Rihanna reveals new single, 'Russian Roulette'
After some initial hints and rumors the past few weeks, Rihanna has returned to the pop landscape with a brand-new single, "Russian Roulette." It's her first official release since her February incident with then-boyfriend Chris Brown and the first track from her forthcoming "Rated R," the Nov. 23 follow-up to 2007's "Good Girl Gone Bad."
Rihanna's recent, tragic history ensures there's more than a pop curiosity around the single, but she's also been one of the industry's fastest-rising stars. "Good Girl Gone Bad" spawned multiple hits, including the ubiquitous "Umbrella," and has sold 2.5 million copes in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan.
From the initial few listens on "Russian Roulette," it's clear that Rihanna isn't going to play nice, nor does she appear to have any intention to shy from tough, violent subject matter. This is far from the typical ballad. It's an assertive, harsh and, at times, frightening single, coming to a close with a gunshot. A guitar streak opens the number, but the song doesn't explode into "Shut Up and Drive"-like exhilaration.
Instead, the song, co-written with Ne-Yo, strikes a more resolute tone. It's hard to imagine it blasting out of car windows or even controlling a club, but it's all attention-grabbing stuff, standing in stark -- emphasis on stark -- contrast to much of the current pop landscape. The smattering of piano keys could be a soundtrack to a horror film, and Rihanna's quivering pre-verse gasps immediately put the listener on alert.
The lyrics are vague enough to keep people guessing but hint at a situation one probably doesn't want to be in the middle of. "He says close your eyes, sometimes it helps," Rihanna sings with unshaken directness, adding, ominously, "and then I get a scary thought." The beats close in around her, and the strings quiver as if they're being played through gritted teeth, building in the end to something almost approaching a theme to a Bond film.
But make no mistake, although the song comes to a close with a final bang, Rihanna is the heroine here. "So just pull the trigger," she tosses off in the cut's final moments, all swagger and confidence. The narrative of the song -- and just who, exactly, is the shooter -- matters less than Rihanna's command performance. A midtempo song without overbearing production, the single belongs all to Rihanna, and she makes the best of it -- a bit icy, a tad fearless, with the vocal strength to keep the orchestral flourishes at bay.
-- Todd Martens
Photo credit: Def Jam Records / Associated Press
Kids are stupid.
Posted by: Never Thought I'd See the Day | October 21, 2009 at 10:17 AM
The way the article described this song, I expected far more.
The disadvantage to being a lovely writer.
Posted by: Ezra Deetz | October 21, 2009 at 01:03 PM
the worst thing about this album cover - the horrendous design. An artist of her stature should have better art direction than this. Wack photography, wack typography and a real wack logo. Her music will hit, it doesn't really matter how good anything is anymore- none of it stands the test of time.
Posted by: vargucci | October 21, 2009 at 05:56 PM
It's funny how people seem to compare Rihanna to Beyonce, these are two different individuals and they are not comparable. However the new Riri's new Song is off the hook and off the hinges. I'm glad that she's taking control over her ART and her image and music, it goes to show that she's not just some Barbie doll. The song starts of with an awesome electric guitar and the beat is very subtle and haunting and sounds like a heart-beat, as if we are listening to her heart. Her Vocals have matured and i like the way she deliver the lyrics, I must say this is a Dark song but maybe we need to look @ it at her end what she's going through or what she went through. Getting back to the song----The sound is very different and not you typical ballad---This is shorely Rated R!!!!!!Awesome Ri-ri-----Well Done
Posted by: Mkhululi | October 22, 2009 at 03:55 AM
The song IS NOT promoting domestic violence. It is doing the exact opposite - capturing all of the feelings and justifications people in those relationships use to stay and showing the very real consequences of that at the end of the song with a gun shot.
This was an amazing song that is deep and meaningful - something that I honestly didn't know Rihanna could pull off. I'm impressed.
Posted by: music fan | October 22, 2009 at 11:00 AM
Wow smh....theres going to be an even higher rate of suicide within the teen generation...this girl needs to move the hell on already and start makin more positive uplifitng songs not sad depressin demonic CAPITALIZIN SUICIDE SONGS..what the hell has been up with this island girl lately?? shes been creepin me the hell out. I think she probably wanted that incident with Chris to happen so that she could turn into this dark gothic overly sexualized chick that she is today...the gun tats the dark makeup the hooker clothes and now this? wooow her fans are soo damn stupid to think that this sh*t is deep..yea if your fkn insane or ready to kill your damnself.
Posted by: (Officially) Hood Glamorous | October 22, 2009 at 12:30 PM
I love the song it's amazing.Yeah it's different from what she usually sings, but watever,it's a cool song.
Do any of you haters really know Rihanna????????? Stop hatin!
Her and i were born and raised in the same town, i've actually met her and still talk to her.
Love Rihanna!!!
Posted by: Rihanna | October 22, 2009 at 12:42 PM