Rescheduled Rihanna concert or full refund? I'll take the refund.

I decided to skip Rihanna's Diamonds World Tour on April 24 in Baltimore.  It was a rescheduled date, since she had laryngitis earlier.  Originally I looked forward to the concert, but as the date approached I had a change of heart.

I'd seen/heard Rihanna perform before.  I heard her when she opened for Kanye West on his Glow in the Dark Tour in 2008.  She also performed (i.e. a year or so ago) during an NBA All-Star weekend, and I thought it was great.

However, last week I just couldn't motivate myself to go and see her again.  Maybe it is/was all the entertainment news about her and Chris Brown.  With their make ups and break ups on display for everyone with internet access and entertainment television, all that on and off and on and off again, turned me off.  When given the opportunity to receive a full refund from Ticketmaster, I pounced.

I'm not sure what it is, but I'm just not a Rihanna fan anymore.  I enjoyed her early material (e.g. "If it's Lovin' That You Want", "Umbrella") but in hindsight I had buyer's remorse and wasn't willing to pay approximately $140 to see and hear her newer material.  Yes, there are are couple of her newer songs I enjoy, but there aren't ten.  There may not even be 5.

Further, with all the Chris Brown nonsense, Rihanna just seems so "emotionally heavy" and drama filled that I didn't think I would've enjoyed the show.  Different strokes for different folks, but personally I think all of that mess sends a bad, mixed message to girls.

I'm sure if you're true Rihanna fan, you enjoyed the concert.  You may have even had the time of your life.  I was happy I was able to stay home, and I can't wait to see the full refund appear on my credit card statement.  I can watch the light-hearted, happy Rihanna anytime I want on youtube.




THE WIRK

Rihanna concert tonight at 1st Mariner Arena POSTPONED

If you were like me (i.e. looking out your window), you were thinking that you'd need an umbrella-ella-ella-ay-ay-ay for tonight's Rihanna concert in Baltimore. Well, as it turns out, you can stay dry at home.

Tonight's concert at the 1st Mariner Arena has been postponed, since Rihanna is sick. Hold onto your tickets and wait for news as to the reschedule date.


THE WIRK

NBA All-Star Game ~ Lenny Kravitz, Rihanna, Kanye, and Kobe as MVP

Sunday was the day for the NBA All-Star game and as I made my way to the Staples Center, I had 2 things in mind.  Take a picture of the TNT guys doing their thing and take a picture of the newly unveiled Jerry West statue. 

The West won the 2011 NBA All-Star game, even though LeBron James did his best to make up the difference and put the East in the lead.  Kobe Bryant played his heart out in front of the Lakers crowd to win MVP.

If you want to see players up close and can't afford a lower level ticket, here's a tip ~ get an upper level ticket and hang out on the main concourse.  There are plenty of players (current and retired) running around the concourse and taking pictures.  I had a lower level ticket, but when I went to the concourse to the concession stand, I saw "Big Baby" Davis, Gary Payton, etc. 

If you've never been to an NBA All-Star game and you're a music fan, you need to know that music is a large part of the weekend's festivities.  Josh Groban sang the national anthem.  Lenny Kravitz rocked out for the player intoductions.  Rihanna performed at half time with Drake and Kanye West.  Drake and Kanye were surprise guests.  People who had a ticket to the game, were treated to a mini-concert with these artists.  It was a special treat!

Enough about music, back to the game...

As for the game, the game was a good one.  Like I said, for most of the game, the West had a 15 point lead.  However, down the stretch the East (i.e. led by LeBron James) started to mount a comeback.  The final score was West 148, East 143.  For the East, both LeBron James and Amare Stoudemire dropped 29 points.  For the West, Kobe Bryant had 37 points and 14 boards.  Also for the winning team, Kevin Durant came up big with 34 points. 

Great game, great music, and great time!  Bring on Orlando...


THE WIRK

My Grammy tweet timeline ~ Random thoughts during the award show

I've compiled my Tweets from the Grammys.  I've removed the ones where I tweeted other people and replied to others.  They're from most recent to oldest.  Enjoy!

• I feel like I should've watched the Oklahoma City Thunder play instead of the #Grammys...
• Arcade Fire for Album of the Year?!?! Seriously? What a waste of time. Where's #Kanye when you need him? #Grammys. Thumbs down.
• No more lady antebellum!!!! #Grammys
• Arcade Fire... Am I still watching the #Grammys?
• Can't wait too see #Rihanna and Lenny #Kravitz perform on NBA All-Star Sunday. It'll be hot!
• #Rihanna and #Drake... Hot! #Grammys
• Love Diddy, but.. Check out #Diddy's lower grill and why does he look like a waiter who just got off a shift? #Grammys
• Nicki #Minaj... With a 101 dalmations wig like Cruella... Ummm.. Ok... #Grammys
• Anyone know the Oklahoma City #Thunder score? I'm a bit over the #Grammys...
• Barbara Streisand... Wow. Terrific. #Grammys
• Ok. Get Jagger off stage. We get it. #Grammys
• Mick Jagger on stage. Looks and sounds good to me! He came out looking a bit like a matador. #Grammys
• i feel like the crowd should be snapping during this Grammy PSA. I hate jazz. #Grammys
• Grammy camp... Who knew? #Grammys
• I mean hotter from all of them. Number was hot, but I feel it was missing something. https://twitter.com/thewirk/status/36988242465136641”
• Dr. Dre!!! With #Eminem and #Rihanna... You think he's still working out? Performance was good, but I've seen hotter. #Grammys
• Bring out Dr. Dre!!!! #Grammys
• If you haven't seen #Eminem live you need to! Seen him at Anger Mgmt Tour and at the Home and Home tour. Amazing. #Grammys
• #Rihanna... Just beautiful. #Grammys
• I didn't know Johnny Depp played guitar
• John Mayer looks like he's trying to Johnny Depp... Fail. #Grammys
• Is the girl in the black dress wearing the dress Camille Grammer almost wore to the Tony's? #RHOBH. #Grammys
• Katy Perry resembles Eliza #Dushku... #Grammys
• #Gwyneth sounds good but she looks like she should be performing on a talent show, not the #Grammys.
• Cee Lo Green (a cross between a peacock and a fraggle rock puppet) and Gwyneth Paltrow... Diggin' it. #Grammys
• Ever been to the Bahamas? Cee Lo Green looks like he's ready for Junkanoo! #Grammys
• "It's a 1/4 after 1 and I'm drunk dialing you now" was probably the original line for the song... #Grammys
• From now on, I am going to backlight myself to check my split ends... #Grammys
• So maybe we can't get Clay Matthews a barber, but what about a trip to the mall? Sup with the outfit? #Grammys
• #Gaga imagined Whitney Houston singing Born This Way? Random. I hear #Madonna. #Grammys
• How many times do we get to watch #Usher perform "oh my gosh"!?!? Didn't he do it last All-Star? #Grammys
• The sound is off on #Bieber's never say never performance... Might have to see movie, but prob won't. #Grammys.
• I've got #Bieber fever. #Grammys
• I'll admit it right now. I think the "grenade" song is dumb. I bet he'd catch it and wing it somewhere else though. That'd be smart.
• Lenny #Kravitz still looks hot. Haven't seen him since #GNR concert at #Hammerstein Ballroom... #Grammys
• #gaga's "born this way" sounds like "express yourself" by #madonna... gaga is also sporting the madonna pony-tail #grammys
• who's the kathy griffin look a like that was singing aretha's song? am i watching bravo? #grammys

THE WIRK