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Rock&Rant: Rihanna

8/16/2012

8 Comments

 
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Glamour magazine, 2011.
Rock&Rant- When I need to quickly rant about music.

Many have recently asked what my thoughts are on Rihanna, the controversial pop-star most known for her catchy, sexually overt music and her former relationship with entertainer Chris Brown that ended in a well-publicized domestic altercation. Well, here it is. When Rihanna was signed to Def Jam Records mid-millennium, Reggaeton (urban music with heavy Latin and Caribbean influence) was still hot and one of the reigning queens of R&B/pop was Beyonce`. With Rihanna being a native of Barbados with a toasty complexion, I’m sure Rihanna seemed like a sure-bet cash cow to then Def Jam president Jay-Z. Not such; at least not at the time anyway. Her first 2 albums “Music of the Sun” and “A Girl Like Me” were quickly released within a year of each other and neither effort performed extremely well. Often dubbed in the media as “The Bajan Beyonce`,” music journalists often criticized the singer for bearing too much of an aesthetic resemblance to Beyonce` in her music videos and performances. As if the failed attempt at the Beyonce` blueprint wasn’t enough, Reggaeton was fading from the mainstream. 

It was time to re-evaluate, so the record label took a drastic shift: they got big name R&B/Hip-Hop producers and turned Rihanna into the Anti-Beyonce`. Pop producers/songwriters Evan Rogers and Carl Sturken (known for their work with N’Sync & Kelly Clarkson) were traded out for urban heavy-weights Timbaland, Tricky Stewart, The Dream, Ne-Yo & Stargate. All but Timbaland have continued to work on Rihanna’s projects. Delivering intensely infectious and sometimes well-written tunes, popular producers and songwriters have made Rihanna a top 40 queen with singles constantly riding the charts. Her affiliation with one of hip-hop’s biggest-selling acts, Jay-Z, hasn’t hurt either. The street cred helped her garner Grammy nods and cross over into another genre, as she was featured on massive hits with established rap artists like Eminem, Kanye West & T.I. One can only theorize why all these hits haven’t translated into higher album sales, however.

Rihanna’s heightened commercial appeal was only furthered by her image transformation into the Anti-Beyonce`. Increasingly edgy, dark (sometimes gothic), rebellious and sexually-charged, Rihanna’s persona, music and reputation is the antithesis of the mild-mannered, Obama family-friendly Beyonce`. The contrast works well as Rihanna’s antics feeds the audience’s hunger for sensationalist gossip and their desire for music that expresses their own personality variances. Basically, Rihanna is who people indulge in and listen to when they’re in the mood to feel reckless, slutty and detached from anything thought-provoking. A sassy potty-mouth who’s often been photographed in public scantily-clad, partying and smoking weed, she’s music’s resident “bad girl” and it doesn’t appear that her record label or P.R. team is going to great length to disguise or clean it up. Why aren’t they? She’s doing exactly what they want her to do. Part of Rihanna’s promotion and marketing magic is to be the “wild child.” It keeps her in the news and people watching. Rihanna reminds me of that girl in college that’s sowing her oats and trying to figure herself out. Only, I’m not sure if Rihanna will ever “figure herself out” or mature, because she doesn’t seem to have people around that will encourage her to eventually take a more productive path. That’s why I kind of feel sorry for her; it’s like the record label is gaining at the expense of her growth. Should she one day want to be a different woman, it’s going to be an uphill battle with the executives. A battle I foresee she will lose, considering she doesn’t have much creative input and doesn’t give the impression that she’s business-savvy.

This brings me back to the music and my ideas on why she doesn’t sell as many albums versus singles. Pure and simple: people don’t take her seriously. When they see her, they see a dancing sexual blow-up doll. She’s doesn’t write songs, produce, arrange or play an instrument. The extent of her singing and dancing abilities are debatable-vocally, the main thing that makes her distinctive is her accent. Whatever allure her singles have are the result of a producer or songwriter’s effort; not her own. Rihanna could have been anyone; had Jay-Z signed another girl, the story wouldn’t change much. People aren’t willing to purchase and listen to an entire album by someone with debatable aptitudes, especially in an age where it’s incredibly easy to access music online for free. She’s only as good as her last catchy song. Few people have had lengthy careers on the strength of sex and controversy alone. You have to bring something else to the table.  Rihanna herself doesn’t frustrate me as much as the concept of her does. Record labels sign people like her, exploit them, make their quick dollar, discard them and repeat with new blood. Not only is this practice disrespectful to the art-form, but it brings down the quality of available mainstream music. It also urks me that artists like Rihanna are offered deals when there are so many talented people who can’t seem to catch a break; especially signed acts who, despite their gift, aren’t properly supported or promoted by their label, but that’s another topic for another day.

8 Comments
Brandy link
8/16/2012 02:50:59 pm

I, personally, like Rihanna. I like that, while she is pop, her music is mainly club and techno based beats and puts a person in a happy, dancing mood. I like her too, that vulgar, don't-give-a-shit attitude matches my own and not worrying about offending people. People get so offended by the stupidest shit hypocritically that Rihanna could, or any female artist, just open their mouths to sing and people would complain up a storm.

This ridiculous campaign against sex and sexuality is really stupid and one of the main reasons teens are getting pregnant, people are getting AIDS, and so many myths and sexual untruths are floating around. Instead of embracing sexuality, society has brainwashed people that its bad yet only views women as sex objects that HAVE to look like Rihanna, Beyonce, a supermodel, a Playboy bunny. Too much attention is given to the sexual aspect of Rihanna, its not like its a new thing. When I see a new pic of Rihanna half naked its like "Eh, her bikini shows more. I don't see what the big deal is. Woohoo a freakin nipple." Since she is in the article, Beyonce is very sexual as well but because she's married and doesn't have a rep of being a sexual deviant with a huge appetite for hard, rough sex, she's innocent in the whole sex in the media debate? No, all female artists, and the males who seem to think degrading women as whores in their songs is cool, have a hand in this. Instead of society and people just accepting the sexually driven 2000s and treating the genre as normal, more fuel is added to the fire against sexuality. People have sex. That's how people become to be even more people. Women dress sexually, men dress sexually. Big deal, not important.

But back to Rihanna's music, I think there needs to be more genuine pop artists who make happy, dance worthy music. Not the cheesey pop artists or the crap rappers who make trash that insults the genre. Well made and produced music like Rihanna's isn't a bad thing, its actually better than the depressing emo crap "real" artists are trying to make and get record deals. I know a lot of her music is dark or sexually dueled but like "Disturbia" for instance, anytime that song comes on I see people start to move, moods improve and energy retutrns. While they aren't listening to a sad, really insightful, though provoking poem set to music, people are releasing emotions that bogs down in general, like stress, anger and depression, and getting exercise at the same time. I think happy music improves life and I'd rather have an artist like Rihanna around than 5 crappy "happy pop" artists around like the ones who popped up around the time Backstreet Boys, N*Sync, Britney and Christina came out and became popular. Be happy, not everything has to be negative or depressing. Dance and listen to Rihanna.

Reply
Mike J
8/16/2012 03:25:23 pm

You're joking right? lol... First of all, JSays' argument has absolutely NOTHING to do with the campaign against sex and lack of sex education. Teens are getting pregnant because they are misinformed of sex, and listening to "Talk That Talk" "Watch N Learn" "Birthday Cake" "S&M "Skin" and pretty much 80% of Rihanna's music only contributes to that factor. Music affects psyche, yes, but psyche influences action. How much this is so is obviously debatable, but you can't end your opposing argument saying "people react to the music" without addressing the obvious reaction people will have to the content of her music.

The POINT was that Rihanna doesn't give us anything aside FROM the sexual aspect of the industry. Yes she dresses well, and gives us a new hair color every album, but who doesn't do all of that?

As for the music, to be honest, Rihanna is only as powerful as her songwriting team. (I use the term team loosely btw)... I can name plenty of modern day artists (male and female) who are actually talented that give good upbeat dance party music (Gaga, Beyonce, Jessie J, etc) and can also WRITE meaningful lyrics and contribute to the music industry in a positive way rather than milk it til it runs dry. So yes people react to an upbeat techno or club-pop groove, and they enjoy it, but that's not going to sell albums, or give Rihanna the #1 album she's been unsuccessful of receiving.

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Maria
8/17/2012 07:40:40 am

@Brandy: What's the difference between "happy pop" Britney Spears and the Rihanna "happy dance music" you're describing? Your statement makes no sense. Also, music that actually deals with emotions tends to resonate with people more. You never hear people say a dance song got them through a hard time; it's usually the "emo stuff" you describe that inspires people. Also, to add on to Mike's point, this article isn't about whether or not sexuality should be in music or not, it's about how that's ALL Rihanna offers. Clearly, you really don't care about the art of music if all you want is a 1-dimensional artist.

Reply
Sereth Wynters link
8/16/2012 04:48:06 pm

Well, I personally like Rihanna, but I don't listen to her on a general daily basis. And her albums aren't worth buying, the album doesn't tell a story or have any strong backbone to it. I did in fact buy her first album. And it's somewhere in the public storage now. I however, do pick her songs, over other artists when I'm at the gym, where you don't really need to think about nothing, but having a good background beat with a vocals laced in it. Even as a lamb, I cannot listen to Mariah's music at the gym, because you listen for the voice if you listening to Mariah. Rihanna's music you really don't care what she is singing about to be honest, you care how she places her vocals in the instrumental to make it sound so full of energy.

Also as a Pisces to another Pisces, she is going down the wrong road of a Pisces. Pisces should stay away from drugs and alcohol, because we can easily become addicted to it. I don't know how much riri is doing, but it seems like a lot.

Her relationship with Chris Brown is her own thing, I do think it molded her into what she is today. I feel like she is scared to go back to that good girl look, her album Loud, had potential for her to go back to that good girl route, but then she released TTT and it was like welp . . . . nvm!

I fear she is going to follow in Mariah's footsteps career wise, but instead of having a comeback she won't. She's going to become overworked, If you looked at it, Rihanna, had a new album released very close to each other.

I want her to take a break from music, get herself together, vocal coaching for a year or two. Then I want her to comeback to the music industry, establish herself as a new person, probably a new stage name Fenty.

I know in my heart, Rihanna is just putting on an act, Pisces are good with acting, we can become anything we want to be if we tried hard enough. If you see Rihanna visit Barbados, she not the same Rihanna you see around in USA. She really puts up an act to guard herself in my opinion, if she opened up and was who she is genuinely, people will love her, but I think she scared. The USA media is not nice. So by being bad she can really guard herself, because all of the publicity, because it's just a persona, she knows it's not who she is in her heart. But Rihanna is really losing the grasp of reality and her "persona" is just . . . . . her now, its who we see. It's not good. I love her, but she not in the righ track, I'm not a navi lol , but I care for her.

Reply
Rbbie
8/17/2012 07:42:38 am

I'm mad so many comments have NOTHING to do with music. You guys missed her whole point for doing this article.

Reply
Ki ki
8/20/2012 01:37:02 am

I feel fame is a drug for her. Where other artists who are as big as her want Grammys, acclaim, and to be the GOAT, Rihanna craves the fame and the noteriety of being a star. Unlike Gaga, Beyoncé, Xtina, Britney Spears, etc. you never really hear about "how hard she worked to get to her point of fame." It seems as if one day Rihanna woke up decided she wanted to be a singer, swam to New York, audition and got a deal. The Oprah interview kind of confirmed this as well in the beginning.

I myself thought she would be a one hit wonder with Pon De Floor fast word to 2 years late and she releases "Umbrella" which goes on to become huge.

From the strength of "Umbrella" and the accompanying video MTV proclaimed Rihanna "the new Queen of R&B."

People ignored the fact that Rihanna was not (nor was she trying to be) R&B. People didn't ask a lot of questions. People were just tired of Beyonce and we needed a female artist who was:

1. Black (or at least Black-ish)
2. Attractive
3. Talented,
4. NOT Beyonce.

Rihanna was 3 out of the 4 and that was good enough for the general public.

You mad a good point about the "Anti Beyoncé". I always hear people say they like her more because she is "not safe". If it seems as though Rihanna is more daring, bold, or experimental than Beyonce, it's because she didn't have as much to lose. When she released "Good Girl, Gone Bad" there wasn't a "Rihanna Sound" or "Rihanna Image" or anything she was known for. She didn't have a large fan base to appease or disappoint. She was in many ways a brand new artist at a time when people were searching for the Beyonce antidote.

We don't know a lot about Rihanna. All we know is that she's from Barbados and she got harshly beat by her boyfriend. There's not a lot of extra information distracting us from her music, so it's a little easier to enjoy it.

Reply
King Beyoncé
8/20/2012 01:35:45 pm

Dave Chapelle said it best in his Rick James skit:

"They should have never given y'all niggas money"

These ignorant fools have the world on a platter and NOT because of TALENT and the problem is - I don't KNOW why these fools have the world on a platter. The thing that disgusts me about Rihanna is she's not some tortured artist or tortured soul with an interesting personality or interesting look or interesting voice. She is just your average girl, who honestly, must have won her recording contract out of a cereal box because I still can't figure the fuck out why this bitch ever got signed and is all over my goddamn TV talking to Oprah about the same basic shit you hear when you're outside at a mall smoking a cigarette and an annoying beauty school dropout bum bitch comes up to you and tells you her shitty life story.

Like I would sit here and defend this girl if she could write a fucking SONG about it but guess what, she CAN'T - and that's my whole point. Who wants to listen to this spoiled brat?

Reply
Lee
8/23/2012 02:39:35 pm

OK, J...you know i love me some Rihanna. No she is by NO means full of talent. i pretty much agree with everything sereth said. i do believe RiRi has a lot of potential that she hasn't utilized. if she were to seriously take a break and get with a vocal coach and take the time to mature and grow as an artist i think she could be great. she has a huge fan base obviously. and she has done some writing here and there...i mean granted it wasn't great writing. lol. but i feel, like you said, she hasn't really had a chance to be herself or find herself. if she were to get away from jay z and do her own thing...sign with a new label or create her own label and do her own thing she could be great. but in my opinion at least 90% of female artists use their sexuality to sell records whether it's lyrically, physically, or both. to each his own i suppose. i just know that if i'm down and depressed i can put on just about anything from rihanna and instantly my attitude does a 180 so for that i say thank Rihanna :)

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