The much-anticipated appearance by Rihanna at the Super Bowl halftime show on February 12 came and went, but it certainly made an impression, particularly given that the pop diva used the performance to reveal to the world that she is expecting a second child.
After years of declining the NFL’s request to perform at the halftime show, Rihanna explained in an interview published on February 15 why she changed her mind and accepted the prestigious position.
Rihanna said that there is “still a lot of healing to be done in my eyes” about the manner in which the National Football League handled Colin Kaepernick. “However, the ability to break down those walls and to have representation on such a high, high level as well as on a constant basis is quite powerful.
Two consecutive Super Bowls, each one a representation of the metropolitan communities throughout the world, it packs quite a punch. It conveys a really powerful message to the audience.”
One of the most significant factors that influenced Rihanna’s decision to accept the offer was the fact that she had just became a mother (Rihanna and her boyfriend A$AP Rocky became parents for the first time in May 2022).
“One of the most daunting tasks in life is that of being responsible for the upbringing of a young black guy, you’re thinking things like, “What am I exposing my children to?” Is this the planet where they’re going to make their home?’ When you put all of those elements together, you really start to feel it in a new way.”
Rihanna’s experience as a mother has given her the confidence to tackle any challenge, and she even performed at the Super Bowl when she was pregnant, despite the fact that she hadn’t originally intended to do so when she took the contract.
“It’s having the confidence that you can do anything, even the things that seem impossible, like asking yourself, “Am I really going to say yes to coming to the Super Bowl when I’m in the midst of postpartum?” What the devil am I considering doing?
A task such as that, however, excites you since you are aware of what your body has just accomplished, you get the impression that “Nothing is impossible,” and it motivates you. It seemed very much like I was having an out-of-body experience.
Seven years have passed since the last time I performed on stage. The last seven years From nothing to Super Bowl? That’s really insane.”
One of Rihanna’s primary worries leading up to the big event was precisely the same as that of her audience members: which songs will she play during her performance? The famous singer made this admission on February 9 at a press conference she had with Apple Music.
“The set list was the toughest issue,” she said. “That was the toughest, hardest part,” she revealed, referring to determining how to make the most of 13 minutes while simultaneously celebrating.
“That is exactly what this event is going to be, it’s going to be a celebration of my catalog in the finest manner that we could’ve put it together,” the artist said. Rihanna said that it was challenging since she had to “cram 17 years of effort into 13 minutes.”
The singer said that she is aware of the gravity of the situation about her headlining event — “representing not just Barbados but also Black women everywhere else all over the world. That is of the utmost significance.
That is really necessary for people to comprehend the opportunities.”
She also addressed the persistent need for information on whether or if she would release new music beyond her most recent single and when she will do it.
She said, “I’m feeling open to exploring, discovering, and creating things that are new, things that are different, things that are off, weird, and might not ever make sense to my fans and the people that know the music I put out.
I simply want to go out and have fun. I want to enjoy myself while listening to music.”