Today, Rihanna’s video for her latest single ‘We Found Love‘ was released, and with it comes a hell of a lot more outrage and controversy.
Whilst the video was positively accepted by hundreds of thousands of Rihanna’s ‘Navy’ with some calling it her best video yet, critics were quick to jump on the video for its flagrant drug abuse and raunchy scenes. Continue reading
With some of the strangest lyrics to roll from the tongue of Rihanna, including “Could’ve been somebody’s son” (there’s no could’ve about it, Rihanna. He HAS to be SOMEBODY’S child…), but amazingly catchy lyrics and beats, ‘Loud’ sees the Pop Princess back on form, with the trendy, club-like tracks that first made her famous.
The album features eleven tracks, including the first released single, ‘Only Girl (In The World)’, which paves the way for the rest of the album. The rumours that Rihanna has been taking vocal coaching lessons may be true; these are definitely some of her strongest and well-held notes to date.
The real shocker of the album has to be the song, ‘Man Down’; a surprisingly upbeat song about repeatedly shooting a man after a confrontation. Rihanna pleads for mercy, “Tell the judge please give me minimal”, and a Jamaican-esque theme runs throughout the whole track. It’s really a track you have to listen to several times to get the feel for, but soon enough you’ll be swaying along with the rhythm and wailing out, putting on your very own Jamaican type accent. (Well, I do, at least).
My favourite song of the whole collection has to be ‘Fading’. The lyrics “Go on. Be gone. Ba-bye. So long.”, actually made me chuckle the first couple of times I heard them. Many criticise Rihanna for using songs like this in her work, always relating it back to her disgusting ex, Chris Brown, but this is where I really praise her. For someone who’s been through so much, putting this much effort into a song and actually having the courage to release it for the whole world to see is one of the bravest things to do in the music industry.
Other stunners include ‘Love The Way You Lie, Part II (Featuring Eminem)’, and ‘California King Bed’ which provides one of the most emotional choruses I’ve heard in a pop track for a very long time. There are a couple of chinks in the album’s armour, but on the whole, this is very much a large step in the right direction.
Bravo, Rihanna. Your fans are proud.
Favourite Track – Fading
Least Favourite Track – Skin
Great Tracks – 8/11
Stars – 4/5
