Rihanna in concert at the Rod Laver Arena. Picture: Norm Oorloff Source: News Limited
RIHANNA has become the Axl Rose of pop — people take bets on how late she’ll keep her fans waiting before actually getting on stage.
She was a disrespectful 90 minutes late on stage in Adelaide, and 30 minutes in Perth and Brisbane.
The big surprise for Melbourne? Rihanna was on stage at exactly 9pm as required at Rod Laver Arena.
As well as unexpected punctuality, Rihanna fans got a solid, envelope-pushing set from one of the most prolific and most interesting popstars of the last decade.
Whatever her chosen tools of relaxation may be, she tours ruthlessly and has had a new album a year for seven years running. Yes this new show is top heavy with new songs, but she hasn’t had to rely on a lazy greatest hits set yet. Indeed some of her biggest hits are either out to pasture or shoehorned into a medley.
Rihanna strikes the pose in concert. Picture: Norm Oorloff Source: News Limited
Sure she has backing singers to do some of the heavy vocal lifting at times but Rihanna sounds right at home on reggae moments Man Down and No Love Allowed. She showcases her vocal power on opener Mother Mary.
She also deserves credit for effortlessly genre-hopping through hits Rude Boy, Umbrella, We Found Love, Rock Star and Diamonds.
As with her last tours, you still question the parental wisdom of letting young kids attend a Rihanna concert.
If having a no. 1 hit praising S & M wasn’t a hint at her lyrical content, songs like Birthday Cake and Cockiness leave zero to the imagination. And to make sure you don’t miss the clues Rihanna regularly has one hand on her crotch and one holding the microphone.
And with some choreography seemingly inspired by strippers at times RiRi’s dance moves make Miley Cyrus look like Judith Durham.
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