This year, Rihanna is the real winner of the Super Bowl

ILLUSTRATION BY LAUREN ADAMS

In September, Rihanna took to Instagram to announce she would be headlining the Super Bowl Halftime Show. It was news that many fans were shocked to hear since the singer was adamant about not performing in the show after taking a stand with other NFL players against police brutality.

Yet, Rihanna took to the stage last night, playing many of her hit songs while also proving that her performance would top the Super Bowl game itself. What made the performance a surprise was the singer’s subtle pregnancy announcement as she sported an all-red look, which made the show all the more memorable.

As many questioned what song Rihanna would open with, she played her fan-favorite, “B**** Better Have My Money,” her vocals confidently ringing out across the stadium as she sang from a high-rise see-through platform. As the platform slowly lowered towards the main stage, which was packed with an array of dancers in white puffer jackets and pants, Rihanna transitioned into the DJ-esque, “Where Have You Been.”

If the energy couldn’t be lifted even more, the crowd continued to get rowdier as Rihanna and the dancers started performing in sync, using similar choreography from her iconic 2016 MTV Video Music Award performance. With only such a short time, she quickly moved into “Only Girl (In The World),” with hints of songs “What’s My Name (feat. Drake)” and “S&M.”

Instantly bringing fans back to the mid2010s, Rihanna also sang “We Found Love (feat. Calvin Harris)” and “Rude Boy,” her confidence blooming. You could tell that the singer felt in her element, smiling and interacting with her dancers as she grooved along to the beat. With a swagger unlike previous halftime shows, she also truly proved her overall coolness with “Work (feat. Drake)” and “Wild Thoughts (feat. Bryson Tiller and DJ Khaled),” unafraid to be sensual as a new and expecting mother in her 30s.

The audience was thrown into a club-like atmosphere as soon as the lights dropped and turned red all around the singer as she belted “Pour It Up,” but one of the most iconic parts of the show was when Rihanna boldly went through with singing “All of the Lights” and “Run This Town,” two songs fans were unsure if the singer would perform because of the recent controversial acts of collaborator and rapper Kanye West. Luckily, the songs didn’t turn the set sour, with Rihanna not even losing her cool or breaking a sweat, not even including West’s parts from the songs.

Sadly, no guest appearances were made during the next song, “Umbrella (feat. Jay-Z),” but the set around Rihanna illuminated the singer as she began to rise above the stage again as her 13-minute run time began to get down to its final minutes.

Ending the show with a banger, “Diamonds,” the whole stadium was filled with white light. Rihanna’s band and dancers held up lights, as well as the audience, as she stripped down one of her most beloved songs. It was the perfect way to end her long-anticipated performance, proving to the U.S. that even though she hasn’t released an album in seven years, Rihanna’s music catalog is still timeless, as well as her effortless swag and beauty.

All in all, Rihanna killed it, and her Super Bowl Halftime show will go down in history as being one of the best performances alongside highly acclaimed performers such as Prince and Beyoncé, especially during one of the most boring Super Bowl games in the last few years.