It’s pretty much the last thing you’d expect from a Rihanna CD intro. But as you slide her new CD "Rated R" into your computer, the first thing that comes up is a man with a deep, foreboding voice and an organ playing in the background. "Ladies and gentleman," he begins, "To those of you who are easily frightened, we suggest that you turn away now. To those of you who think they can take it, we say, welcome to the mad house."
I’m not sure who has ever viewed Rihanna as a particularly scary, ominous figure, but she seems to think so. And what she wants to be taken as self-esteem boosts come across as simply arrogance. The first track on the CD, "Wait Your Turn," offers the lyrics, "I pitch with a grenade/Swing away if you’re feeling brave/There’s so much power in my name..." And she follows this verse by holding up her "Rated R" promise to the public: "I’m such a f@#$in’ lady/You don’t have to be so afraid." Aww, thanks. But no offense; no part of me was ever afraid of Rihanna or her image.
This CD is Rihanna’s attempt to change her persona. And to help her, her messy breakup with singer Chris Brown was conveniently waiting with open arms. I’m not saying that I don’t feel any sympathy for her, but it’s hard to believe that her entire transformation wasn’t bound to happen, regardless of what occurred in her personal life. Even her last CD, "Good Girl Gone Bad" was a step away from good old "Pon de Replay."
The song, "Stupid in Love," recollects the abusive relationship, but somehow the chorus falls short of moving anyone to tears. "Oh, this is stupid," she belts, "I’m not stupid/Don’t talk to me like I’m stupid/I still love you but I just can’t do this/I may be dumb but I’m not stupid." I have a few problems with these lyrics. First off, the redundancy is, well … redundant. Secondly, why would she publicly call herself dumb? And correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t "dumb" and "stupid" synonyms? In other words, this song is not only dumb; it’s stupid.
Rihanna’s certainly no innocent child, but her sensual songs have been known to be more suggestive than blunt –but not anymore. "Rude Boy" does not offer any technically explicit lyrics, but we know what she wants, and what she’s talking about. No hints necessary. And in "G4L," when she talks about her gun use and promises that she’s "gangsta’ for life," she’s not fooling anyone. And her continual use of profanity seems a bit too desperate.
And then suddenly, in the middle of the CD, "Te Amo" incorporates a Jamaican beat– you know, like the ones in her old music. But why the Spanish? It just doesn’t fit into the already confusing, over-worked album.
Anyone can agree that Rihanna does have talent as a singer. But her new CD is a failed leap into foreign territory. Her actual talent is overshadowed by her need to sound intimidating. The only exceptions would be "Fire Bomb," "Cold Case Love" (although the underlying drum beats are slightly irritating) and "The Last Song." Don’t bother with the whole CD. For old Rihanna fans and people who might simply be interested, consider these three tracks. But honestly, it just seems like she’s sending out yet another SOS. And this one isn’t worth your money.