SEXY, SASSY AND STUNNING, RIHANNA ROCKS MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
Posted by | Filed under Concerts, Reviews, Rihanna, Tours
Rihanna’s Last Girl on Earth Tour hit New York’s famed Madison Square Garden and it was clear that Roc Royalty ran this town on Thursday night! Jay-Z headlined a charity performance up at Radio City Music Hall, Kanye hosted a secret show at The Box downtown and Rihanna held down a sold-out crowd in midtown at the garden, her first time ever headlining at the arena.
The Bajan Beauty hit the stage a little after 9:45 and began with her sinister ballad “Russian Roulette” complete with an illuminating gown studded with red LED lights. The bum notes she hit during the songs chorus were the first and last of the night as the siren was in rare vocal form during the concert. She stripped down to a studded nude leotard to strut her stuff and straddle her now infamous pink gun during “Hard” and brought a young fan on stage to take a hit at the stage prop car that lay on Stage B during “Shut Up and Drive.” Rihanna’s unique voice resonated in the air of the arena with the bold confidence of artist who has grown in leaps and bounds since her 2005 debut.
Rihanna’s chart topping pop and r&b hits such as “Rude Boy”, “S.O.S” and “Please Don’t Stop The Music” took on a new life form with a hard rock edge that fit the show’s dark, metallic and futuristic imagery,( the brain child of Rihanna and Creative Director Simon Henwood ) one that toys with perceptions of dreams and the end of civilization with Rihanna left as our only hope to revive society as we know it. Highlights include “Disturbia” where dancers costumed as disturbing dark creatures on stilts rummaged around the star on stage. Though the theme becomes lost amongst the provocative outfits and staging, the show was truly entertaining.
Rihanna is a weird anomaly in the world of pop/R&b music touring. She certainly doesn’t have the vocal capabilities of Mariah Carey or Whitney Houston (in her prime), and unlike her other somewhat vocally challenged predecessors such as the legends Madonna and Janet Jackson,she doesn’t have their dance skills. Yet somehow, Rihanna manages to keep the audience locked into her every move, strut and lyrics with a swagger that’s one part supermodel and one part rock star, and that is the mark of a superstar. Major points were given for simply singing all of her songs live, an act that most of her contemporaries don’t do.
Knowing that Jay and Kanye were in the city (and at one point ‘Ye was in the building), its safe to say that everyone was expecting a guest or two to come out at least during “Run This Town” or “Umbrella”, but alas we were teased with dancers throwing up Roc signs while doing weird num-chuck karate choreography. Rihanna closed the show with her massive 2007 anthem “Umbrella” and showered the arena in pink and white confetti and eager fans opened up their actual umbrellas during the number. Even those who aren’t necessarily Rihanna fans walked away impressed at the quality of the show. Looks like “that Rihanna reign” truly won’t let up!
August 14th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
“Rihanna is a weird anomaly in the world of pop/R&b music touring. She certainly doesn’t have the vocal capabilities of Mariah Carey or Whitney Houston (in her prime), and unlike her other somewhat vocally challenged predecessors such as the legends Madonna and Janet Jackson,she doesn’t have their dance skills. Yet somehow, Rihanna manages to keep the audience locked into her every move, strut and lyrics with a swagger that’s one part supermodel and one part rock star, and that is the mark of a superstar. Major points were given for simply singing all of her songs live, an act that most of her contemporaries don’t do.”
So… what made her entertaining is that she just stood there and striked poses like a supermodel? Is that what I take it to mean? WTF? And yeah she sang live… horribly. That does not win any brownie points from me. If I’d rather that she lipsynced just so she could spare my ears, then that does not deserve any credit.
There is nothing credible about Rihanna. She cannot sing, cannot dance, has zero stage presence and doesn’t actually play any instruments. Without the stage props and gimmicks to add visual interest, you wouldn’t even write this review. Therefore, there is no redeemable value to her as a performer or a musician. So why pretend that she’s even somewhat talented when that’s not the case? And I’m not being a hater, Lady Gaga is also too gimmicky for my taste and her music is a bit banal, but I do admit that underneath all those gimmicks lies true musical talent. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for Rihanna. Be honest, dude.
August 15th, 2010 at 8:24 pm
As for the commenter, you make no sense AT ALL. This is THEIR review of the show. This is what the reviewer witnessed with their OWN eyes and ears. I don’t know whose music you’re huge fan of (Based on your commentary and tone, I want to believe that it’s Beyonce), but it’s as if you’re trying to sit here and convince the reviewer that your beliefs are the sole truth and there is nothing else around that. If you believe that Rihanna has not one lick of talent, then that is YOUR opinion. There are people who feel the same way about Lady GaGa, as well as other artists. You seem EXTREMELY pissed off that this review isn’t ripping her to shreds.
The fact is, people have been saying she has no talent since 2005, people have been saying her 15 minutes are up since 2005, people have been saying she’ll be a one hit wonder since 2005, and yet she’s still here. Gimmick or not, she’s doing something right.
I attended the Madison Square Garden show, and I thought she handled her own VERY WELL. I enjoyed every single bit of it.
April 25th, 2011 at 7:47 pm
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December 15th, 2011 at 2:12 pm
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