“We Found Love” in Rihanna’s 2023 halftime show performance. The nine time Grammy winner, twelve time Billboard Music Award winner, and thirteen time American Music Awards winner stole the show at the LVII Super Bowl halftime show. With twelve songs, a floating platform, and pregnancy announcement, this halftime show was truly one to remember.

After a nearly seven year hiatus from live performances, Rihanna’s halftime show was highly anticipated. It was rumored that she was asked to perform at the show in 2018, but ultimately turned it down to support Colin Kaepernick in protesting against racial inequality.

Her most recent album is titled “Anti,” and was released in 2016. Since then, her most recent song, “Lift Me Up” was released on October 28, 2022 for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. She did not play this song during her performance, and opted for her older, more nostalgic and well-known songs.
During an interview with Apple Music, the “Diamonds” singer shared that the hardest part was “deciding how to maximize 13 minutes but also celebrate.”

“You’re trying to cram 17 years of work into 13 minutes, so it’s difficult,” she added.

This show was especially unique as it was the first halftime performance sponsored by Apple Music. Pepsi has been the sponsor of the halftime show since 2012, and according to theverge.com, “the deal comes as Apple and other streaming service operators are increasingly looking to sports as a source of growth.”

The show started off with the hit single,”B**** Better Have My Money” where Rihanna is first seen in a monochromatic red outfit. Fans speculated as to if the red was purposeful to show her support for the Chiefs, or if it was pre-planned before the teams were announced.

As she rises up on a glowing platform, her backup dancers, in white, puffy outfits, appear on tiered platforms next to her and the stage below her.

With a seamless transition into “Where Have You Been,” she lowers down and joins her dancers in small, simple movements. Here is when fans started to get suspicious of a potential pregnancy announcement. Her gentle steps and hand gestures around her stomach did not go unnoticed.

She remains floating on the platform for “Only Girl in the World,” and is lowered to the stage as fireworks explode with the beginning beats of “We Found Love.” Again, she does very limited movement and the camera focuses on her backup dancers.

“Rude Boy” and “Work” were performed next, and unique, intricate choreography was featured. The dancers slowly surround the popstar on both sides, with interesting formations and illusions.

“Wild Thoughts” plays next as Rihanna struts down the center of the stage to her spot during “Pour It Up.” During this song, she both sits and dances.

To many fans’ surprise, “All of the Lights” was sung next. Since it’s a collaboration with Kanye West, it was not predicted to be included in the set list. Backup dancers run across and flood the field. Here, she is seen “fixing” her makeup with Fenty Beauty (her makeup brand) products.

After “All of the Lights,” were “Run This Town” and “Umbrella.” For “Umbrella,” the white stage lights turn blue, and she is seen in a large, red hooded cape.

She closes off with arguably her most known song, “Diamonds.” She lights up the stage and slowly rises for her exit. Shortly after her performance, her representative, Amanda Silverman, confirmed the pregnancy rumors. Little has been shared about the pregnancy, but fans suspect she is past the four-month mark.

The 2023 Super Bowl halftime performance was very memorable. Rihanna, as always, put on an entertaining and fun show.