Here’s what we expect to happen during Rihanna’s Super Bowl Halftime Show

Whether you’re watching the most-anticipated concert in years or busy celebrating Janet Jackson Appreciation Day on Sunday, check back to see how our predictions went!

The Renaissance
The Renaissance Project
12 min readFeb 11, 2023

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Rihanna (Provided by Apple)

It’s happening: The one and only Rihanna is headlining the Super Bowl Halftime Show. You likely thought it was either inevitably going to happen, given that she’s one of the few biggest stars in pop music not to do it in the last two decades, or you thought it was never going to happen, given that Rihanna herself said she would be “a sellout” to do it in the past because of the NFL’s treatment of Colin Kaepernick.

Still, with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation producing the show and Apple Music taking over as the name sponsor and lead promoter of it from Pepsi, this is likely the most anticipated and momentous Halftime Show in years, especially for the headliner herself — as she is returning to the stage for the first time in at least 4 years, if not more as the sole headlining performer.

It may seem that the Halftime Show has been indicative of mainstream popular culture over the last 30 years since Michael Jackson headlined the first modern edition of the Halftime Show in 1993, but it wasn’t until last year that the headline performers were hip-hop rappers (not counting pop/hip-hop band Black Eyed Peas’ 2011 show, and the several years rappers showed up as music guests.)

Now, though, it seem the show is going to not only embrace hip-hop, but center it in a bid to bring the show into a new era — one absent of cheap sponsored themes like most of the 90s shows, but also not reliant on incorporating mainstream rock, like the shows ever since the MTV-led Halftime Show in 2004, where Nipplegate infamously occurred. Rock was somehow the “safe” choice of the NFL after that controversy exploded — not because the music is more responsible or less offensive than rap can be, but because it was predominated by old white men, who had been the NFL’s primary audience. Unique and younger pop acts (Beyonce, Bruno Mars, Katy Perry) broke in eventually and reinvigorated the show, but they still have had misses recently.

The times are different, now, and while the NFL has certainly put together interesting shows recently, at least in concept — Maroon 5, but with a Spongebob Intro (and no hip-hop acts initially, but only after pressure!); What if you have both J. Lo and Shakira?; What if Coldplay is the headliner, but not really? — but eventually, they were in need of a bold, but serious, show to maintain its reputation and relevancy. They went out and got the name that was available. We at The Renaissance Project previously said the NFL needed a hip-hop show, and soon; they did, and now they are passing the mantle further into hip-hop. Rihanna is still first and foremost a pop star, but she also embodies hip-hop culture more than nearly anyone else in modern times. She’s also the first, and perfect, headliner choice that will be clearly cognizant of the importance of digital and social media proficiency for the biggest concert in the world.

There is arguably no one of Rihanna’s musical credentials and stature who isn’t over the age of 60 that hasn’t done the Super Bowl at some point. It’s the most anticipated concert in the nation in recent years, and could go down as one of the most iconic shows of our times.

The Renaissance Project breaks down what we anticipate from the show, its impact, and our takes on Rihanna. If you’re not busy celebrating Janet Jackson Appreciation Day on Sunday, check back here to see what we got right from the show, which will be approximately at 8:00 PM EST (Super Bowl LVII festivities begin at 6:30 PM EST.).

— Juwan J. Holmes

Paul K. Barnes

Overview

Rihanna is an artist whose name I have been seeing for years, but not someone I would say I was listening to regularly on my own growing up. I remember hearing her singles all over the radio throughout middle school, but she wasn’t someone whose music I had on my tiny Samsung MP3 player. I remember gravitating more towards the more rap-esque songs in her discography like “Umbrella,” “Run This Town,” and “Pour It Up” — but then I was hearing her EDM/Pop influenced tracks everywhere and never got tired of them. Her entrepreneurial ventures are still truly exceptional and the epitome of “be the change you want to see” and I have nothing but praise for that.

Setlist Predictions

I think her setlist will focus more on the EDM/Pop based songs because of their accessibility to audiences and perfect use for performances in this setting. These include “We Found Love,” “Only Girl (In The World),” “Where Have You Been,” and “Don’t Stop The Music.” I feel like slower tempo tracks like “Stay,” “Take A Bow,” and “Love on the Brain” will be used to transition to more rap-esque songs like “Pour It Up,” “Bitch Better Have My Money,” and “Lemon.” For promotional purposes, I know “Lift Me Up” will be in there somewhere, and hopefully it’s at the transitional point instead of the end — so they don’t conclude the performance on a heavy emotional note.

Outfit & Stage Predictions

Even with a limited time on stage, I feel Rihanna will find a way to have a different look for most of the eras in her career that she showcases. I imagine her hair will be the key factor throughout all of this — and I would honestly be surprised if we don’t see a red wig appear. To coincide with the eras, I feel the stage will have a heavy digital factor to it, to showcase in the background how she has changed over the years in a less demanding yet equally visually stimulating way. I can visualize the stage having several sections to reinforce the idea of the eras being separate too.

Possible Guest Performers

Eminem seems like a shoe-in for a surprise guest, considering how many hits they have together — but the same could be said for Drake. The ones with Em were massive, but the ones with Drake centered their relationship aspect, which has made for big headlines in the past. Calvin Harris or David Guetta could appear in a DJ booth during moments where she performs one of their collabs together, since they produced was her preferred sound for an era. If A$AP Rocky does make an appearance it could be for a) a new collaborative song they have or b) to stand beside her as he holds their baby to solidify this is the era she’s in now — motherhood.

Outro

I think Rihanna will continue to raise the bar for women with years-long careers, but aren’t yet legacy acts. She’s reached a point where the new generation of entertainers grew up listening or admiring her. As someone who does everything with intention, I can see her work and techniques being mirrored all throughout the coming years. She is the blueprint for an artist who expanded beyond the music and found immense success — d this performance is another section on her forever legendary resume.

Paul K. Barnes is a music journalist and an editor for The Renaissance Project.

Jovan Cole

Overview

My experience with Rihanna started in 2005 with her hit song “Pon de Replay.” My sister was a big Rihanna fan at the time, and she had her debut album Music of the Sun on CD. Hearing Rihanna around my house after school gave me a brief introduction to her sound at a young age. When I would get picked up by the school bus, her songs were everywhere on the radio. As the years went on, big singles like “What’s my Name,” “Rude Boy,” and “Diamonds” became ingrained in my brain. I find it really cool that she started branching out with her creativity and started her beauty fashion brand, Fenty. Her headlining ofthe Super Bowl will be an interesting performance, considering she’s been absent from music for 7 years. How will she reinvent herself as a music artist and bring her old classic hits into a new wave of sound?

Setlist Predictions

I think she’ll perform a medley perfectly balanced between her older songs and newer ones. It would be cool to hear her songs where she’s the feature added into the mix, even if it’s just for the chorus or verse. My predicted setlist is:

Work

Wild Thoughts

Pon de Replay

Umbrella

Lemon

We Found Love

Bitch Better Have My Money

Loyalty

Diamonds

Run this town

Rude Boy

What’s My Name?

Outfit & Stage Predictions

Since it is the Super Bowl, I think whatever she’s doing stylistically has to stand out. I can see her going with a black & white color palette or even a muted/ pastel palette. Looking at her performance history, she tends to wear something that’s either all pure white or a white outfit that’s mixed with a black or red undertone. I can see her wearing something that’s a little glamorous like a calm dress or maybe just keep it casual with the makeup doing most of the talking, who really knows? I think it’s just going to be one set stage, with a bunch of backup dancers complementing it with a visually stunning backdrop. I think it’s going to be one section to keep things simple and probably just one outfit change.

Possible Guest Performers

I think she may bring out Drake, considering that they have several songs together like “Work,” “Take Care,” & “What’s My Name.” I could also see her bringing out Eminem for the same reason, or A$AP Rocky to the stage, considering their relationship together. Lastly, I would love it if Jay-Z made an appearance, since they’ve made really great music and collaborations together in the past.

Outro

Considering the past few years, the Super Bowl has been making efforts to bring in artists that are more modern, have more pop appeal and more creative direction and vision to keep the audience engaged. I think Rihanna’s will set the standard to who the Super Bowl will have next year — an artist that crosses the new school with the old school.

Jovan Cole is a digital and music artist and college student.

Kennadi Harris

Overview

I have been a fan of Rihanna’s music for years. “Pon De Replay” is my first memory of her music, but I became more intrigued when she pushed the envelope with songs from her iconic 2009 album Rated R. Over the years, I have really grown to appreciate Rihanna’s persona and style as I have grown into a young woman myself. Her confidence, natural sex appeal, and star power make her someone whose presence will always demand and attract attention. People have been craving her star presence since she stepped out of the spotlight a bit to pursue her business ventures. That is why this comeback is so significant. Everyone is ready to see her pay tribute to all of her past eras, and possibly start a new one.

Setlist Predictions

“Pon de Replay”- I think it’s only right she performs the song that she broke out on the music scene with.

“Umbrella” — This might not be her first hit, but this is the song that made her an absolute STAR. With a performance as significant in her career as the Super Bowl Halftime Show, it’s no doubt she’ll circle back to this song just to show how far she came.

“We Found Love”- This was a worldwide hit for Rihanna and a song many audiences are familiar with so it makes sense for her to perform this song at a majorly syndicated game such as the Super Bowl.

“Diamonds” — C’mon now.

“S&M”- I feel like this is such a loud and high-energy song that it was made for a big performance. I could see her putting a lot of fun artistry and choreography into this song.

“Love on the Brain” — Even though I’m sure there will be many high-energy songs and performances during her set, I expect her to slow it down for a moment and perform this fan-favorite ballad.

Outfit & Stage Predictions

Knowing Rihanna, there will probably be lots of bold colors and smoke.

Possible Guest Performers

I wouldn’t be surprised if she brought a rapper on stage with her to perform. She has a lot of dope collabs that were very prominent in their time: Jay-Z could perform “Run This Town.” She could bring Eminem on stage because they had a big hit with “Love The Way You Lie.” I would love to see someone like Drake pop out, but given their history, I doubt that would happen.

Outro

In conclusion, the bar will be set very high for the future performers.

Kennadi Harris is a content writer and blogger.

Juwan J. Holmes

Overview

Rihanna has been a star of the music industry for nearly 20 years, but the only thing missing in her mostly-spectacular career as a live act is the perfect, all-in-one medley performance. Make-up lady jokes aside, the only thing Rihanna takes more seriously than putting on a show is making money, which is honestly the main benefit to even doing the Super Bowl Halftime Show.

Even if you set aside the fact that Jay-Z will produce the show via Roc Nation, most of Rih’s closest peers, frequent collaborators (Justin Timberlake, Nicki Minaj, Eminem) and influences (Janet Jackson, Madonna) have taken part in the show in the past. Whether she’s leaned on any of them for advice or not, she should have one goal: the Halftime Show should not just be her moment, but her magnum opus. Yes, it’s her first performance in years, but it’s also the world’s most watched concert — and at this stage in time, there’s no purpose in giving anything less than a Hall of Fame-caliber, once-in-a-lifetime event that no one can legitimately hate, except, well… haters.

Setlist Predictions

There are so many undeniable hits Rihanna can choose from, there are several perfect setlist combinations to come up with, but I think Rih will lean just a bit more toward the more risky and risque side of the road because, well, she’s Rihanna. At the same time, I don’t think she’ll get too obscure with her choices — so while I’d personally love to see people blindsided with less popular choices or deep cuts a la “Roc Me Out,” “Rockstar 101,” or “Disturbia,” I think it’s more likely her set ends up almost entirely dance track, hooks-and-bridge heavy — but still uniquely bold and self-sufficient. I think we’ll still get “S&M” over “SOS,” or “Pour It Up” over “What’s My Name,” but I wouldn’t be too surprised by an unexpected stray, such as “American Oxygen,” “This Is What You Came For” or “Sex with Me.”

S&M

Rude Boy

Pour It Up / Wild Thoughts

Only Girl (in the World)

Lemon

Umbrella

Work/Pon De Replay

Cockiness (Love It) / Fashion Killa

We Found Love

Diamonds/Lift Me Up

Outfit & Stage Predictions

While I loved some of the football-heavy themes of some shows, and there’s always some fun football-related gimmicks leading up to it (like Rihanna’s post confirming that she’d headline the show.) Still, I think both Rihanna and the NFL knows she’s not really there just to keep the seat warm for a football game, so I don’t expect much beyond a few pads-wearing dancers.

Production-wise, I feel it’s mandatory for a huge “R” to be part of the show’s set, and umbrellas will certainly be in abundance. I think “Pour It Up” makes the setlist solely because it provides the perfect justification for incorporating a strip pole. Outfit-wise, I think we get three costumes in total in the 12-minute set.

Possible Guest Performers

Rihanna could probably call up any of the world-renown names who would be natural fits for the occasion, but I doubt we see any of the most-rumored names. I don’t anticipate Ye even being allowed in the venue; I’m certain Chris Brown will be at home, making Instagram stories posts like everyone else; while Drake would be the coolest possibility, it’s also the most predictable and safe — and thus the most unlikely, among other reasons.

So, if there’s a featured guest in the show, I predict Rih keeps it short, simple and close in orbit. All that considered, I think Pharrell Williams (and the rest of N.E.R.D. by proxy) has the best chances of popping up out of anyone else, likely to perform “Lemon” and maybe one other song (I predicted Pharrell would be the headliner last year, so maybe this is some internalized redemption-seeking.) A$AP Rocky may show up, possibly to reveal their baby together in public for the first time; DJ Khaled may be a long shot, too.

Objectively, the perfect guest would be Britney Spears, because Rihanna’s likely one of the few people on Earth who could compel her to get on such a huge stage right now. I wouldn’t put serious money on that happening, though.

Outro

The modern Super Bowl show has been led mostly by rockers past their prime, or budding pop stars a bit ahead of theirs — with more than a few awkward ensembles and embarrassments in between. While most of the shows in the last dozen years have been great entertainment (if not sufficient at the least), Rihanna is primed to put herself in the rare class of solo headliners who put on transcendent, unforgettable shows. At the least, she will all but certainly give the most memorable Halftime Show since Lady Gaga’s in 2017.

My still-too-early prediction is they will see the power a still-relevant and well-experienced solo headliner has and stick with that for next year’s Halftime Show, and I’m calling Usher or KiD CuDi as the headliners.

Juwan J. Holmes is the Editorial Revolutionary-in-Charge of The Renaissance Project.

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