RIHANNA: If Love Is What You Need

When I think of the islands I picture images of paradise and exotic beauty but what lies beneath in different areas is an impoverished civilization making do with their circumstances. I was watching Rihanna's video If It's Lovin' That You Want in her earlier days at the start of her career and the first thing that came to mind was how "innocent" she looked. Then after watching the hip-shaking, pop-locking, shimming, and grinding on the ground I changed my mind. Innocent is not the correct description to use but I will explain further along.

She looked wholesome but she radiated a cute sexy. It's rare to see those two words together but it is possible to be both. I guess we're so accustomed to hearing, "You're cute" or "You're sexy" but when I think about it, it sounds weird to say, "You're cute sexy" so I understand. Regardless she was that. I loved her long hair, eye shadow, lip-gloss girly sexiness. It bothers me how music Artists start off in the game with one image and after the 2nd or 3rd album it is a complete 360. I'm not in on the inside scoop of what the industry is all about but it does become something fans have to get used to. Even loyal fans can either be excited or shocked by the transformation. I'm listening to the words of the song and realize what irks me about the Island songs I've heard in the past. Even though there were some that I remember liking to this day like, Beanie Man ft Mya "Dem Girls Dem Suga",Wayne Wonder "No Holding Back", Sean Paul "Gimme The Light" Diane King "Love Me" from the 1990's and so forth I'm referring to the ones that are overly suggestive to the point where the video portrays the "want to have sex" to the max. Unfortunately a song with Sean Paul and I'm assuming his protégé Shawna called "I'm still in love" conjures up the notion of lust instead of actual love. Alot of sexual innuendo is portrayed in the video so I'm confused. Love = Lust or Love = A hot moment of tempting sex?!? Either way it seems to be an integral [part] or aspect of their culture. When the video ends I start thinking, what do Island girls' aspire to be? I've never seen them depicted any other way than slutty, trampy girls grindin on their fellow Island guys for a wild night of fun. It would be nice to view them in a different light. I'm not sure if they take pride in representing themselves this way or if they are taught and influenced this is what it means to be a woman. It's very irritating to see this because there is always better. There has to be substance beneath all the over-sexed portrayals. I would hate to think this is what young women aspire to be based on this. Despite the concept sex sells in the entertainment & music business I still wonder if Rihanna's image is truly how she represents herself as a young woman from Barbados. I'm not a big fan of Island music but she has managed to crossover and break the barrier of Island music being combined with mainstream US pop, rock, and hip-hop for this generation. That is a milestone. She is a reigning musical figure in the US. Nonetheless Rihanna gives me the feeling this is what Island girls aspire to do with themselves and their time: go out into the world looking for men to hook up with, have random rendezvous, and one night stands parading around like an offer for a "good time". Then it continues over and over again like a young girl caught up in prostitution. It's really not that far from the idea. I can't sit here and say father-less babies run rampid but if it's true then my point is made. There should be more to them than this. A newly released Rihanna song and video "Where Have You Been" also confirms my point.

Music is music. There are songs that are catchy & you can't help but sing-along and dance but when you see a repetitious theme such as this you can't help but ask, why? or what's up with that?

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