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Hold on
tight! Rihanna didn't hold back as she performed
at London's Twickenham Stadium
on Saturday night
|
by Donna
McConnell
Appearing
on stage to song Phresh Off The Runway just before 9pm, Rihanna didn’t keep the
audience waiting too long – unlike the killer lines at the toilets in the
stadium.
Dressed in
Riccardo Tisci’s baroque style ‘batty rider’ shorts with a matching cloak of
invincibility it was soon very clear that Rihanna was not going to struggle to
project her personality in that huge space.
Rihanna
announced after the first song: 'What's up London? Are you enjoying yourself?
Well good, we are only getting f**king started.’
Racy!
Rihanna didn't hold back as she performed at London's Twickenham Stadium on
Saturday night, despite having her parents and brothers in the audience
Hold on
tight! Rihanna didn't hold back as she performed at London's Twickenham Stadium
on Saturday night
The girl
from Barbados soon broke out her signature moves, the gyrations seen in the
dancehalls and carnivals of the Caribbean. Complete with dancehall queen
crotch-grabbing and slapping, the uber-sexual singer who has enjoyed massive
worldwide success since moving to the US as a 16-year-old seeking success,
rattled through three of her hottest numbers; Phresh Off The Runway, Birthday
Cake, and Pour It Up as she kicked off her stadium show.
Like the
dancehall and carnival queens of the Caribbean, Rihanna is very aware of her
sexual power - onstage at least. She constantly thrusted and wined and touched
herself in a fashion instantly recognisable to those familiar with Jamaican
dancehall culture – but admittedly it might have proved confusing to some of
the younger members of the audience.
Rihanna displayed
an effortless rhythm and sensuality that completely worked with her music, and
entranced the audience. Songs such as Say My Name and Rude Boy were grinded out
on stage, and thankfully she had a very well rehearsed band featuring Nuno
Bettencourt, best known for his role as the lead guitarist of rock band Extreme
to give things an extra gear.
Bad gal:
The 25-year-old singer certainly didn't seem to be on her best behaviour, and
instead put on a particularly racy display involving plenty of crotch-grabbing
and swearing
Bad gal:
The singer certainly didn't seem to be on her best behaviour, and instead put
on a particularly racy display involving plenty of crotch-grabbing and swearing
And a
troupe of dancers that let’s face it, nobody was watching, as all eyes were on
Miss Robyn Fenty as she popped her booty and dipped it low.
It’s that
mix of Caribbean swagger and pop music that gives Rihanna her edge and
realising where her strengths lie, she certainly plays to them.
Not many
Caribbean girls make it to be global pop stars. Rihanna has much in common with
Jamaican born Grace Jones who came before her. She is fearless, lewd at times,
foulmouthed, edgy and a fashion trendsetter.
Strutting
her stuff: The Diamonds singer opted for a sexy ensemble for her performance,
teaming thigh-high leather boots with a sheer top and a visible bra
While her
oversharing on Instagram can be wearing, as a performer she has come of
age. Twickenham was like a mini-carnival
as fans and even grown men attempted to copy the carnival queen’s gyrations
while dancing in the crowd. Vocally she represented, and has certainly improved
since the Loud Tour.
Her joy at
performing to a sell-out crowd at Twickenham Stadium was touching and she
brought her whole family to see her upgrade to the big time asking the crowd to
say her name which she said would make her mother cry. She might also have
cried at her daughter’s potty mouth too.
The
ascendance of her career comes at a time when she has been through the
emotional mill due to her rekindling of doomed relationship with Chris Brown,
who now appears to have rather publicly returned to his ex-girlfriend Karreuche
Tran.
During song
Talk That Talk when Rihanna sang the line ‘And you will never get a girl like
me’ perhaps in reference to Brown she added a very loud: ‘Oh hell no!’
Working it!
Evidently not at all bothered by her family members in the audience, the pop
superstar writhed around on stage in a particularly racy display
Working it!
Rihanna put on a performance that felt like a carnival.
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| Rihanna in Bob Marley-shirt in Barbados |
Rihanna’s
visit comes a few weeks after pop behemoth Beyonce hit the UK. Beyonce had a
huge, tightly rehearsed and professional show, and there’s no doubting her work
ethic and skill. But what Rihanna lacks in routines she makes up for in mere
presence, moves you can actually copy and use on the dancefloor and that
onstage sensuality beloved by all her fans.
The concert
concluded with her biggest hits Only Girl in the World, Where Have You Been, We
Found Love, and ballads Stay and Diamonds.
At 25
Rihanna is selling out stadiums, cranking out hits and still has some years to
go before she has to put down the batty riders. A charmed life indeed.
[from Daily Mail Online,16 June 2013]
