To add fire to the flame that fuels bloggers and the pop world all over, Rihanna’s video for “Russian Roulette” has also dropped today. Rihanna has taken to a more abstract route in her Anthony Mandler directed video, focusing on the darker tones and vibe that buoy her first single from the Rated R album.
Where as Chris Brown takes an artistic yet simplistic point of view, Rihanna is hell bent on proving that she is an “artist” and this is her album of freedom, self-exploration and of staking her place. Well, that’s all good and I wish you well, but I’m going to stop you right there.
Rihanna uses her sexiness but tries to downplay it at the same time. The nude colored clothing, yet she is clearly using her assets to draw us in. But then takes the tack of wanting to get away from a beauty piece. She presents this gauzy, highly visual yet abstract video for a song that is talking about guns, fear and toying with death (all this metaphorically of course), and expects people to pry out of it what she is trying to make us understand.
My interpretation? She was playing Russian roulette with her life by being with an abusive man, and she (as of right now) is still standing. All of this is just superfluous to get us to look at her and listen to this boring song.
I’m gonna go ahead and call it 2-0, Chris. Not that I’m particularly happy about that, but musically, his records and the visuals he’s presented so far have been much more accessible, engaging and interesting. You can only look at Rihanna for so long before you have to listen. MUSICALLY, he’s winning. Strictly music LOL. Pop = appealing to the masses, and these are clearly pop artists. Chris is making a bit plainer than Rihanna. Again, keep it simple stupid!
Related posts:
- New Music: Rihanna – “Russian Roulette”
- Rihanna Playing “Russian Roulette” With Her Record Sales & Fan’s Patience Still
- Coverage: Dondria Does Rihanna’s “Russian Roulette”
- Rihanna Hits “Saturday Night Live” With A 1-2-3 Punch
- As Rihanna Returns To Stages, We Wonder Why The Wait Has To Be Ova…
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November 13, 2009 Rochelle
Rihanna and her forehead are pretty.The male part in the video is Sexy..I still don’t like the song from the first time i heard it still wanna makes me pull the TRIGGER TRIGGER.
November 13, 2009 kelis
I have to disagree…. I am not at all interested in Chris. He can’t sing at all and I really feel like his music is just OK- the only thing he really has going for himself is that he can dance. I didnt watch the video b/c I’m at work but… I like the song. I’m no Rihanna stan and I’m not throwing shade to CB because of the incident but sorry he has never moved me.
November 13, 2009 HEALTHY BLACK QUEENS
It did nothing for me. After her fans excused the violent undertones for a deeper meaning, it was disappointing to see the gun included. Maybe it’d be better without it. The car, the interrogation room and the swimming scene have all been done before. At least they took away the focus on her baring her breasts, for the first time this era, but the nude bra did make her look topless for a moment.
Why does she have to bare her breasts in every album promo pic? They took her nude photos down, but then she produces some official ones instead?
November 14, 2009 KBJr.
Here is where I wholeheartedly disagree with you IPS (big surprise). I’m digging how Rhianna is trying to branch out for a more mature sound. If you want to call it her seeking respect as an “artist”, so be it, but I’ve found her recent music far more interesting than Brown’s run-of-the-mill R&B dude shtick.
“Russian Roulette” is one of the better singles of the year in my opinion. It’s an artistic challenge. Different sound, darker mood, subtle sexiness…as opposed to Brown who is skating on the same ice he was prior to the beating incident and I’ve got to believe it’s thin ice (for me that ice has been broke!)…there’s got to be a point where he matures as a entertainer or “artist”, why not take the lemons he was dealt this year and make lemonade?
BTW, I haven’t really like much else I’ve heard from Rhianna’s new album, so I’m not in the tank. I’ve loathed what I’ve heard from Chris Brown, so: R-1 CB-0
November 14, 2009 The IPS
OK I can see that perspective too @KBJr., I am so torn but not really cause it doesn’t matter to me THAT much, but you get what I mean.
November 14, 2009 kelis
I finally watched the video and I thought it was just ok. The visual was great but why don’t people do interesting storylines anymore? I do cosign with what BRJr. says though. I can appreciate the direction Rihanna is going with her music and trying something different.
November 14, 2009 Collegechick205
I’m just into this whole I’m so depressed over this whole situation so the world is dark movement that she’s going for. It gets a big NO from me. Kanye already did the bad breakup thing with 808s and Heartbreaks so I really just don’t want to hear this type of music around the Holidays. I mean that’s when laughter and stuff is supposed to happen, not pulling the trigger because of heartache. So I have to agree with you IPS. Chris wins this one for me because at least his music isn’t so damn dark.
November 14, 2009 Joe
Why do we keep competing these two together? They both were doing music before the incident and they both coincidently have albums scheduled to drop around the same time. Fact is when I first her Chris’ song I said to myself, “This sounds like everything else on the radio.” And Rihanna’s single is something that will possibly be one of those big pop hits that you hear for years to come. The Chris Brown song will die out as soon as a new song comes out to replace it.
November 17, 2009 Brittney
I agree with you IPS… Rihanna is trying too hard to be an artist. I would believe it more if she took the time to put her own music out instead of inlisting every writer that throws her a song.
Neyo said that when he wrote this song, there was no deep meaning, he just wanted to illustrate what it would be like if two people were sitting across from one another, playing a game of russian roulette.
November 18, 2009 SororSalsa
Interesting….this whole thing has been spun as “Rihanna co-wrote this with Ne-Yo”, which doesn’t seem to be the case. I’ve never heard more clear paint by numbers instructions to killing yourself in a really stupid way.
November 19, 2009 daba3
well chris brown can do nothing but shake his ass on mtv he musicly sucks so bad rihanna is nothing but full beautiness shes amazing her new vid talks about defeating a challange that nothing can b impossible and sometimes you will fail and you will succede thats basicly what life is and then shes awesome GO RHIANNA LUV YOU !!!!!!!!!!!! Chris brown can suck my left nut and ill let him suck the right one for as a tip and I disagree wit the webmaster
November 19, 2009 daba3
this vid doesnt talk about suicide…. it talks about challanges