Every year, the Super Bowl creeps up on me during the first weeks of February. Although I am a junior in college and have been to multiple football games, I hardly understand it nor do I really care for it. I only watch the commercials and halftime shows like many others across the nation. The Super Bowl performances are always phenomenal, and this year RiRi did not disappoint.Â
As someone who is a self-proclaimed Rihanna stan, I truly believe no one was more thrilled for this year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show than myself. I was already overwhelmingly excited for her return to music, with her recent single for the film, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Not to mention, Rihanna was my #1 artist on Spotify this year and I was in her top 1 percent of listeners, despite her not putting out a new album since 2016. That being said, I think my credentials demonstrate just how devoted I am to Rihanna.Â
Like many other Rihanna fans, I have been waiting on R9, Rihanna’s ninth studio album, which has been “in the works” for many years now. The artist has said the album would be available by now and has hinted at its release in the past. However, in a recent interview, Rihanna stated that the album is just not ready yet and there isn’t a set date for its release. R9 has become a bit of a gag that is poked fun at by the Navy, Rihanna’s fanbase, as well as other celebrities and artists in the industry. At this year’s Golden Globes, host Jerrod Carmichael said “I’m gonna say something controversial—I will actually get in trouble for this. Rihanna, you take all the time you want on that album, girl,” he said jokingly. “Don’t let these fools on the internet pressure you into nothing!” Rihanna laughed along to host Jerrod Carmichael’s joke.
I have been playing the waiting game with Miss Badgirlriri for far too long. I know she’s been cooking up something good for her fans and I just can’t wait to see what it could be. The ads with the Super Bowl released in collaboration with Apple Music were extremely exciting. The first of which is entitled, “Rihanna is Back,” which brings attention to the fact that she has been away from the music industry for several years. The more recent ad which was released last Thursday is entitled, “Run This Town” and depicts a younger version of the superstar back in her hometown of the Caribbean island, Barbados. Rihanna’s Super Bowl performance was her first live performance in over five years, her most recent being the 2018 Grammys. Although RiRi has said she’s not ready to drop an album as of right now, her return to the music industry is extremely exciting and it’s more than we’ve had in recent years. I’m still hoping that she will release more music when the time is right. That being said, I’ve already waited seven years, I guess I can wait some more.
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