Music Video Monday… Rihanna – Rude Boy

by Devil’s Food Cake

Have you ever heard a song you only kind of liked at first? A song that didn’t appeal to you for the longest of times, but slowly, surely, over time, crept onto your playlists, Spotify and youtube selections? A song that, like fungus, just kind of grew on you?

That kind of accurately sums up how I feel about this song. Don’t get me wrong – I love Rihanna. The woman is genius with her song selection, and at the age of 21, has managed to become a mainstay of good hippedy-hop nights, with four excellent and very well-received albums in as many years. You can call it a hook, you can call it good marketing, but nothing changes the fact that she’s done extraordinarily well for herself.

Which brings me to her newest song. Described as a return to her dancehall roots, ‘Rude Boy’ is kind of delicious. And the cherry on this sundae has to be the video, which looks like something out of M.I.A’s playbook and is embellished with some pretty impressive moves busted by the lady herself. Curiosity as to the origins of this sudden psychedelia led me (of course) to Wikipedia, where I was informed that the director was a woman by the name of Melina Matsoukas. Ms Matsoukas’ CV reads like a musical who’s who, with credits for videos for such heavyweights as Lady Gaga’s Just Dance, Eve’s Tambourine and Beyonce’s Sweet Dreams.

Observe…

…and discuss.