Rihanna’s Hard video is previewed at MTV. As stated at MTV, it shows off “her fashion-forward outlook and her willingness to dive into complicated narratives and images.” However, not all fans are buying the new Rihanna.
Does Rihanna’s Hard video show the real Rihanna?
After a look into Rihanna’s history, one will discover that Rihanna was a former beauty pageant winner. Fans remember her with long, flowing hair and tight, sexy dresses – typical and non-offensive to most, the type of look that is considered standard beauty for celebrities. According to Rihanna, it was a look that was not her, but a look that was designed for her. Says Rihanna in Glamour magazine, “In the first two years of my career, there were a lot of restraints on what I could do. I couldn’t wear certain colors of lipstick, like bright pink, dark pink or red; [my lips] had to be natural. Eventually, I stopped communicating with certain people at the label, and did exactly what I wanted to do. And that was to cut my hair, dye it black, change my clothes, change my sound. Really to just express myself.” The new Rihanna sports short hair and couture pants outfits. In her new Hard video at MTV, she continues with the short hair, dark glasses and unique expressions of military wear. Says Rihanna, “It’s couture military.”
Even though Rihanna says the new look is the real her, do fans buy it?
Rihanna has gone from a look that most people embrace to a look that is highly creative. Highly creative is not always acceptable in American society. Says one commenter, “Why does she insist on doing this? She is not hard. She doesn’t even write her own music.” And in a brutal comment in reference to Rihanna’s history with Chris Brown, another commenter said, “She deserves another smack for this video. Talk about overkill. She tries way too hard and it shows.”
Can a singer go from a soft image to a hard image – and still remain believable? Madonna has been able to successfully change her image over and over. However, few singers have the lasting appeal that Madonna has been able to achieve. Time will tell if Rihanna’s new image, as displayed in Rihanna’s Hard video, will survive in the competitive world of music. Hard has peaked at 19 on Billboard’s Top 100.
Sources:
Rihanna’s ‘Hard’ Video: Check Out A Preview! – MTV
Jessica Wakeman, Rihanna Talks To Glamour About Chris Brown Assault, The Frisky
New Rihanna!, Perez Hilton
Billboard.com
