Rihanna, Live

Recently we went on a Shiny & New Field Trip to see Rihanna at Manchester’s MEN arena (oo-er, men!). It was an eye-opener in several respects. First of all, we learnt that Rihanna is incapable of performing any number without grinding on a surface of any kind. During the hour and a half of her Loud Tour show, she ground on a car, a baseball bat, a man, a woman, a member of the audience, a pole, a metal barrier, herself… Not to demean the Barbadian Goddess, but we’re slightly concerned for her nether regions which have surely been ground down to a nub after a spate of recent performances across the globe.

Yes, the mood in what was formerly the UK’s busiest music venue, was distinctly erotic. During numbers like the album track “Skin”, or a cover of Prince’s “Darling Nikki”, Rihanna proved that she could smoulder and arouse like the best of them (by best of them we mostly mean Madonna). In fact there was something distinctly Early Madonna about the entire concert. The arena was packed to the rafters with people of all ages, backgrounds and walks of life (not just women and gays, although they were well represented). Much like Madonna The Early Years, Rihanna seems to have an appeal so broad, it encompasses everyone. Ever.

Also, much like Ms. Ciccone in her Formative Incarnation, there were many people in attendance who clearly had modelled their style, hair, outfit entirely on things they had seen Rihanna wearing. Or rather, there was lots of fire engine red tresses on display.

Rihanna has greatly improved and matured as a performer. She strutted with such confidence, it was impossible to tear your eyes away from her (and why would you want to?) and managed to sing every single note live and flawless (seriously, not a note out of tune, unlike pitchy, flat Florence Welch, who nevertheless still gets better notices for her live performances).
Weirdly there was also no remnants of the robo-Rihanna certain reviewers had alluded to. If anything Rihanna proved she had more personality, sass and good nature than almost any other major arena-playing female popstar around (except maybe Madonna, again).

Musically and visually there wasn’t much to whet the appetite, but considering the tour’s parent album was rather uninspiring and a mixed bag, it’s not surprising. Also, considering almost every single track performed was a worldwide smash hit, dear to the audience’s hearts, it wasn’t a complaint you would openly hear from anyone in attendance.

It wasn’t a patch on her dark, incendiary Rated R tour, but we didn’t have skyscraper high expectations so we were pleased and, yes, again, aroused, by the eyecatching and polished performance. Well done, Princess RiRi. (Pictures via here)

Setlist:

1. "Only Girl (In the World)"
2. "Disturbia"
3. "Shut Up and Drive"
4. "Man Down"
5. "Darling Nikki" (contains excerpts from "S&M")
6. "S&M"
7. "Let Me"
8. "Skin"
9. "Raining Men"
10. "Hard"
11. "Breakin' Dishes"
12. "The Glamorous Life"
13. Medley: "Run This Town" / "Live Your Life"
14. "Unfaithful"
15. "Hate That I Love You"
16. "California King Bed"
17. "What's My Name?" (contains elements from "Pon de Replay" and "Touch Me, Tease Me")
18. "Rude Boy"
19. "Cheers (Drink to That)"
20. "Don't Stop the Music"
21. "Take a Bow"

Encore

1. "Love the Way You Lie (Part II)"
2. "Umbrella"