On Sunday night (3.12) Rihanna took to the Oscars for an emotion rendition of her Black Panther: Wakanda Forever song, “Lift Me Up.”
Standing centerstage and backed by a full orchestra, the superstar singer/fashionista’s performance received a touching introduction from Wakanda Forever‘s Danai Gurira, who noted that “Lift Me Up” was written in honor of late Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman.
Although it did not win, ‘”Lift Me Up” was nominated for Best Original Song, marking Rihanna’s first Oscar nomination (which she wrote with Tems, Ludwig Göransson, and Ryan Coogler) along with Sofia Carson and Diane Warren’s “Applause” (from Tell It Like a Woman), Lady Gaga and BloodPop’s “Hold My Hand” (from Top Gun: Maverick), Ryan Lott, David Byrne, Mitski’s “This Is a Life.” (from Everything Everywhere All At Once), and the night’s ultimate winner M.M. Keeravani’s “Naatu Naatu,” (from RRR.)
Prior to her Oscars appearance, RiRi made a jaw dropping return with her Super Bowl halftime performance last month, where she also revealed she was pregnant. And days after the event she addressed her forthcoming LP, R9, stating “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… And I need the right background music with the visuals.” “I can’t just go shoot a video to me talking.”
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Author: Saul Goode
Photo: Jørund F Pedersen