At long last, Rihanna has dropped brand new music for her devotees! The Grammy winner, 34, shared a heart-rending new song, “Lift Me Up” that appears on the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack this week, and fans can’t get enough of the stunning ballad.
rihanna’s ‘lift me up’ visuals. pic.twitter.com/W91d8ANKjj
— (@gabgonebad) October 28, 2022
Rihanna’s Long-Awaited Return To Music
This release marks the “Love On The Brain” hitmaker’s first solo musical output since her acclaimed eighth studio album, 2016’s ANTI. On Wednesday, October 26th, the pop star teased the song on social media, and it made its way to streaming services two days later. Since then, it continues to amass millions of streams, and for good reason!
tonight…
MIDNIGHT EST. #LiftMeUp pic.twitter.com/1y8yRjh7GM— Rihanna (@rihanna) October 27, 2022
“Lift Me Up:” A Tribute To Chadwick Boseman
The new track features Rihanna’s signature powerful vocals, delicate fingerpicked harp and string instrumentals, and moving, lovestruck lyrics: “Lift me up/Hold me down/ Keep me close/ Safe and sound,” she sings as the track opens. She later croons, “Burning in a hopeless dream/ Hold me when you go to sleep/ Keep me in the warmth of your love when you depart/ Keep me safe, safe and sound.”
The Fenty Beauty mogul also unveiled a music video along with the song on October 28th, and many fans on Twitter dubbed the visual (which depicts the singer on a beach at sunset) to be “beautiful” and “emotional.” Rihanna wrote the song along with fellow artist Tems, Academy Award winner Ludwig Göransson, and Black Panther director Ryan Coogler. The track continues to garner praise as it is a tribute to the late Black Panther actor Chadwick Boseman, who tragically passed away from colon cancer in August 2020.
Rihanna’s new single ‘Lift Me Up’ for the #WakandaForever soundtrack was written as a tribute to the life and legacy of Chadwick Boseman. pic.twitter.com/9Zafft3EGn
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) October 26, 2022
Wholesome Fan Reactions
On Twitter in the days since the release of “Lift Me Up,” Rihanna’s fans have expressed that they were happy to experience long-awaited new music from her in general, and many Marvel fans were also touched by her paying homage to Boseman and his beloved superhero character. One listener aptly wrote, “didn’t realize how much i missed hearing rihanna’s voice and new music from her until it all hit me when i pressed play on lift me up.” Someone else simply tweeted, “She’s back!” with a photo of the star and heart-eyes and fire emojis.
didn’t realize how much i missed hearing rihanna’s voice and new music from her until it all hit me when i pressed play on lift me up
— tejal (@tejschaos) October 28, 2022
Rihanna’s voice has matured and turned so rich ?!!!!! Okay mama NOW I need solo new Rihanna no soundtrack attach to it. BAD GAL RIRI
— Mimi The Music Blogger (@mdaixo) October 28, 2022
Another added regarding Rihanna’s muse for the track, “ the song feels like a perfect tribute to Chadwick Boseman & for the film.” Other fans were also impressed by Rihanna’s new and improved sound, with one writing, “her voice has matured so much in 5 years, like this is the best she’s ever sounded.”
Riri ate this up n left no crumbs, and I’m suppose to sit in the theater and hear this and act normal?!? #LiftMeUp pic.twitter.com/meAzYsclDP
— Nerd Gangster (@sirshaqq) October 28, 2022
Rihanna’s Lift Me Up is so beautiful pic.twitter.com/nPFMtMYThI
— 808s & Youngboy (@RatioedBy808s) October 28, 2022
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will hit US theaters on November 11th, and the plot will center around the leaders of the fictional Wakanda fighting to protect their homeland in the wake of Boseman’s King T’Challa’s death.
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(Our fingers are still crossed for a new Rihanna album, as well!) Fans can also mark their calendars for February 12, 2023, when Rihanna will perform live renditions of her biggest hits as the official 2023 Super Bowl LVII halftime show performer at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
