Rihanna returns to the music scene for her first solo effort since her scandal with a tragic outlook and Lady GaGa unveils her newest hit off of the re-release of the critically acclaimed album, The Fame. Both tracks’ morbid and cynical themes are perfectly fit for an October release.
Russian Roulette – Rihanna- The lead single off of Rihanna’s new album, Rated R is not what I was expecting. It is a bold move to release a midtempo track as a comeback solo when she is known mostly for gargantuan club hits. Penned by Ne-Yo, the song’s lyrics – much like its production – are effective because of its harsh minimalism. Rihanna bellows the chorus with vocal forte not present in her earlier attempts of a heartfelt ballad. The subject matter is especially striking considering the very public abuse scandal she endured earlier this year. The metaphor of playing russian roulette as her relationship with a man is interesting. It implies the grave chances one takes when trusting someone in love. Most striking is the track’s abrupt finish, with a sharp inhale by the diva and the resounding crack of a gunshot. Who shot who? Well, that’s up to the listener. Brava.
“Russian Roulette” is bound to divide fans. And while the song might have been pulled off better by someone vocally superior (like Beyonce) the emotion emanating from Rihanna’s vocals will drive the song to be a hit.
Bad Romance – Lady GaGa- Lady GaGa is in full form on “Bad Romance” the lead single from her upcoming re-release of The Fame subtitled Monster. The track is most definitely a retread on the similar singles that made her a massive hit, and will most certainly hit the top of the charts – if not the top 10. With hooks thrown at you from all angles(starting with the raragagaohlalala opening, to the chorus, to the “love love love” bit in the verses and even that bridge with the french) the song seems pretty safe, but what makes it enjoyable was the incredibly raw performance in the top layer of vocals for the track. The raspy nature of GaGa’s lower register is front and center – harkening back to her famous piano and GaGa performances, which are thoroughly enjoyable. It also helps that RedOne is a bloody brilliant track maker: killer synths and 808s are cued perfectly – especially at the end of the Vogue-era Madonna style spoken bridge where he builds the track through the “love and revenge” breakdown all to be muted for GaGa’s powerful yell that leads us into the final chorus. Pop brilliance.
The subject matter conjures images of the twisted romances found in Hitchock films, and I am pretty certain that the upcoming music video will reflect that – but set in France. [Radio Edit]
What do you think of the singles from these megastars? Are they good or just overrated? Let me know. Leave a comment.
No comments:
Post a Comment