Rihanna performs at the LG Arena in Birmingham. (Photograph: Ricky Combo)
Rihanna is many things but punctual is not one of them. However, there is no greater loyalty than that of devout and patient fans.
I personally hoped that she would have been booed off stage to convey a message of annoyance, but the shrieking screams of a thousand teenagers quickly shifted my focus from mild irritation to the star herself, as she graced the main LG Arena stage.
Her long-awaited entrance was in fact rather underwhelming. No bungee cord or jet pack descent and yet it was still a hundred-fold better than the opening support act whose only excitable contribution to the night was the intermittent suspense-filled annoucements of “Are you all ready for Rihanna?”, to which the audience duly responded with whoops and cheers.
Rihanna performs at the LG Arena in Birmingham. (Photograph: Ricky Combo)
The crowd never really connected with the misplaced opening dance DJ set which, in my opinion, was one of the worst warm-up acts for an internationally renown R’n'B star. The high tempo electronic music was deafening, but lucky for me I had my Bose headphones and switched to something rather mellow and soon zoned out. Who can blame me? An extra hour and a half is along time to wait for the main act.
I was alerted to Rihanna’s arrival by quite a frenzy of over-eager fan activity but couldn’t quite make out what the first song was. Rihanna was on her knees on stage in a black dress, I had to stand up to see in front of me as all the previously seated audience were now on their feet. Standing up was also useful in shielding myself from the complimentary spit-shower, courtesy of those standing behind me. Anyone who has been around excited teenagers might relate.
I particularly appreciated the visual displays on stage being raised above head height after the first few songs, revealing the band and staging which was minimalistic with an industrial rehearsal space feel to it. From then on it was a dance-fest as Rihanna’s troupe joined her on stage to help her do what she does best: Sing, dance, entertain and regularly pat her lady-bits.
Rihanna performs at the LG Arena in Birmingham. (Photograph: Ricky Combo)
>> MORE PHOTOGRAPHS: Rihanna ‘Diamonds World Tour’, LG Arena Birmingham <<
After the first few times, I could not help but wonder whether she actually had an itch down there or whether she needed constant reassurance that they’re still there. There sure was a lot of suggestive crotch-grabbing, not to different from an online viral video of a Chinese womanscratching her nether regions in public.
The party didn’t start for me until Ri-Ri’s cover of Ginuwine’s My Pony, something from my era. I had been feeling lost up until then as I only know but a few of her songs and hardly by choice either, as they have been so regularly being rinsed out on every radio station, night club and every mix-tape in the last few years; testament to how influential she has been in the industry.
There was an outfit change between every couple of songs and these set the vibe and tempo of the tracks that would follow. For dance and reggae tracks, she wore Doc Martin style boots. For the sexy numbers, she had long white boots and some really short shorts while for Diamonds she wore a sparkly diamond outfit.
Rihanna performs at the LG Arena in Birmingham. (Photograph: Ricky Combo)
Rihanna performs at the LG Arena in Birmingham. (Photograph: Ricky Combo)
In the end it was as brilliant an experience as it was a performance but I do wish Rihanna would be as punctual as she is pretty. The songstress does, without a doubt, know her stuff but a little respect for her fans would go a long way.
Her brilliance on this occasion was not enough to convert me into a big or loyal fan. I loved Rihanna’s show but both her fans and her regular lateness are not my cup of tea. The screaming was a lot to take in and a bit much for me, but I did enjoy the Mexican waves that went around in her absence.
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Grimmy West
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