How Rihanna didn't tire the public?

[jimmytimestep 2,703]

16 hours ago, Indyl said:

there's a certain type of artist that is both uncontroversial and an undeniable bop-maker. Bruno Mars, Ariana Grande, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, Adele, etc. all fit this mold.

Rihanna has turned out hit after hit while also gradually evolving her sound and image. her whole image does exude a certain swagger that makes it unlikely her fan base will ever turn on her.

Also, I honestly think her longevity is severely underrated. Bitch has been here since 2005! The GP is clamoring for her next album, and there's no denying that whenever she does release it, it's gonna be absolutely massive. Whatever the lead single is will got #1 no matter what, and I would bet it'll yield 1-2 more #1s after that.

Even the most iconic artists (Madonna, Prince, Mariah, MJ, etc.) seem to lose their ability to stay at the forefront after ~20 years, but I definitely see Rihanna being able to remain a major figure in the music landscape for at LEAST another decade, which would put her at about ~25 years of consistent relevance. even icons like Cher have periods of downturn, but Rihanna's legit never flopped.

crucially, tho, Rihanna doesn't write her own music. Her albums are a group effort, which, compared to artists who write and produce their **** (like Gagz & Yonce), is much easier to put out and maintain. whenever she needs a new hit, she's not ever hesitated to bring it new producers, writers, etc.

Extremely well said 

[Guest]

47 minutes ago, StrawberryBlond said:

There's a difference between being overrated and being uncool. Beyonce's never been uncool, even when she got older, stopped making chart music and started having kids, which makes the average female artists uncool. And having some criticism doesn't mean you're not considered cool at the end of the day. You also overlook how much criticism Ed and Taylor get too. Again, they get criticism but they're still successful at the end of the day. And the GP are into basic music across the board, no matter who's making it.

Yes they have both faced criticism but have come off lightly compared to other artists who've been slated day in day out, Ed Sheeran is still glorified by many and has his music playing on every radio.

[LittleMonster20 9,858]

52 minutes ago, StrawberryBlond said:

Every reason has already been said, not much more I can add. It always amazed me how long she was able to hold the public's interest too but I knew it was only because she was young and hot. I knew once she got older and her sex appeal dropped, she'd be considered uncool and past it and she'd be done. I can see that happening with her next album, if she ever releases it. I'm surprised she made the choice to step back from the industry and lose out on her biggest income. Of course she's proved that make up is making more money for her now but she's lucky she's got the name recognition to make it sell so she could put music on the back burner for it. Many artists wouldn't be able to do that. I wonder if she's ok with not topping the charts anymore when it seemed to be her only goal?

I'm glad you were brave enough to say it. I'm completely with you. Black women in music, contrary to what we're told to believe, have always been seen as more cool than the white girls, particularly in the 90's onward. Because almost all the artists I listen to are white women, it was a hard time growing up trying to say the name of someone I listened to who was cool and wouldn't result in me getting laughed at because all these white artists would always have a very narrow window of being cool, if they ever were in the first place, but the black girls were always thought to be cool. We need to stop pretending that the music industry is exactly the same as it was in the 60's. Black artists have been top sellers for a couple of decades now, are widely respected and awarded. There was a year where every song that went #1 in America was by black artist of hip hop influence. And in the last few years, being black in the industry has never been cooler. I refuse to accept otherwise when the facts are in front of me.

There's a difference between being overrated and being uncool. Beyonce's never been uncool, even when she got older, stopped making chart music and started having kids, which makes the average female artists uncool. And having some criticism doesn't mean you're not considered cool at the end of the day. You also overlook how much criticism Ed and Taylor get too. Again, they get criticism but they're still successful at the end of the day. And the GP are into basic music across the board, no matter who's making it.

I think you're over-exaggerating a little bit here. Rihanna actually has very few hits that have resonated with the public this long, a lot of her old stuff in particular is forgotten and she really has just as many flops as she does hits. I'm not going to say your predictions for her next album won't happen but they sound highly unrealistic. I believe she'll be lucky to get any #1's from this. She's simply been away too long, it'll be the first time she's released an album in her 30's (a hard time for female artists) and trends have moved on. Remember that she's only made one album in nearly 8 years. And Anti (both album and singles) performed terribly internationally, with the exception of Work. It was only the US that truly had her back during that era. If she comes back, she'll have lost her international appeal. The young are now into Ariana, Cardi, Dua, etc. She's not young like these women anymore, she's had her peak. Even if she ever does release this album, there's very little public demand for it, you're confusing it with fan demand. And again, if you think she's never flopped, look at the single performances of the later singles from Talk That Talk, Unapologetic and Anti (again, don't just look at America, look at the big picture). She's been lucky to get two hits per album for nearly a decade. And she's never been a touring force, with her last tour woefully under-attended because Anti wasn't the big hit it was hyped up to be.

So true. I can definitely relate to that. 

[Guest]

More mainstream, more accepted. With very original artists you either love them or hate them thats bcs their art is part of who they are, therefore very unique. You either love Bowie or don't (i personally don't), you either like MJ or don't, you either like Elvis or hate him, you either like Gaga or hate her. But Rihanna? Everyone can kinda like her, but not hate her, same goes for Beyoncé, she's pretty tamed I wouldnt call her super original or unique, or for Adele, Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber...

[StrawberryBlond 14,864]

46 minutes ago, JOSHMATICA said:

Yes they have both faced criticism but have come off lightly compared to other artists who've been slated day in day out, Ed Sheeran is still glorified by many and has his music playing on every radio.

Ed 's music is so uncontroversial and easy listening, so that's how he gets an easy pass. Safe artists always get an easier time. Taylor also plays it safe from a general music standpoint and has never looked weird or tried to challenge conventions. White artists only have an easy time if they're safe and unchallenging. But try to be different and you'll be given a harder time. And white artists have routinely struggled to get critical acclaim in recent times even with brilliant albums whereas black artists, regardless of the quality of their music, seem to effortlessly get good reviews.

[TEANUS 15,071]

Other than Gaga, she’s one of the most diverse girls in the biz. Her voice lends itself to bubblegum pop, dancehall, R&B, hip-hop, ballads, you name it. She’s evolved A LOT too

[Riri 272]

18 hours ago, Reject False Icons said:

I don't want to hate on riri, i like her

I appreciate that

[Chromatico 54]

25 minutes ago, StrawberryBlond said:

Ed 's music is so uncontroversial and easy listening, so that's how he gets an easy pass. Safe artists always get an easier time. Taylor also plays it safe from a general music standpoint and has never looked weird or tried to challenge conventions. White artists only have an easy time if they're safe and unchallenging. But try to be different and you'll be given a harder time. And white artists have routinely struggled to get critical acclaim in recent times even with brilliant albums whereas black artists, regardless of the quality of their music, seem to effortlessly get good reviews.

Absolutely. Finally somebody said it🙄

[socotra 3,310]

2 hours ago, StrawberryBlond said:

I'm glad you were brave enough to say it. I'm completely with you. Black women in music, contrary to what we're told to believe, have always been seen as more cool than the white girls, particularly in the 90's onward. Because almost all the artists I listen to are white women, it was a hard time growing up trying to say the name of someone I listened to who was cool and wouldn't result in me getting laughed at because all these white artists would always have a very narrow window of being cool, if they ever were in the first place, but the black girls were always thought to be cool. We need to stop pretending that the music industry is exactly the same as it was in the 60's. Black artists have been top sellers for a couple of decades now, are widely respected and awarded. There was a year where every song that went #1 in America was by black artist of hip hop influence. And in the last few years, being black in the industry has never been cooler. I refuse to accept otherwise when the facts are in front of me.

I think you're over-exaggerating a little bit here. Rihanna actually has very few hits that have resonated with the public this long, a lot of her old stuff in particular is forgotten and she really has just as many flops as she does hits. I'm not going to say your predictions for her next album won't happen but they sound highly unrealistic. I believe she'll be lucky to get any #1's from this. She's simply been away too long, it'll be the first time she's released an album in her 30's (a hard time for female artists) and trends have moved on. Remember that she's only made one album in nearly 8 years. And Anti (both album and singles) performed terribly internationally, with the exception of Work. It was only the US that truly had her back during that era. If she comes back, she'll have lost her international appeal. The young are now into Ariana, Cardi, Dua, etc. She's not young like these women anymore, she's had her peak. Even if she ever does release this album, there's very little public demand for it, you're confusing it with fan demand. And again, if you think she's never flopped, look at the single performances of the later singles from Talk That Talk, Unapologetic and Anti (again, don't just look at America, look at the big picture). She's been lucky to get two hits per album for nearly a decade. And she's never been a touring force, with her last tour woefully under-attended because Anti wasn't the big hit it was hyped up to be.

I really have to disagree with the whole "black is cool" thing – so fundamentally wrong. Black artists have always been subject to discrimination and standards that white artists aren't. The first Black recording artist in the United States didn't show up until about 100 years ago – Black Americans have been here for over 400 years. While artists like Elvis and The Beatles were dominating, black artists were pushed to the fringes.

Black artists created jazz, which was immediately co-opted by white Americans.

Black artists created house music, which was immediately co-opted by white Americans.

Black artists created rap and hip hop music, has been co-opted by white Americans.

Black American artists have also birthed gospel, funk, the blues, R&B. So, given Black influence on American music, yes, "black" is cool... given that virtually every major artist nowadays has operated in a black-created genre. And that's fine. Anybody should be able to create the kind of music they want (I want to emphasize that) – but over the last 5 years, with the advent of streaming, Black artists have been able to PROPERLY take their place at the forefront of American music.

For every Janet Jackson, Miles Davis, Tina Turner, Tupac, and 50 Cent, you had 5 other white artists that were abundantly more popular in the American psyche.

So, no, it's not that "being black is cool" – it is EXHAUSTING to live in this country as a black person, let alone make it as a bona fide star that white America will respect. What's happened is that Black talent, ingenuity, and innovation is showing up in the charts nowadays more than ever – why? Because the charts are now reflecting what people ACTUALLY want to listen to, versus artificially constructed radio-charts where white American serves as the gatekeeper to what can or can't become popular. I'm not saying Black artists have never been popular – of course they have.

The difference now is that art forms like hip hop and rap aren't relegated to the fringes of American society. Instead of maybe 1 hip hop hit (IF that) per year, we're seeing rap songs take over the charts. This would NOT have happened without streaming, which has democratized the charts.

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What are you talking about? I don't know what your age is, but I'm a 20 year old college student and the thirst for Rihanna among people my age is palpable.

It doesn't matter how many "flop singles" Rihanna has. 7 out of 8 studio albums she's released has yielded a #1 single – and the one that didn't still had a #2 single. She also releases at LEAST 5 singles per album, so of course there are going to be songs that under-perform.

Also, your whole "she's too old" thing is laughable. The woman is *32*. And frankly, her age doesn't matter. Enough with the "Women in pop have an expiration date" argument. Rihanna has also made a notable shift into trap-influenced music recently, so I have no doubt that the GP will be here for that.

I also don't know where you're getting that "8 years since her last release" number – Anti came out in 2016, a little less than 4 years ago lmao.

-----------

Considering you already said, "I refuse to accept otherwise when the facts are in front of me," (which, frankly, is an incredibly nearsighted and subtly racist comment in itself, but I digress), I don't expect you to actually try to understand this post. But please, give it a shot. "Being black" is NOT cool, and hip hop still faces unbelievable discrimination in the music industry even today (look at how people talk about it and Black artists just on this forum...).

 

 

[Babel 41,473]

Regarding the Gaga and Katy comparisons, she wasn’t on the news for wearing a lobster on her head and her personality isn’t awkward and soccer mom-y. 

[Rifek 51,753]

I just heard S&M on the radio and I was shook how good it sounds after all those years 

[Thomas P 18,479]

21 minutes ago, Indyl said:

I really have to disagree with the whole "black is cool" thing – so fundamentally wrong. Black artists have always been subject to discrimination and standards that white artists aren't. The first Black recording artist in the United States didn't show up until about 100 years ago – Black Americans have been here for over 400 years. While artists like Elvis and The Beatles were dominating, black artists were pushed to the fringes.

Black artists created jazz, which was immediately co-opted by white Americans.

Black artists created house music, which was immediately co-opted by white Americans.

Black artists created rap and hip hop music, has been co-opted by white Americans.

Black American artists have also birthed gospel, funk, the blues, R&B. So, given Black influence on American music, yes, "black" is cool... given that virtually every major artist nowadays has operated in a black-created genre. And that's fine. Anybody should be able to create the kind of music they want (I want to emphasize that) – but over the last 5 years, with the advent of streaming, Black artists have been able to PROPERLY take their place at the forefront of American music.

For every Janet Jackson, Miles Davis, Tina Turner, Tupac, and 50 Cent, you had 5 other white artists that were abundantly more popular in the American psyche.

So, no, it's not that "being black is cool" – it is EXHAUSTING to live in this country as a black person, let alone make it as a bona fide star that white America will respect. What's happened is that Black talent, ingenuity, and innovation is showing up in the charts nowadays more than ever – why? Because the charts are now reflecting what people ACTUALLY want to listen to, versus artificially constructed radio-charts where white American serves as the gatekeeper to what can or can't become popular. I'm not saying Black artists have never been popular – of course they have.

The difference now is that art forms like hip hop and rap aren't relegated to the fringes of American society. Instead of maybe 1 hip hop hit (IF that) per year, we're seeing rap songs take over the charts. This would NOT have happened without streaming, which has democratized the charts.

----------

What are you talking about? I don't know what your age is, but I'm a 20 year old college student and the thirst for Rihanna among people my age is palpable.

It doesn't matter how many "flop singles" Rihanna has. 7 out of 8 studio albums she's released has yielded a #1 single – and the one that didn't still had a #2 single. She also releases at LEAST 5 singles per album, so of course there are going to be songs that under-perform.

Also, your whole "she's too old" thing is laughable. The woman is *32*. And frankly, her age doesn't matter. Enough with the "Women in pop have an expiration date" argument. Rihanna has also made a notable shift into trap-influenced music recently, so I have no doubt that the GP will be here for that.

I also don't know where you're getting that "8 years since her last release" number – Anti came out in 2016, a little less than 4 years ago lmao.

-----------

Considering you already said, "I refuse to accept otherwise when the facts are in front of me," (which, frankly, is an incredibly nearsighted and subtly racist comment in itself, but I digress), I don't expect you to actually try to understand this post. But please, give it a shot. "Being black" is NOT cool, and hip hop still faces unbelievable discrimination in the music industry even today (look at how people talk about it and Black artists just on this forum...).

 

 

You articulated exactly what I was wanting to say but you did it in a way more coherent and intelligent way than I could have  

[Todo 30]

20 hours ago, derpmonster said:

Not true... S&M says hello

Walking Perez Hilton as a dog was so controversial! Same as Gaga swallowing a rosary.

[Todo 30]

The public also felt pity for her since the Chris Brown thing and wanted her to rise. 

[Guest]

20 hours ago, raragaga said:

i have no idea.. i mean, she released a song of pure mumbling. i guess the gp has no taste?

Wtf? How is any song by her up until Unapologetic mumble