The only thing I wanted for my birthday was to see my queen, and I finally did. After being a fan for almost a decade (starting with "Disturbia," released in 2007), I was absolutely ecstatic to get these tickets for my birthday, and I counted down the days until the performance. Rihanna’s Anti-World Tour, her seventh concert tour, hit Boston’s TD Garden this past Sunday, in support of her eighth audio album "Anti." And can I just say, she killed it for the whole 85-minute set.
Although it took a whopping 55 minutes for her to get on stage after both openers, she definitely did not disappoint the audience, and of course, did not disappoint me. We learned later that she was late because she "burned boiling water down her leg," and I guess I'll trust that that happened because...my queen wouldn't lie, would she?
Either way, the second she hit the stage I immediately started fangirling like no other.
I absolutely adored the coolness of her entrance, made by emerging from a tunnel to the rear of the arena while wearing a white hooded robe and singing “Stay.” I've been to many, many concerts, and this was probably the most intimate entrance I've seen in quite a long time. First off, I didn't expect that to be her first song, so that was a surprise. I honestly thought she would start with a head-banger, but I think the slow start helped her vocals in the end, as well as the overall performance in general. Not to mention, actually being able to hear and see her sing that emotional song in person, was something I'll never be able to shake from my memory.
Now let's talk about her wardrobe. Needless to say, I basically died and went to heaven the second I saw Rihanna in the flesh. My Queen looked absolutely beautiful, with pure sexiness coming out of her veins. There were around four costume changes, and each time, thousands of people would cheer just at the sight of her in new clothes. "I feel that’s the vibe she’s going for, with her thigh-high chap boots, her nude-colored catsuit, her leather bustier, her shimmery/see-through black dress and her ability to produce a come-hither look that will implode most men’s brains." Blew my brain, too.
No, I was not ready, Queen, honestly. And I think a lot of the audience wasn't either.
Needless to say, the whole time I was up on my feet jumping and screaming and singing basically all the words. I appreciated the fact that she not only sang a crap ton of songs from her new album, but also a whole lot from previous albums. I danced the whole time!
The hits kept going as the time went on: “B***h Better Have My Money,” “Consideration,” an abbreviated “Umbrella,” “Desperado,” “We Found Love,” “Where Have You Been.” She even sang “FourFiveSeconds,” a song she recorded with Paul McCartney and Kanye West that would sound equally at home at a country show or a rock concert. It was interesting to hear just her on the track, but I loved it either way.
Overall, to quote Vanity Fair's article on the tour, "the main accomplishment Sunday night, all elements considered, would seem to be delivering Rihanna, the persona and the personality, to an audience of ecstatic fans."
Love you, Queen!
