“Russian Roulette” … yeahhhh, ok …
(photo courtesy Vibe, http://www.vibe.com/mt/2009/10/singled-out-rihanna-russian-roulette/)
It’s the beginning of Rihanna season, as the singer prepares to release her next album, Rated R. Today, the blogs are alive with the sound of music, as everyone’s all over the release of single numero uno “Russian Roulette.”
I have a bone to pick with some of these creative heads and songwriters in the industry. Rated R? ”Russian Roulette?” Really? They couldn’t come up with better, more imaginative names for some of this material? Or is the demand end to blame? People really seem to like this corny, pun-riddled crap. I can’t – it leaves no room for my intense cynicism. Must … ridicule … must … criticize.
Anyway, I digress. Rihanna hasn’t excited me for a long time (I blame the overexposure), and she doesn’t excite me now with this single. I applaud Ne-yo’s songwriting efforts for creativity and depth in terms of lyrical content, but these R&B power ballad beats bore me to tears. Tears, I tell you! But I suppose that’s the thing with the power ballad – you either love that kind of music, or you don’t. I will just simply chalk it up to the style of music not being my thing. I don’t hate it, don’t get me wrong, but I’m not about to suggest it to people to add to their playlists.
But, I am excited to hear more from the album. Although I can’t stand most of her music, I genuinely like Rihanna. Personally, I think her talents and strengths perhaps lie outside of the music world. I would love to see her doing some designing, or even some styling. I don’t like most celebrity lines, other than Twenty8Twelve (lovelovelove the Spring 2010 RTW collection), but I would LOVE to see a Rihanna line, perhaps a teaming-up with some great designers; after all, she’s a fashion world darling, and we know she has the contacts and the weight. The girl has an eye, it’s just that her lack of personality just does not do it for me on the music front – besides, why not make the space for someone fresh and new, someone a tad more interesting?
However, I must say, I am not feeling the new dancehall-queen-like direction her wardrobe has taken, especially not the eyepatch-wearing and the slicked back, brown and black pompadour/undercut/I don’t know. Rihanna by day, fierce pirate or passa passa dancer by night? Your call. I just miss her pre-”Run This Town” style, that’s all.
Anyway, here is “Russian Roulette” for those of you who haven’t already heard it. Take a listen below. Our thoughts?
The R Word: Rant. I’m sooooo bored, you guys.
I have to disagree here. I actually like Rhi’s music, I feel like she is to pop in 2009 what Britney was circa ‘Slave4U’. I mean, a little edge and sex never hurt anyone right?…well, except for the mothers of the over-sexed 11 year olds who are trying to emulate her, but that’s life these days.
The last I thing I want Rhi to start doing is designing. MY GOD WHAT A DISASTER THAT WOULD BE. She doesn’t have an eye, she has a stylist. She isn’t creative, she just picks the blackest, leatheriest, fringiest, shortest, and see-throughiest things right off the runway and out of the lookbooks before we ever get a chance to see them. She tries too hard, it’s all just so contrived.
Pop music has been in a little all over the place for a while now, so I don’t really mind if she adds yet a few more lyrically suggestive, high-intensity yet over-all irrelevant songs for me to dance to. But with all the crap that’s been going in fashion lately, like LiLo becoming “creative director” for Ungaro (whatever that means), I don’t know if I could take another celebrity hit. If we give her a line then we might as well give Lady Ga Ga and Katy Perry one too.
I am waiting to hear it on the radio or something so I don’t actually know it’s her. If at all possible.
Ps. I also like the olsens lines.