- Jonathan McCambridge writes:
After causing a storm by baring (nearly) all in a Bangor barley field, Rihanna was back on more familiar terrain last night.
A sell-out Odyssey crowd of 7,000, mostly young women wearing heels longer than their skirts, packed into the arena for the beginning of a three-night run of Rihanna’s Loud tour.
Unfortunately they were left waiting for hours as the superstar did not take to the stage until very late, much to the anger of those present.
It had all started so brightly. Scottish DJ Calvin Harris warmed the crowd up.
Apparently unable to play any instruments, Harris bravely improvised by seemingly playing a cassette of his favourite elevator tunes and repeatedly telling Belfast to “put your arms in the air”. He received a deafeningly positive reception — but the crowd was getting more and more restless the longer Rihanna’s arrival on stage was delayed.
Fans amused themselves for well over 90 minutes and just before 10pm loud boos rang out from the masses, as there was still no sign of the elusive popstar.
Finally the 23-year-old, no respect at all for reviewers’ deadlines. As soon as she launched into a raucous version of Only Girl in the World the crowd’s anger immediately dissipated and Rihanna was their pop idol once more.
Clearly the superstar is enjoying Northern Ireland’s Indian summer and she wasted no time in discarding her raincoat and spent most of the night in various forms of undress.
The show itself was fine. A huge mixture of big noise, big screens, expensive props, swearing and suggestive dancing.