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Post by zak on Oct 21, 2009 11:22:21 GMT -5
I think its quite good, not as amazing as it could be, but still very good.
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Post by I'M ON ONE on Oct 21, 2009 15:46:22 GMT -5
Oct 21 2009 3:00 PM EDT
Rihanna May Have Released 'Russian Roulette' For 'Shock Value,' Producer Says 'It's so unexpected, from the tempo to the title to the feel,' Chuck Harmony says.
By Jocelyn Vena
Rihanna may be playing a dangerous game on her first single, "Russian Roulette," but the man who produced the eerie ballad, Chuck Harmony, explains that when he and songwriter Ne-Yo sat down to conceptualize the feel of the track they wanted to take Rihanna's musical vibe to a new level. They didn't want to rehash what fans expect of the singer.
"We wanted to give her a movie. We didn't want to just give her a three-minute song," Harmony told MTV News. "I felt musically like everybody was gonna give like that 'Disturbia,' 'SOS,' kind of pop, uptempo stuff, and I really wanted the song that me and Ne-Yo did to stand out."
Ne-Yo co-wrote the track with Rihanna, but when he sat down with Harmony, the producer said the two guys knew that the song should be "something a little darker, something a little edgier, something a little more morbid. Just to try it out."
They recorded the track over the summer, and when it came down to picking a single for Rated R, out on November 23, it was an easy choice not only for the label but also for the singer.
"Rihanna phoned in to Ne-Yo to tell him that it was one of her favorites," Harmony explained. "I think overall she was comfortable with the vibe of the song and comfortable with the lyrical content of the song. She loves the song."
While he didn't go into details about what he thinks the song might be about, he did say that no matter what song Rihanna released as her comeback single people would immediately think it was about Chris Brown.
"Because that's the newest situation," Harmony explained. "Whatever she came with, if she came out with 'I still love you' that would have been about Chris Brown. If she came out with 'I hate your dog' that would have been about Chris Brown, too. It's just a natural reaction for people to associate 'cause she's been so tight-lipped."
Harmony is aware that the reaction has been mixed from fans who've heard the track. But he thinks singles should be about showing artistic growth, not feeding people the music that they expect.
"As a producer, I feel that's what's wrong with the music business, their first singles don't shock people," he said. "You're in a whole other space in life, so your first single should reflect that growth or that setback. I think with 'Russian Roulette' she's digging much deeper into her emotions. I knew she was going to another place an artist.
"If I had to speculate, I would speculate that [she released it] for shock value," he continued. " 'Russian Roulette' is the kind of song that when you hear it you're gonna talk about it — whether you like it, you talk about it. It's so unexpected, from the tempo to the title to the feel."
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Post by Grenade on Oct 21, 2009 15:49:34 GMT -5
Over 4M A.I. the first day. Looking good so far.
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Post by I'M ON ONE on Oct 21, 2009 15:50:31 GMT -5
I don't think this will go #1 (on Pop, anyway), but it will serve as a good comeback single and has already generated a huge buzz for her new album.
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Post by dperkins on Oct 21, 2009 18:29:24 GMT -5
^I could see a new single the week of the album. I know its a month from now, but its hard to release singles during December and this might not have a long life.
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Post by I'M ON ONE on Oct 21, 2009 18:42:57 GMT -5
^I could see a new single the week of the album. I know its a month from now, but its hard to release singles during December and this might not have a long life. You may be right. The album release is only 4 weeks away and I dont see this as a huge-running #1.
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Post by Chains on Oct 21, 2009 19:30:28 GMT -5
You guys say this because you want her to come out with something uptempo or different altogether. You've boxed Rih in this box of not being able to emote or dig deeper with songs. I know the next single will be uptempo, but she's gonna go full force with this single.
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Post by I HATE LA REID on Oct 21, 2009 19:51:52 GMT -5
You guys say this because you want her to come out with something uptempo or different altogether. You've boxed Rih in this box of not being able to emote or dig deeper with songs. lmao....SIT DOWN
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Post by DAMAGED on Oct 21, 2009 20:22:50 GMT -5
LMFAO! Rihanna's stan is going full force on this one.
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Post by Chains on Oct 21, 2009 21:51:04 GMT -5
Indeed I am. I, for one, am tired of this dance sh!t on the radio. Rih goes left field, something new sounding and there's this unneeded backlash. The girl wants to get deep and makes a good effort to do so. If it was Mariah, you'd be on her labias.
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Post by dperkins on Oct 21, 2009 22:19:38 GMT -5
You guys say this because you want her to come out with something uptempo or different altogether. You've boxed Rih in this box of not being able to emote or dig deeper with songs. lmao....SIT DOWN Umm.. yeah thanks. Sit down indeed. I LOVE this song.
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Post by dperkins on Oct 21, 2009 22:20:35 GMT -5
Indeed I am. I, for one, am tired of this dance sh!t on the radio. Rih goes left field, something new sounding and there's this unneeded backlash. The girl wants to get deep and makes a good effort to do so. If it was Mariah, you'd be on her labias. Sweety, it aint backlash. This is probably Rihanna's best ballad ever. Wait.. I take that back.. It IS her best ballad ever. I'm just not so sure if this will have a long life on Pop radio.
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Post by angeltimes on Oct 22, 2009 0:50:30 GMT -5
I prefer Unfaithful. This song is ok though.
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Post by One More Time on Oct 22, 2009 15:25:00 GMT -5
Indeed I am. I, for one, am tired of this dance sh!t on the radio. Rih goes left field, something new sounding and there's this unneeded backlash. The girl wants to get deep and makes a good effort to do so. If it was Mariah, you'd be on her labias. I would say Mariah has lost her mind (again) and that this ain't it. i didn't think i was gonna comment on this again but here i am i will admit this song is a grower but IMHO it's just too left field and let's be real this song is just ominous and depressing and i honestly don't think it will last long at radio let alone go #1
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Post by dperkins on Oct 22, 2009 16:08:44 GMT -5
^Thats kind of how I feel. The song is definitely left field and dark, and I love it, but I feel like it might put off a lot of people. We'll see how it goes. I'm hoping for a hit. Even if this is a massive #1, I think releasing a 2nd single right before the album drops may not be a bad idea. They might as well milk the holiday sales.
Also, what all are they editing out of this on radio? I'm sure they edit out "gun" and the gunshot noises. Are they editing out "trigger" as well? Cause I think if they take out too much of this, it will kill it. Just cause a song is great, doesn't always mean its meant for radio.
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Post by DaveZ35 on Oct 22, 2009 20:00:14 GMT -5
This song has no hook. I've heard it about 10 times now and the only part that sticks with me is "heart beating".
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Post by I'M ON ONE on Oct 22, 2009 21:13:03 GMT -5
I agree...and she doesn't say "Russian Roulette" at all throughout the track.
I think the fact that it doesn't have a hook will prevent it from being a big CHR hit.
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Post by Chains on Oct 22, 2009 21:19:36 GMT -5
I agree...and she doesn't say "Russian Roulette" at all throughout the track. I think the fact that it doesn't have a hook will prevent it from being a big CHR hit. There IS a hook. Where "...and you can feel my heart...beating" starts the hook. "Unfaithful" did not repeat the word 'unfaithful' in the main hook, but rather in the 2 bar build before the actual hook, and it was still a hit.
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Post by One More Time on Oct 22, 2009 21:32:46 GMT -5
lmfao Kardinal Offishall adds a verse for the remix OK that was so f**kin random i lol'ed for a like a min. after hearing it smh this needs to hurry up and peak so they can release "The Wait Is Ova"
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Post by The Music Man on Oct 22, 2009 21:34:49 GMT -5
lmfao Kardinal Offishall adds a verse for the remix OK that was so f**kin random i lol'ed for a like a min. after hearing it smh this needs to hurry up and peak so they can release "The Wait Is Ova" Yuck. I haven't heard the remix, but that must sound really incongruous with the song's general vibe. Is it official or did Kardinal just jump on for hype? By the way, I agree about the weak hook. I actually was trying to sing this to myself earlier in the day and struggled to remember the chorus.
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Post by One More Time on Oct 22, 2009 21:54:46 GMT -5
i think it's official and it's a copy n paste verse
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Post by Grenade on Oct 22, 2009 22:59:48 GMT -5
She's performing this on the AMAs.
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Post by DaveZ35 on Oct 23, 2009 8:45:06 GMT -5
this needs to hurry up and peak so they can release "The Wait Is Ova"
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Post by DAMAGED on Oct 23, 2009 9:21:00 GMT -5
I'm sure the label knows this isn't going to peak high. They're definitely going for the shock factor for the first single.
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Post by H.A.T.E. U on Oct 23, 2009 11:05:00 GMT -5
My first impression of this song is that it's boring and dark. I like that she's going for a darker, more different tone...but I'm just not feeling the song very much.
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