Oct. 30, 2009 Rihanna - Russian Roulette
by Rachael Bell

Fans of Rihanna have long been waiting for her next single which finally dropped on October 20th. Unfortunately, most of the online buzz about her release seems to be negative.

Many reviewers are criticizing the choice to release a ballad as a first single, while many others are focusing on a “Russian roulette - guns - violence - Chris Brown incident” train of thought. And I don’t get it.

Sure, the song is slow, and not the upbeat single we’ve come to expect – it’s definitely not another Umbrella or Don’t Stop the Music. There’s nothing wrong with a good ballad, like Beyonce’s Halo or If I Were a Boy from her I Am... album. When linking the negative connotations of the song to Chris Brown’s alleged abuse against Rihanna, I don’t think that is valid at all. Rihanna has remained tight lipped about the whole subject, and I doubt a vaguely violently themed song would be her means of opening up about that. Not only that, but Rihanna is no stranger to sad, haunting tunes to begin with – Disturbia stills freaks me out a little and her vocals on Jay-Z’s Run This Town gave me chills.

Finally, Rihanna is undoubtedly evolving as an artist. When she first stepped onto the scene with such tunes as Pon de Replay and SOS, her style was colourful, flirty, and fun. Take a look at photos of her from the past few months, and you’ll see a darker, edgier Rihanna with no qualms about taking a few risks.

That’s what I think Russian Roulette represents. Releasing a ballad as a first single is a risk, but it represents the artist Rihanna has become and it doesn’t deviate far from her previous releases. Fans can still find the artist they’ve come to love, and should appreciate the evolution that some artists can’t seem to master. The song itself is striking, the lyrics show vulnerability, and Rihanna’s vocals are, as always, beautiful. It may not be an instant classic, but it has definitely found its place on my iPod.