Rihanna has given many memorable live performances over the years, but it seems that with time, she just keeps on getting better and better! Fans were blown away by Riri’s live cut of “Lift Me Up” at the Oscars last year, with many hailing it as a showcase for her growth and maturity as a vocalist. The 36-year-old R&B star is now quite the veteran in the industry, with more than two decades of performing under her belt, and it seems that she’s definitely learned a thing or two in that time!
“Lift Me Up” was the lead single from the 2022 superhero film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The studio version was quite the hit, but Rihanna managed to one-up it live, with the help of a lush arrangement from a full orchestra. Riri sang the opening low-register vocals with a whole lot of feeling, and she really took flight as the song worked towards the conclusion, including some beautiful falsetto lines at the end.
Rihanna’s take on “Lift Me Up” live at the 95th Academy Awards went down a treat on her YouTube channel, where fans tuned in six million times. Rihanna had taken a five-year break from live performances until she returned for the Super Bowl halftime show in 2023, so seeing her hit the stage at the Oscars just a month later meant a lot to fans.
Viewers were mighty impressed with Riri’s form at the show, and added comments such as “Her live performance has incredibly matured, absolutely loved it – so rarely did she do her higher notes live” and “This performance is just so beautiful, it honestly got me tearing up.” The Music Man readers may recall that Rihanna’s Super Bowl LVII halftime show the previous month became the most watched halftime show in history, with a peak of 121 million viewers.
When Rihanna dropped “Lift Me Up” on October 28, 2022, the single was her first solo track in six years. The Barbadian singer had been keeping busy with several business ventures, such as her beauty line, lingerie brand, and skin care brand. She also underwent some changes in her personal life, having started dating hip hop star ASAP Rocky in 2021 and subsequently giving birth to their first child the following year. Although it had been a long time in between drinks for Rihanna fans, they were still hyped for “Lift Me Up.” The single went Platinum in the US and double Platinum in Canada, as well as gaining several Gold and Platinum certifications in Europe.
If you would like to hear more from this talented artist you can subscribe to Rihanna’s YouTube Channel for more incredible music. You can also follow her on Facebook.