Whether she's playing an overtly sexualized dance-pop ringleader ("S&M") or a vengeful murderess ("Man Down"), Rhianna has proven to a pop star who can be depended upon to produce videos that are both visually compelling and consistently thought provoking. On "We Found Love," this trend continues.
The video begins with English model and actress Agyness Deyn, offering up some inner monologue relating to Rihanna's state of emotions after she leaves video lover Dudley O'Shaghnessy because of his abusive personality and even more abusive drug use. Rihanna's character is no saint, but Deyn's musings make it easier to empathize with her:
"You almost feel ashamed that someone could be that important, that without them, you feel like nothing...You feel hopeless, like nothing can save you. And when it's over and it's gone, you almost wish that you could have all that bad stuff back, so that you could have the good."
For this track, the lead single from her forthcoming Talk That Talk album, due out November 21, Rihanna enlisted the talents of Calvin Harris (the DJ at the deck at 2:06). And if this song and its accompanying video are any indication of what's to come, we're in for another wild ride.
Movers & Shakers: After a lengthy absence from the Billboard charts, Evanescence returns, with a number-one debut on the band's self-titled third album, its first release in five years. Adele's 21 holds steady at number two, while Five Finger Death Punch's American Capitalist debuts at number three. Scotty McCreery's debut Clear As Day drops three spots (1-4), and Tony Bennett's Duets II falls three spots (3-6). Lower on the chart, Joe Jonas breaks from his brothers and debuts at number fifteen with Fastlife, much to the chagrin of die-hard Jo Bro fans everywhere hoping that he would be the new Justin, who, is rapping now, evidently.
We Love the '80s: With the release of the new film version of Footloose comes the release of an equally anticipated soundtrack. Led by Blake Shelton doing Kenny Loggins duty on "Footloose," the new, country-flavored soundtrack flies from 136 to 16 this week on the Billboard 200. Elsewhere on the charts, the Original 7ven, the band formerly known as The Time and including R&B producer Jimmy Jam, sees its new song "#Trendin" land on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at number 77. What will the band members be doing to celebrate? The Bird, of course!
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