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Rihanna performed one of two AWT shows in Brooklyn, NY last night (March 27th).

True to its name, Rihanna’s “Anti” tour breaks pretty much every accepted concert industry rule.

At her Barclays Center show in Brooklyn on Sunday night, she opened with the ballad “Stay,” from the back of the arena. She overwhelmed the capacity crowd with new material, with nearly half the set coming from “Anti,” released only two months ago. And she did a medley of her biggest hits, while doing full versions of her lesser-known songs.

Good thing for Rihanna that her well-paced show works so well.

If there was any lingering doubt about who is in control of her career and her artistic choices, the “Anti” tour makes clear that it is RiRi herself, as each of the show’s five sections showcases a different facet of her personality and her career.

“Brand new tour, brand new album,” she told the crowd. “This [expletive] is not that complicated.”

Actually, it is though. And it’s telling that she starts with her most vulnerable side first, opening with the pleading ballad “Stay” and the poignant, piano-driven “Love the Way You Lie (Part 2).”

From there, she moves to the aggressive party girl of “Bitch Better Have My Money,” delivered with the crowd screaming along to every word, and “Pose.”

The middle section marks her pop side, culminating with a medley of hits that include “Run This Town” and the unforgettable “Umbrella.”

In the fourth section, she returns to her Caribbean roots, showing how “Rude Boy” fits in with her new No. 1 “Work.” Rihanna also transitions into her better-living-through-dancing phase with the stunning “We Found Love” and “Where Have You Been,” featuring new millennium Supremes staging.

For her finale, Rihanna reveals how she can still be tender, especially in “Love on the Brain,” destined to be another “Anti” smash.

In addition to showing off a more soulful tone to her voice, the retro R&B ballad shows how, despite everything she has been through, Rihanna is ready to make herself vulnerable again. But this time, she’s older and wiser — and not all that interested in following rules any more.

Celebrities in attendance were Naomi Campbell, designer Riccardo Tisci, John Mayer, Fabolous, magician David Blaine, Jaden Smith, artist Roy Nachum, DJ Jus Ske, Justine Skye, hockey player Anders Lee and more.

March 26th, 2016

times

The TIME 100 — the annual list of the most influential people in the world—is comprised of world leaders, great minds in science and technology, outstanding figures in the arts and other icons of the moment. While TIME editors determine the ultimate honorees, we want to know who you think deserves recognition.

Rihanna is nominated for a spot in the annual list, so make sure to vote!

Voting closes at 11:59 p.m. EST on April 10, and the winner of our reader poll will be announced April 14. This year’s official TIME 100 list will be announced April 21.


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