The B-Sides And C-Sides Of Rihanna’s Halftime Show Explained
Digital Magazine
A comprehensive breakdown of the snippets snuck into the setlist and where they rank in terms of impact with the iconic performance.
BY HARPSICHORD
MAY 11, 2023
Digital illustration of Rihanna performing at the LVII Super Bowl Halftime Show.
When it comes to the Super Bowl halftime show, there remains a high criteria from audiences around the world. Everything is judged: From the vocal abilities of the performer, to the lack of lip syncing; to the dance moves, to the lack thereof intensive choreography; to the stage designs, the lights, and the cinematography of the cameras in action; down to the worthiness of the artist who gets to grace the actual stage.
During Rihanna’s performance at the 57th annual NFL event -- which was held at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on February 12, 2023 -- two goals from the Bajan pop star became clear as her 13 minutes ticked away.
First goal: To surprise with an incredibly new baby bump.
Second: To celebrate a legendary catalog that’s dominated contemporary pop for nearly 17 years.
“The setlist was the biggest challenge,” Rihanna told music journalist and personality, Nadeska Alexis, at the official press conference for the halftime show. On that Thursday morning, just three days away from showtime, the singer continued: “That was the hardest, hardest part. Deciding how to maximize 13 minutes but also celebrate. That’s what this show is going to be: It’s going to be a celebration of my catalog in the best way that we could have put it together ... you’re trying to cram 17 years of work into 13 minutes ... There are probably 39 versions of the setlist right now.”
After the show was said and done, it had become obvious that the true star of the show had been her setlist.
But what most didn’t notice at first glimpse, is that the superstar performed two concerts in one. Underneath the main songs that had live vocals, she and Emmy Award winning creative director, Adam Blackstone, snuck in snippets of her deep cuts and B-sides. Here’s how they rank in terms of performance.
Before We Start, Here Is The Order of All 20 Rihanna Songs Featured In The Setlist:
B-Side, Promo Intro: “What’s My Name”
A-Side, First Song Performed: “Bitch Better Have My Money”
C-Side, First Snippet: “Phresh Out The Runway”
A-Side, EDM Medley: “Where Have You Been”
A-Side, EDM Medley: “Only Girl (In The World)
B-Side, EDM Medley: “Cockiness (Love It)”
A-Side, EDM Medley: “We Found Love”
B-Side, EDM Medley: “S&M”
A-Side, R&B/Pop Medley: “Rude Boy”
B-Side, R&B/Pop Medley: “Kiss It Better”
A-Side, R&B/Pop Medley: “Work”
A-Side, R&B/Pop Medley: “Wild Thoughts”
B-Side, Trap&B Medley: “Birthday Cake”
A-Side, Trap&B Medley: “Pour It Up”
C-Side, Trap&B Medley: “Numb”
B-Side, Trap&B Medley: “Pose”
A-Side, Hip Hop Feature: “All of the Lights”
A-Side, Hip Hop Feature: “Run This Town”
A-Side, Closing Hit: “Umbrella”
A-Side, Closing Hit Encore: “Diamonds”
8. Cockiness (Love It)(2011)
The pendulum swings back into the dance break portion of “Where Have You Been” after “Only Girl (In The World).” Underneath is the repetitiveness of this Talk That Talk’s raunchy, innuendo-filled fifth track. “I love it, I love it, I love it when you eat it,” could have worked for a late nite McDonalds jingle. Produced by Shondrae “Bangladesh,” Crawford, the song had a brief stint during a performance at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards, as well as on urban radio. This is also the first and only collab with her boyfriend, A$AP Rocky.
7. S&M (2010)
“Now now now c’mon,” pounces in the background of “We Found Love” – signaling a nod to the opener of Loud. Causing controversy in more conservative countries, the Hi-NGR, Eurotrance track was banned and censored. It wasn’t the raucous beat, but rather the direct lyricism about bondage that did the job. All the controversy paid off, as a Britney Spears-assisted remix became Rihanna’s 10th Number one Billboard Hot 100 hit.
6. Phresh Out The Runway (2012)
As Rihanna does a slight Harlem Shake, “dust your dirt off your shoulders” shimmy from the sky down to the stage on the field, after “Bitch Better Have My My Money,” a chopped-n-screwed male vocal can be heard saying “bitch I’m fresh off the runway.” Excuse us: That’s actually “P-H-R-E-S-H”. Marking as the first song on her seventh studio album, ‘Phresh Off The Runway,” would serve as her catwalk anthem during the Victoria Secret Fashion Show. Seven years before Forbes would write “Rihanna Helped Kill Victoria Secret’s Fashion Show Business.”
5. Numb (2012)
Underneath the “oh’s” and “woah’s” that exist in the hook of “Pour It Up,” the musical direction of Adam Blackstone takes subtle effect. Snuck into the instrumental is the sound of a snake charming flute. Those notes from a Middle Eastern pungi backbone the core of this Unapologetic deep cut. Hypnotic and repetitive in its topical MDNA-nature, “Numb” has become a fan favorite due to its abnormality in Rihanna’s discography. She even sneaks in a dance she’s done to the song on two of her tours.
4. Birthday Cake (2011)
What became apparent during this setlist is the following: If this was meant to be a “celebration” of Rihanna’s catalog, she had to go for the hits that caused controversy. After all, they are what make her “Bad Gal RiRi.” Upon the track’s original release on Talk That Talk, audiences craved more of the 1 minute and 18 seconds interlude. Eventually, the song full of thumping claps, motorized humming, and school bells would be remixed to full trap effect. What caused a bit of an uproar was the acknowledgement of a rekindled romance with Chris Brown (only three years after… that incident). So it seemed a bit surprising on Harpsichord’s end to experience her strutting down the field to the beginning instrumental while transitioning between the R&B and trap&B medlies. During the moment she cracks a smile before “Pour It Up” begins.
3. Pose (2016)
As one of the promotional commercials for the Super Bowl performance, Apple filmed a ball featuring voguers dressed in various outfits from the pop star’s multiple eras. The ad was soundtracked by this loopy ANTi bonus track. The actual show would see a dance break to the sassy hyperpop-trap song after Rihanna completed “Pour It Up.”
2. What’s My Name? (2010)
That’s right, before the first live vocals, and opening spot of Rihanna’s live performance, this second single from Loud needs to be highlighted. After MC Lyte announced, “The National Football League welcomes you to the ‘Apple Music Super Bowl 57 Halftime Show,’ a digitized opener began. It shows a platinum colored audio waveform– in the shape of the official announcement of Rihanna’s hand holding a football – beating to the sound of a drum. A breathy echo can be heard, as the image transforms into a silhouette of Rihanna’s head strutting forward. “Oh na na,” sings the pre-recorded vocals in the background. They gave an “oh” riff, before asking “What’s My Name?”
Partnering a West Indies flavor into dancehall, elements of Jamaican ska, R&B pop-ism, and melodic sing-song, “What’s My Name?” became an instant hit upon release. The song would become the first of Loud’s three Number 1 hits. Due to its infectious hooks and star-worthy feature from Canadian rapper Drake, “What’s My Name” became a staple. While the world ate up glitter dance pop and hyper technopop, “What’s My Name” marked an uniqueness only Rihanna could have provided.
1. “Kiss It Better” (2016)
One to always plant Easter Eggs for her fans, Rihanna drops some Navy love in the middle of the “Rude Boy” dance break. (A dance break that has since gone viral on Tik Tok and real-life sporting events.) Underneath the remix’s production is pre-recorded vocals of “kiss it, kiss it, better baby”. Although “Kiss It Better” does not fare well commercially with other songs in her setlist, the ANTi ballad remains a fan favorite. As the dance break ends and the “kiss it, kiss it better baby” halts, Rihanna sneaks in a wink. Or at least she attempted to anyway… It’s one of the best inside jokes amongst her Navy, and the reason why it ranks as Number One on this list.
She closes both eyes during her "wink" lol
