By Shamar Blunt
The pride and excitement were palpable as Bajans were glued to screens on Sunday night to watch National Hero and international superstar Rihanna in the highly-anticipated Super Bowl Halftime Show.
While many opted to stay at home, some made their way to several bars and liming spots across the island where Super Bowl watch parties were hosted not only for the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles-Kansas City Chiefs showdown but for what promised to be one of the most significant halftime shows in recent memory, with the Diamonds singer set to perform before a live audience after a seven-year hiatus.
Chief Executive
Officer of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), Dr Jens Thraenhart, seen here with other BTMI staff during the successful hosting of their Super Bowl watching
party at Oistins Bay Garden.
There were two main free public sites for this year’s big game – Sir Garfield Sobers Sports Complex and Oistins Bay Garden – which were sponsored by the National Sports Council and the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc (BTMI), respectively.
Patrons began gathering as early as 5 p.m. When the visibly pregnant singer stepped out on stage to begin her performance at 9:30 p.m., shouts and screams echoed through the night.
Wearing an all-red ensemble, she took viewers on a journey through her career, performing many of her biggest hits such as Diamonds, Where Have You Been, Umbrella, Work and Only Girl.
This female fan seen her showing her excitement throughout the night’s performance.
At Oistins, patrons sang along to each of her selections.
Speaking to Barbados TODAY after the 13-minute performance, Stephen Philips expressed his pleasure at seeing Rihanna on the big stage.
“It was good, especially as a Bajan-born. It was lovely,” he said.
Director of Marketing at BTMI Robert Chase, who was spotted in the crowd enjoying the impressively choreographed set, described Rihanna’s stage comeback as a phenomenal one.
“We cannot say anything but great things about our daughter of the soil, Robin Rihanna Fenty. It [was] a phenomenal performance she just put on, on the largest stage in the world, across the globe for so many people. It shows the talent and the pride and the presence that she has,” he said.
“In terms of the choreography, in terms of the overall stage production, [it] was absolutely phenomenal. Her presence was just unbelievable.”
These Rihanna fans loved every part of her Super Bowl set
Asked what he thought the night meant for Barbados, Chase said Rihanna had once again showcased the level of talent found here.
“Here is this small little dot that you can barely find on the map, yet we produced one of the biggest talents in the world and she has delivered tonight to show that Barbados is a phenomenal place. Because of what we invest in our people, talent comes out and emerges as tremendous capabilities,” he said.
shamarblunt@barbadostoday.bb
