Much like Tase's unexpected obsession with Elvis came my newfound applause for Rihanna. On Saturday night, Rihanna's music video for her latest single "Rude Boy" was playing on the MTV Hits channel. Initially I really had no intentions of watching because really, I'm not one of those people who watch music videos, but I found myself doing a double take. Since when did Rihanna get so badass? Last time I checked she was singing in the rain about an umbrella, and then outta nowhere she's seductively singing, "Come here rude boy, boy, Can you get it up? Come here rude boy, boy, Is you big enough?" Jigga what!?
Now I know, I know, I'm sure people probably find this offense,crude, raunchy, etc., but RiRi, I applaud you from breaking away from your former industry-produced, bubble gum pop image. Our favorite Barbadian came to the United States when she was only 16 to start her musical career, signing with Def Jam Recordings. When she first came onto the pop scene, Rihanna was donning long, sun-kissed, wavy locks, wearing tomboy-ish, trendy outfits, and "safe" makeup looks.
In the music video for her first hit single "Pon De Replay" she is the typical breakout female pop artist. The song is about dancing/being in a club (typical), dancing alongside other stomach-baring, attractive men and women. Her makeup is not dramatic, nor are her outfits. She has a bit of a caribbean flair, but is bland enough so that she can still be molded into whatever America wants her to be.
6 years later we know a COMPLETELY different artist. Since then Rihanna has gone through many different "looks", including various different hairstyles, and her music has continued to evolve. It seems that with this latest album, "Rated R", RiRi has gotten tough as hell. Her new style is edgier and totally her own, and she is full of tattoos.
I posted both the "Pon De Replay" video and the "Rude Boy" video so you can see the complete 180 Rihanna has pulled on us.
Funny things to note in the "Rude Boy" video:
-Rihanna grabbing her boob while "dancing" at about 0:24
-Riding on top of the fake lion multiple times (innuendo here people)
-Looking in the guy's pants when singing, "Is you big enough?" at about 1:23
-The zoom in on her chest while wearing that strange black/white bodysuit at 2:57
Also to be noted, in both videos, the men are wearing all white.
Okay, here are the visual sparknotes of this whole thing:
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