LISTEN: Rihanna's New Single!
MP3
Rihanna
Yeesh. What is going on with new Rihanna's new single?
"Russian Roulette," written and produced by R&B smoothy Ne-Yo, starts with some wanky lead guitar lines before settling into a dirge-like tempo over which the Barbadian diva sings about suicidal gunplay as a metaphor for, uh, what exactly? (Hear the song below.)
"He says close your eyes / sometimes it helps." The song ends with a gunshot. Ick!
Even weirder than the music -- which admittedly has a sinuous, kinda catchy chorus -- is the accompanying artwork. It shows Rihanna in a corset, her naked breasts covered by some strategically-placed barbed wire. To her left are a large switchblade and the words "Russian Roulette," made to look as if they were written in blood. We've come a long way from "Umbrella."
Thetrack arrives in advance of Rihanna's November 23 full-length, Rated R. Will the song be a hit? Maybe. But did the world really need the Deer Hunter of slow jams? Not so much.
Click here to listen and decide for yourself. Should we give "Russian Roulette" another shot, or is this one D.O.A.?
MORE ON SPIN.COM:
>> Listen: Chris Brown's Comeback Single
>> Watch: Jay-Z, Rihanna, Kanye "Run This Town"
>> Review: Jay-Z Joined by Rihanna, Kanye, Diddy at 9/11 Show
48 Comments
Click here to comment- Posted By ladywilson
10.20.09 3:41 PM
Rihanna it was not that good, it could really be better. You have done better actually so step it up chick.
- Posted By Gina
10.20.09 3:45 PM
I LOVE her. . . I wish people would stop being so hard on her and her new found style. I happen to love that she's not like everybody else!!! As she gets older and is experiencing life, she is learning more about herself and if this is how she wants to express herself, then so be it. You don't have to like it, everybody's entitled to their own opinion, but keep it to yourself. Isn't there enough freakin' negativity in this world?!?!?! I say keep on rockin' Rihanna!!!
- Posted By Anonymous
10.20.09 4:14 PM
hey she went and got those tattoo' s of the gun's done unless that was all a stunt in the paper?!!!! thenn comes out with this song pretty serious man she must be hurting alot hope he wasn't her first love!!! hey we all been there done that lol love u girl!!!! keep ur head up !!!!!!!
- Posted By Anonymous
10.20.09 4:38 PM
Its not as bad as many are saying ill give it a 7 on a 10 scale... Shell give us somethng else upbeat soon Im sure. nNontheless, as I was typing this then i hear the gun shot at the end wow. ;) lets givem a lil hope n inspiration Rhi.. still beleiveing in ya
- Posted By DeniseMichelle
10.20.09 4:41 PM
die hard fan...........i'll show support but damn girl you pushin it! i hated this one!!! sory boo...love you!
- Posted By slim buddy
10.20.09 4:56 PM
i feel ya Ri if thats the way u felt when u wrote it f- it do u baby and middle finger to the haters
- Posted By Not an anon
10.20.09 5:08 PM
Hallelujah! I actually like this [but it's a bit depressing], it's different from her other "great" songs. It's not no S.O.S crap or "Umbrella ella ella eyy eyy eyy" and that's awesome to say the least. I hope to hear more deeper and meaningful lyrics from her, like this one [but something that's a little more upbeat, though I really enjoyed this song]. :]
1
10.20.09 3:22 PM
i hated it damn rihanna u can do better i still love yeah