Rihanna kept the energy levels up at the 2012 Grammy Awards Ceremony, delivering perhaps one of her most choreographed performances to date.
Her vocals during the piano led intro of We Found Love sounded good but became more pitchy as it progressed with her using some melisma to quickly get away from the missed note. However, once the substantial backing of the song started, she hit her stride, dancing and belting the notes, with a rasp at times, almost perfectly.
The second part of the performance had Coldplay frontman Chris Martin wondering onto the stage and an acoustic rendition of their duet Princess of China began. During this performance Rihanna showed us some great application of her head voice, slipping into it and utilising it easier than the lower half of her range at times. However, being unable to produce sound at one point, and having to clear her throat to carry on, makes me think, along with the hoarseness of the first half, that she wasn't a hundred percent well on the night.
Still, I have to applaud Rihanna for constantly putting her voice at the fore in live situations, with little to hide behind, despite it not being the strongest or most resilient voice out there. Also her improved dance skills on show tonight have to be given a nod and I hope she keeps at it. She ain't no Fred Astaire, but God loves a trier right?
