything super popular. I just don’t listen to any radio stations that play super popular music.It’s not because of any idealistic rebellion against the mainstream. It’s just not my taste. That being said, I thought it was a pretty good show. I wasn’t wowed or disgusted. I’m not into Madonna or Lady Gaga either, but I thought their shows were excellent. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rihanna-halftime-show/979715/64 "2023-02-13T18:48:51Z")
Rihanna Rihanna RIHANNA NOT “Rhianna”. Sorry, but sheesh, that is bugging me. A thread specifically about this particular celebrity and half the posters can’t even bother to spell her name correctly? Not even the OP? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rihanna-halftime-show/979715/65 "2023-02-13T18:55:49Z")
Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rihanna-halftime-show/979715/66 "2023-02-13T18:57:05Z")
Thank You. I wasn’t going to be that guy. 🙂 Also, her first name is Robyn. > **[Rihanna](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rihanna)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > > > > Robyn Rihanna Fenty NH (/riˈænə/ (listen) ree-AN-ə;\[n 1\] born February 20, 1988) is a Barbadian singer, actress, and businesswoman. Born in Saint Michael and raised in Bridgetown, Barbados, Rihanna auditioned for American record producer Evan Rogers who invited her to the United States to record demo tapes. After signing with Def Jam in 2005, she soon gained recognition with the release of her first two studio albums, Music of the Sun (2005) an... ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rihanna-halftime-show/979715/67 "2023-02-13T18:58:09Z")
Hell - half the time I was doing well not writing Rhiannon! I’ll do my best to remember. Surprised it to 60 posts. Previously, I got grief for calling the performer The Weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rihanna-halftime-show/979715/68 "2023-02-13T19:01:04Z")
I don’t mind being that guy. I shouldn’t have implied that anybody was being deliberately discourteous rather than just honestly mistaken, but I think we should try to spell people’s names right. (If it’s confusing, just think “Hanna Rhode Island”, a la Hannah Montana: “R. I. Hanna”.) (and don’t spell Gandhi “Ghandi” where I can see you, either. ty.) ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rihanna-halftime-show/979715/69 "2023-02-13T19:03:12Z")
Thank you as well, since I was one of the offenders, I just followed the spelling in the title, and while I thought it looked odd, it didn’t quite hit me until I made the effort to look it up. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rihanna-halftime-show/979715/70 "2023-02-13T19:06:55Z")
I’m a fan and got it wrong! Because I also copied the thread title name. Didn’t even think to look it up. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rihanna-halftime-show/979715/71 "2023-02-13T19:08:26Z")
And you even called her Ri-Ri . 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rihanna-halftime-show/979715/72 "2023-02-13T19:10:37Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Previously, I got grief for calling the performer The Weekend. I would have done the same. I had to google it to see what you did wrong. I must say yesterday’s show was 10x better than The Weeknd. (in my subjective opinion, of course) ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rihanna-halftime-show/979715/73 "2023-02-13T19:11:23Z")
HA! I did! Because Ri-Ri is so much easier to spell. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rihanna-halftime-show/979715/74 "2023-02-13T19:13:07Z")
The Weeknd, I blame THEM, they would have known they’d be at war with every spellchecker on every device. ---
**Author:** ![keopsyd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@keopsyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keopsyd)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rihanna-halftime-show/979715/75 "2023-02-13T19:36:03Z")
They were strapped to the rings at the bottom of the platforms. I had been wondering how they kept their balance as they were going up and down until I saw the cables. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rihanna-halftime-show/979715/76 "2023-02-13T20:14:58Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > > [@Paintcharge](#): > > > > All I was thinking about were the OSHA violations. Moving platforms with no side rails? > > She was tethered, like all the others who were on those platforms. You could see the tether behind her. If she happened to fall she would not go far and would not have fallen off the platform. I was watching for when she left the platform, and sure enough, one of the dancers behind her snuck up and unclipped her so she could walk around - clearly planned. I don’t pay attention to this stuff that much but I am sure at some point she will be asked about the performance and will reveal how she felt about the height of the platform and how safety was done That’s exactly what I assumed, and that that was the reason for the bulky costumes she and the dancers wore. At first, I thought she would do the whole performance on the platform, and thought that was an elegant way to put on a show without messing up the field. I wonder if a future SB halftime show director will think of that? I’m not really a fan - just don’t particularly care for that type of music - and expected to skip the show. But I found myself watching and enjoying the whole thing. Her voice is pleasant, and I am always mesmerized by good dancing. This wasn’t as good as last year’s rap classics, but better than I expected. I might check out her music; the only song I’d heard of was “Umbrella”, from Tom Holland’s amazing performance on _Lip Synch Battles_. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rihanna-halftime-show/979715/77 "2023-02-13T20:33:56Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > I might check out her music; the only song I’d heard of was “Umbrella” You may have also heard “Please Don’t Stop the Music” and/or “We Found Love.” Also “Rude Boy” and “Work” seemed to be around everywhere for a time. Now, I spend a lot of time at wedding receptions, so I probably hear more of her music than average. (I hear all of those more often than “Umbrella” these days, though I did hear “Umbrella” on the radio last week.) “Love on the Brain” is a great one if you’re looking for more of a soul/r&b kind of vibe rather than a Top 40 dance vibe. That’s the one I would point people to if they don’t like the more modern stylings of most of her hits. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rihanna-halftime-show/979715/78 "2023-02-13T20:36:40Z")
And if you saw Wakanda Forever, you probably heard this at the end. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Mx_OexsUI2M/maxresdefault.jpg "Rihanna - Lift Me Up (From Black Panther: Wakanda Forever)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mx_OexsUI2M) ETA: Or was it Born Again? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/N2S4rrlZKM8/maxresdefault.jpg "Rihanna - Born Again Lyrics (from Black Panther Wakanda Forever Soundtrack)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2S4rrlZKM8) ETA again: It was both. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rihanna-halftime-show/979715/79 "2023-02-13T21:55:27Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I must say yesterday’s show was 10x better than The Weeknd. (in my subjective opinion, of course) I recall after that show, tons of people commenting on how profound and moving it was. Whereas my old white self was just asking “WTF was THAT?!” I’d like to see some more pics on how Rihanna got onto the platform in the first place. I assume some set of catwalks up in the top of the dome. Bt that must’ve been quite a production to get the hanging platforms and people in position during the relatively short halftime-prep window. [This article](https://www.wired.com/story/super-bowl-rihanna-halftime-tech-flying/) says the fragile grass was a prime reason for the flying platforms. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rihanna-halftime-show/979715/80 "2023-02-13T21:59:26Z")
My favorite Rihanna song is “Bitch Better Have My Money” and I mentioned to my family that it’s my favorite but I’m sure she won’t play it. But she opened with it! Minus the “bitch.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rihanna-halftime-show/979715.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rihanna-halftime-show/979715.md?page=5)