For the next five days we’re profiling a select group of Grammy nominees. Don’t miss VEVO’s Grammy coverage this Sunday night, February 12, here in the blog and on VEVO, including videos, photos, updates on Twitter and Facebook, and the evening’s best acceptance speeches.
Back in 2004 you might have come across Rihanna for the first time and repeated an old saw: “Anyone who looks that good can’t possibly sing too well.” But clichés, like records, are made to be broken. Clearly, the young vocalist had pipes. And now, with her 2011 CD Loud nominated for a Grammy in the “Album Of The Year” category, the striking star has taken things to the next level, ascending to that spot where only the most gifted artists get to go. Her accomplishments are many.
On the way to becoming one the world’s best-selling musicians, Rihanna has had a few obstacles she’s had to navigate, like clearing a place for herself in the crowded pop landscape. She did it by offering us a rather irresistible combo platter, blending deep Caribbean grooves, pinging electronic beats, and a saucy delivery that’s as quirky as it is infectious. At first, listeners may have been skeptical. But then they heard 2005’s Music Of The Sun and its funky dance hit “Pon De Replay” and were knocked back a bit by it’s entertaining bounce. The album hit the Top Ten and one thing became clear: Rihanna was no clone. She was a cagey experimentalist mixing dancehall, hip-hop and pop into a fetching blend.
There’s been controversy of course. Rihanna experienced it, dealt with it and worked through it with assurance. It was tough stuff: she was the victim of highly publicized domestic violence incident. But Rihanna is a professional, not a professional victim. She made art of her problems.
For proof you needn’t look any further than her duet with Eminem on 2010’s “Love The Way You Lie.” It’s a bracing ode to the impact of abusive relationships, where Rihanna goes toe-to-toe with Em, referencing a hellish life with a hook that is positively heavenly. The video with the burning house bolster’s the music’s power, and even earned RiRi a “Teen Choice Award,” proving that pop music can be edgy while getting its message across. Later on, collaborating with folks as eclectic as Nicki Minaj and Coldplay, she showed even more artistic courage. Rihanna recognizes no boundaries, except the ones drawn by her muse.
That’s what has fueled her hits. “S.O.S.” made hay with a borrowed “Tainted Love” melody, “Umbrella” connected her with Jay-Z and drove an addictive refrain into ears of listeners around the world. Each subsequent track – from “Disturbia” to “S&M” – made a bigger splash, until Grammy noms (and wins) were the norm, and her tours were some of biggest events in pop.
Seven years on, with the singer vying for a win in the “Best Album” category, another accomplishment as been clocked. Loud not only boasted the singer’s best first-week sales ever, it’s had an artistic scope that’s gone beyond numbers. Rihanna says pop chameleon Madonna is her hero. If that’s the case, just wait. The hits, the controversies, the overt sexuality, the quirky new incarnations? She’s got plenty of cards to play, and one thing seems clear: this is only the beginning. – Peter Gerstenzang
