Rihanna: Talk That Talk

 

(Photo Credit: www.hiphopdx.com)

By: Shari Straker

With four Grammy awards, five American Music Awards and 18 Billboard Music Awards, to say that singer Rihanna, 23 has been busy is an understatement. She has a plethora of accolades under her belt in her short six-year career.  Her achievements include being the youngest artist in Billboard history to have eleven number one singles on the Hot 100.  According to beyondrace.com, “[Rihanna] also became the fastest solo artist in the chart’s history to achieve twenty Hot 100 top-ten singles, breaking the previous record set by Madonna.” Rihanna debuted her sixth studio album, “Talk that Talk” on November 21.

Even before her album was officially released it topped the charts on iTunes, and remains in the top ten. “Talk that Talk” took the number three spot on Billboards Top 200 this week.  Her first single “We Found Love” has made the number one spot home on Billboards’ Hot 100, for ten weeks.  The Pop stars’ techno infused track is the perfect mix to her almost flawless album.  “Talk that Talk” has already been certified Platinum in the UK, after the first week of its release. She has definitely come a long way from, “Pon De Replay”.

Critics have been giving “Talk That Talk” rave reviews. MTV News’ James Montgomery has claimed that “Talk That Talk” [is] “not only the best effort of her career, but arguably the best pop album of 2011…” Billboard says that the album is, “a fleshed-out statement that captures Rihanna’s relentless drive and will likely keep her on top. This album’s not a victory lap; it’s a whole new race.”  The New York Times claims, “Talk That Talk” is the blithest Rihanna album, which is saying a lot. It has none of the dark, wounded subtext of her more recent albums, almost no sign of scarring left by her tumultuous and abusive relationship with Chris Brown that seemed to hover over her more recent work.”

Though the DefJam/RocNation artist left her good girl persona years ago (Good Girl Gone Bad), she expresses her inner bad girl thoroughly with this release. “Talk That Talk” oozes sex and love, but mostly sex.  Yes, sex is the theme boys and girls.  Her sixth studio effort is the singers raunchiest to date.  In the past, she has danced around “sex” with singles such as “S&M” and “Rude Boy”, but this album was no holds barred.  “Talk That Talk” isn’t for the feint of heart as one of Rihanna’s songs “Birthday Cake” proves. (“It’s not even my birthday, but he wants to lick the icing off”, she seductively moans.)  The song, which is an interlude is less than a minute but makes the listener want more.

In “Cockiness (Love It)”, she shamelessly sings, “Suck my cockiness, lick my persuasion”, all over a reggae-pop infused beat.  Rolling Stone’s Jody Rosen agrees in her own review, “Rihanna coos, moans and unleashes slick dancehall-style rapping over a refrain that minces no words: “I love it when you eat it. . .”

Throughout her album, Rihanna doesn’t forget about her Caribbean background. She slightly brings forth hints of dancehall and a Pon De Replay essence, which is the perfect balance.  But “Rih Rih” isn’t only about sex. “We all Want Love”, “Do Ya Thang” and “Drunk on Love” to name a few touches on her softer side; she sings of wanting and needing love.  “Drunk on Love“, which is featured on her deluxe album she sings, “I wear my heart on my sleeve! /Always let love take the lead! /I may be a little naïve!”  It makes the listener wonder how true these lyrics actually are.

(This article was  published in Long Island University’s Brooklyn Campus newspaper, Seawanhaka, on December 8th)

Artist Spotlight: Adele

(Photocredit: www.idolator.com)

By: Shari Straker

Her voice, sweet as honey and smooth as silk is the perfect combination to describe multi-platinum selling artist and future–if not current–icon Adele’s unique voice.The moment you hear her voice you immediately get flashbacks of Etta James, Billie Holiday and Sam Cooke.  Adele, 23 had conquered the world in 2009 by winning two Grammy Awards for Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance with her first album 19.

Her debut album which went four times platinum in the UK and sold an estimated 5 million copies to date in the US, continues to break records.  Her sophomore album, 21 which was released in February 2011 has consistently been within the top five of Billboards’ top 200 music albums since it has debuted in the US.  The album which has held steady on the charts for a total of 39 weeks has sold over 10 million copies worldwide.  Not bad for a rookie whose fans continue to embrace the London born singer.

In a world where illegally downloaded music is the norm, (which has plagued the music industry since Napster, Limewire and Frostwire) Adele fans have given hope to an industry that seemed as if it were fighting a losing battle.  Both of her albums, 19 and 21 proved that there are still true fans that are willing to support an artists’ music.

In her biography on her website (www.adele.tv), Adele explains that when she was 14, she realized that she wanted to pursue a music career.  “As soon as I got a microphone in my hand, when I was about 14, I realized I wanted to do this,’ she said.  Most people don’t like the way their voice sounds when it’s recorded.  I was just so excited by the whole thing that I wasn’t bothered what it sounded like.”

She also delves into the inner workings of her mind in developing her debut album 19.  “My debut album is about being between 18 and 19; about love,” she continues.  “Daydreamer’ is about this boy I was in love with, like proper in love with.  He was bi and I couldn’t deal with that.  All the things I wanted from my boyfriend, her was never going to be.  I get really jealous anyway, so I couldn’t fight with girls and boys.  It’s quite a sad album, [with songs about] being cheated on and not getting what you want.”  Adele has also previously revealed that her albums are named after the ages in her life, as she went through various misfortunes of falling in and out of love.

Her current album, 21 with its continued success includes hit songs such as, “Rolling in the Deep”, “Rumor Has It” and her recently released single, “Someone Like You”, which is number three on Billboards’ Hot 100.  Her single, “Someone Like You”, has been on the charts for a total of 18 weeks.  Fans in the United States have connected to the British born songstress as she sings about love she’s had, lost and found.  For example, her song titled, “One and Only”, takes listeners on a journey of finding someone she’s falling for but being too scared to admit it to herself.  The song encourages those who have been hurt by love that it’s okay to let love back into their lives again.

Another song on her album, “Set Fire to the Rain” tells a story of being in love and being lied to.  She recounts her experiences of falling victim to a lover who continuously lies throughout the relationship.  Another memorable song on her album is “Rumor Has It”, which is about being the other woman.  Throughout the song she hears rumors that the person that she’s with is leaving his girlfriend for her.  However, at the end of the song she stuns listeners and she sassily leaves him for another man.

As Adele continues on her journey of musical domination she is definitely a real artist, which is why her fans have remained loyal and shows continued support.  Her albums are reminiscent of a timeless era, back when singers could actually sing.  At the tender age of 23, she never fails to amaze, turn heads and make people smile with her music.

(This Article has also been published in Long Island University’s Brooklyn Campus Newspaper, Seawanhaka 7th Issue.  Published on November 17, 2011)

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