It’s been…let’s say…interesting months since Rihanna released her album “Good Girl Gone Bad” which was a huge success. The producers promised that the new album will show us a grown up Rihanna and a new direction.
Mad House
This intro makes you already feel that you are in fact in a mad house and that the atmospere of the album will be rather dark.
Wait Your Turn
The wait is ova, the wait is ova…this is what we were told before her songs were released and seriously this sequence sounded sick. Overall the song is good, just her lyrics like “I’m such a fucking lady” make me frown. But the fact that I already can sing along to the song is a good sign I guess.
Hard
The collaboration with Young Jeezy is definitely one of the highlights of “Rated R”. The reason for this might be that it comes the closest to “Good Girl Gone Bad” songs (rrrrp).
Stupid In Love
The first mid-tempo song was written by Ne-Yo. Brandy also sung this song and I realized that I prefer Brandy’s version over Rihanna’s. The chorus is a little annoying too but that obviously counts for both songs.
Rockstar 101
This song basically just tells us that Rihanna is a rockstar now. Yay.
Russian Roulette
A song that divides the minds. The controversial lyrical content isn’t easily taken by people. You decide if it is still ok or a threat to our young people in society. Personally, I like the song a lot. Additionally, I’m really feeling the video for it.
Fire Bomb
This is probably what you call pop/rock song. “Fire Bomb” is a song I expect an American Idol winner to sing. It’s alright.
Rude Boy
I think this is a song that has a big problem. It’s overloaded. It’s like they tried to put everything in this song, the chorus is catchy though.
Photographs
Photographs is another favorite track of mine. The song is relaxing compared to the other tracks off the album and you clearly hear, not only because he sings, that Will.I.Am is responsible for this track.
G4L
Ok. I could make this real short. This song sucks. Seriously, what the hell was she thinking? I’m not going into details but c’mon the one second you are a “rockstar” and the next second you are a “gangster for life”? Huh? Plus, don’t say the n-word. You haven’t done it before so why now? Ah right, I forgot that you’re a gangster now.
Te Amo
Even though I still don’t know what Rihanna wants to express with it, it’s clear to me that Te Amo is a great song. I’m glad she put it on the album although it’s been out for quite a while.
Cold Case Love
This is the longest and most likely the most beautiful song on “Rated R”. In the second half the beat gets to heavy though but otherwise it would have gotten boring after a while. However, Justin Timberlake did a good job on this.
The Last Song
I really don’t see the point of this song. The attempt to create a epic ballad failed. This gives me nothing. Another singer may have turned it into gold but no, not the case here.
Overall this album is just ok to me. Although I like some songs it’s not like I’ll be jamming to this album like there’s no end. Not only because Lady Gaga is about to release “The Fame Monster” but just because Rihanna’s transition to something that is not her. Yeah, I know the stans will come and call it a development bla bla but just look how she behaved and looked when she came out with “Pon De Replay”. Of course people change over years but that was too drastic and saying “motherf***er” doesn’t make you cool at all.
The only positive thing I can say is that Rihanna improved when it comes to her vocals. She’s still not the best and won’t ever be vocal phenomen but I can definitely hear that she worked on that. Well, it was pretty much needed.
