Monday 10 September 2012

[Watch] Rihanna Performs at the 2012 Paralympics Closing Ceremony.

chris martin Rihanna paralympics live music entertainment


I'm not quite sure why Rihanna and Jay-z turned up at the closing Ceremony of the 2012 London Paralympic Games- I had thought it was about showcasing the "Best Of Britain". I, however, can take an educated guess: Coldplay frontman's wife (Gwyneth Paltrow) is best friends with Jay Z's wife (Beyonce) and Jay Z's biggest signing/money making artist, is Rihanna. But who knows.

But hey-ho, the crowd seemed to enjoy it- irrelevantly entertaining as it was- and it managed to give them a break from the 15 strong set from Coldplay.

Swinging from a suspended park bench- which I was getting pangs of Vertigo just watching- Rihanna started her set with a performance of We Found Love. It was a little wobbly, but it was in tune for most of the song. A feat that I have to give credit for considering her perilous placing above the stadium.


Rihanna also joined Coldplay for their duet, Princess Of China. This was a vocal that was surprisingly good. Atop of a giant boat- was this the same boat Annie Lennox rode at the 2012 Olympic Closing Ceremony?- the star gave a strong and confident vocal, that featured notes from all parts of her range. Particularly impressive- for Rihanna- was her headvoice; which she used here with more skill than I've seen previously from her.


Now it came the time for Jay Z to join Coldplay and Rihanna on stage, where they sang/rapped arrogant, swaggering, Run This Town. What a crappy song choice. With lyrics like "This is Roc Nation, pledge your allegiance" and "On the table screamin' [blank] the other side, they jealous We got a banquet full of broads, they got a table full of fellas", how was this a fitting song choice to represent the achievements of an audience of Paralympians.

He might as well have performed his love song to New YorkEmpire State of Mind: it would have been just as out of place, have made just as much sense and been just as self-serving as this was.



Thoughts?

2 comments:

  1. I hate that you keep giving any credit to Rihanna. This may have been better than any other performance she's given, but it was still a HORRIBLE MESS. She is a horrible singe (I'd rather die than finish that word when speaking of her). It takes away from your credibility too by applauding her and promoting just by speaking of her so many times on your blog.

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  2. Hey! I thought Rihanna was pretty good - better than I've seen her before.

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