Less than a month after her long-awaited return performance for the Super Bowl LVII halftime show, Rihanna performed “Lift Me Up”—her Best Original Song-nominated single from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever—at the 2023 Oscars. Wearing a babydoll top sewn with diamonds, black pants, and leather gloves, Rihanna sang with a backing band while standing atop a grassy platform. Watch it happen below.
Rihanna got nominated alongside Lady Gaga for “Hold My Hand” (Top Gun: Maverick); Son Lux with Mitski and David Byrne for “This Is a Life” (Everything Everywhere All at Once); M.M. Keeravani and Chandrabose for “Naatu Naatu” (RRR); and Sofia Carson for “Applause” (Tell It Like a Woman).
During her Super Bowl performance, Rihanna revealed that she was pregnant and performed a career-spanning hit-filled on a stage of floating platforms. During an interview published shortly after the Super Bowl, Rihanna gave an update on her first new album since 2016’s Anti. “I want it to be this year.… Like, honestly, it’d be ridiculous if it’s not this year. But I just want to have fun. I just want to make music and make videos.”
Follow all of Pitchfork’s coverage of the 2023 Oscars. Read “The Sly Dominance of Rihanna’s Super Bowl Halftime Show” on the Pitch.
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