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Once upon a time when the dinosaurs roamed the Earth, recording artists attempted to boost sales by actually recording a decent record. Today? Not so much.
Somewhere Kanye West is fuming over Rihanna's recently released video 'S&M' (gee I wonder what it's about?), which has already been banned in 11 countries. Its a video chock full of Rihanna, pleather, chains, blow up dolls, licking, and a banana. Forget talent -- the key to commercial success is apparently pleather, and lots of it.
Rihanna is just the latest in a cluster of black women who apparently have thrown up the deuce to engaging in artistry or perfecting their stage presence in their careers. Now they rely exclusively on courting controversy to get attention... and Autotune. So sad that they think so little of their "talent."
A little over a month ago, Keri Hilson released her controversial video 'The Way You Love Me.' Apparently Keri's idea of self promotion is softcore porn. Before that Ciara decided to get "edgy" by putting on an eye-opening cabaret in 'Love Sex Magic' and its been down hill from there. Now here we are today watching the latest black pop "diva" show us her underwear to an overproduced track. I know this is supposed to be attention-grabbing and boost record sales, but...
My reaction to Rihanna wrapping herself in plastic and prancing around with a whip in 'S&M'? Am I clutching my pearls at the ball gags and simulated oral sex. No. I'm bored.
I may not be the target audience, but seriously, this video is lazy and so is the song. Rihanna didn't record this song and video for any reason other than to be provocative. In fact she threw a fit when a UK radio station changed the name of the song from 'S&M' to 'Come On.' I guess you lose the meaning if the title changes. Now that's artistic integrity. Or maybe it's someone desperate to use sex, and sex alone, to sell a crappy record.
Apparently the current croup of black ingenues are obsessed with being "edgy" as an antidote for not being talented. Well, who decided that "edgy" for black female artists has to equal 'S&M,' public sex acts, and crotch shots? Who declared that the only "edgy" exploration worth pursuing is sexual exploration? It's not like that's not being explored enough all day, every day on television, radio, in the movies, and on the magazine racks. Isn't something that's cutting edge suppose to push us in a new direction?
Didn't Madonna already do an S&M video like 20 years ago? Even Janet Jackson has her own S&M collection that she amassed during her whips and chains era. In addition, photographer David LaChapelle is alleging that Rihanna copied the imagery in 'S&M' directly from his work. Can you be "edgy" if you copy, verbatim, the work of someone else, that has already been done before? Twice?
If Rihanna wanted to be different she could have taken a completely different path, but the sad truth is that she doesn't think she can. Rihanna wants us to believe that she's empowered in her career --but, I don't believe her. Nope. If you want to talk about power, talk about why you feel so powerless to sell your records that you can't demonstrate your independence in a way that doesn't require you to flop around in plastic bras and panties. And where the heck do you go after bananas and blow up dolls? After going to the cutting edge, perhaps Rihanna has achieved her career pinnacle.
When everyone is courting controversy, is it really controversy or just conformity? In the end 'S&M' comes across as more of a cop out. It's trite. We've been down this route before. It's like Keri and Ciara -- Rihanna just gave up on her real talent, ironically using sex to sell out. I'd be angry about it if they all weren't so pitiful, sad and lost.
Related: Rihanna texts another sexy pic.
Gina McCauley is the CEO of the Blogging While Brown Conferenceand the blogsMichelle Obama Watch and What About Our Daughters. She is currently completing her first book, 'Michelle Obama Watch.'
Comments: (12)
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By: o9capricorn71 on 2/08/2011 11:17PM
I think that Rihanna is having some personal problems in her life. I've seen footage of her concerts online, and she's falling down on the stage. I want to say that she's bipolar or she's been drinking like a fish in water. And I wouldn't be surprised that the abuse and break up with Chris set the ball into action. Your feedback is more than welcome.
Peace!
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By: cheryl on 2/09/2011 11:01AM
i agree, they thought she was all innocent as well..but its a known fact that Rihanna has a temper beyond belief..she's no softy by a long shot..now i'll give it to her ive liked most of her music and she is talented..BUT..{yes there is a but}..chick has issues..and who told her that red hair was cute..that ish isnt cute..and yea they should take that S&M vid/song completely off the airwaves its totally crap..
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By: Justifyed on 2/09/2011 8:16AM
People thought she was all innocent when the whole Chris incident came in, but she's into S&M maybe she likes getting hit. Not saying that Chris should have hit her, but she is not as pure as she wanted the public to believe.
Also...it's been rumored that she has two nipple piercings....hmmm, innocent? I think not.
When you have no talent, you have to use some type of gimmick to keep yourself in the limelight. I bet that her next gimmick will be a lesbian affair with Nikki Minaj. Wouldn't put it past her.
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By: carmelle on 2/09/2011 4:39PM
I agree the first thing that came to mind was so she likes to be hit,im not agreeing with domestic violence.But im just saying when is our young black women going to realize that you don't have to sell yourself short for fame.
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By: Justifyed on 2/09/2011 8:16AM
People thought she was all innocent when the whole Chris incident came in, but she's into S&M maybe she likes getting hit. Not saying that Chris should have hit her, but she is not as pure as she wanted the public to believe.
Also...it's been rumored that she has two nipple piercings....hmmm, innocent? I think not.
When you have no talent, you have to use some type of gimmick to keep yourself in the limelight. I bet that her next gimmick will be a lesbian affair with Nikki Minaj. Wouldn't put it past her.
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By: Ridiculous on 2/09/2011 8:57AM
"I may not be the target audience..."
Stopped reading right here. Well, actually, I didn't. But still, why go in on a topic that's not meant for you?
"Apparently the current croup of black ingenues are obsessed with being "edgy" as an antidote for not being talented."
Well, do you have some other examples in this "croup" besides Rihanna, Keri and Ciara? Last I checked, we still had Fantasia, Marsha Ambrosius, Mary Mary, Melanie Fiona, Mary J. Blige, Monica, Alicia Keys, Jill Scott, Jennifer Hudson, Keyshia Cole (shall I go on?) still making music alongside the three you mentioned. Now if all of them are taking off their clothes and gyrating for the camera, THEN we have a problem. How old are you? You must be new. Donna Summer was singing "Love to Love You Baby" at the same time Aretha Franklin was winning the same female R&B Grammy every year. You have sex and you have soul, and the two have co-existed for decades.
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By: "DimePiece" on 2/09/2011 10:23AM
Ri loves to push the buttons don't she. They need to take that PORN ISH off and BAN THE VIDEO! NO TALENT and all this CrAzY woman has to show is her sexuality and her wack azz dress, non singin skills, her wack videos. This woman needs PHYCIATRIC HELP, SERIOUSLY! She can't sing and like some rappers (Nicki),ect. wanna be singers, ect.. try to get over in doin STUPID STUNTS like this! ENUF IS ENUF! What happened to the Rihanna that first came on the scene so innocent and humble? This is why the world is so corrupt with ISH like this!
Hey clarke if ya out there, there goes RiRi again.
Man, I would BURN THAT SUCKA UP IN A MINUTE, if I came across Ri with her WACK RED WIG! You know how we do clarke :-)
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By: dorian b. on 2/09/2011 10:50AM
She's being an artist. Its expression of where she is in her life right now... Next year it will be most likely a complete opposite...let her be! damn
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By: brendamayee on 2/09/2011 1:59PM
Ri or whatever you call her, is only showing her REAL inner beauty hoe hoe hoe.... yeah i said it.
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By: Dee on 2/09/2011 1:44PM
Lady Ga Ga copy cat
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