Universal Story Told Through Rhianna’s “We Found Love” Music Video

Rhianna’s latest hit, “We Found Love,” and its music video have the entire music world abuzz. Fittingly, the story portrayed in the video is one that almost anyone can relate to according to Rhianna.

Addicted To Drugs and Love

In the video, Rhianna’s character is addicted to both drugs and a man that she can’t let go of(played by British boxer/model Dudley O’Shaughnessy). Supposedly, the music video is suppose to portray a warning to viewers of the mess they can get themselves into with drug and love.

Not surprisingly, the idea for this music video was probably influenced by Rhianna’s turmoil relationship with Chris Brown, who she broke up with after being severely beaten and abused.

Good Moral?

So, I get the whole part about being not addicted to drugs, I mean, that’s a given right? Drugs can completely destroy anyone who becomes ensnared in its deadly grasp.

But I’m not so sure I follow the warning to stay away from true love. Maybe I’m misinterpreting what Rhianna is trying to say here.

Maybe she’s saying that we shouldn’t become addicted to a relationship which compromises our emotional and mental well-being and judgement. After all, she learned this lesson the hard way.

But still, if this isn’t the case, and she is advocating that we protect ourselves from love, isn’t this sending the wrong message? Shouldn’t we be looking for that special someone that we can confide in? Aren’t two heads better than one in life…especially when they are in love?

Okay, sorry, I’m done with the rhetorical questions. But alas, this message that Rhianna is portraying truly does follow society’s view towards love these days.

Only In It For Self

In a day and age where commitment in relationships has become an ancient fairy tale, its no wonder we don’t get more of these “don’t truly love” messages in pop culture and media.

Am I right, or am I wrong (There I go again with the rhetorical question)? It seems to me, that the status quo with relationships has become this: “Stay in a relationship if it benefits you and you’re happy. But you can always drop things if its takes up too much effort and time.”

This attitude that the world has is precisely why love is getting undermined. It’s why divorce rates are so high. It’s also why you see so much co-habitation today, where couples tend to live together without ever getting married.

It’s the idea that you should look for a relationship, but always have an escape plan in the background as well.

Final Word

I hope I’m not dogging on Rhianna and her music video too much in this post. She’s a great talent that is just trying to share with her fans a lesson she’s felt she’s learned from her own life.

That’s the neat thing about music. You get to express your thoughts and feelings through the words and notes that you sing and play. But still, I hope some of us are realizing that our idea of a healthy relationship is somewhat skewed.

Love is not about taking the easy way out, or making sure that you’re always the beneficiary party. It’s about commitment, enduring through tough times without quitting, and making sure that you thoroughly enjoy the good times.

If you would like to see “We Found Love,” click here to check it out on YouTube.

Edited: October 21st, 2011

Adele

“I’m just a normal girl.” muses Adele, which couldn’t be further from the truth. This exceptionally talented young woman is anything but normal.

Over the last few years Adele has taken the world of music by storm, particularly in her newest album, 21.

Born and raised in England, Adele is the beloved darling of her country. But this 22-year old super-star is just at the beginning of her career, and already she’s rated #1 on the charts in over fifteen countries! Her second album, 21, has broken records in Europe and in the U.S. alike.

In a recent interview with Q Magazine, Adele opened up about her former relationship, the breakup that inspired 21. She also discussed what it was like to win two grammies, embrace fame, retain her privacy, and try and maintain normal relationships with friends and family.

Adele didn’t come from money, and noted, “I’m a labor girl through and through. My whole family is.”

In a portion of the interview by Q, Adele states: She’s never succumbed to the 21st century’s body-fascism tyranny, “I never fell under that spell, I’m size 16, normal” and has now become a reluctant role model.
“But I wouldn’t encourage anybody to be unhealthy overweight just as much as I wouldn’t encourage a fucking Ralph Lauren model to such ice when she feels like faint’,” she decides. “I’m just encouraging people to stop bullying each other. I’ve got a lotta things on my to-do list and that’s right at the bottom. When I can squeeze in time I don’t wanna go down the fuckin’ gym, I wanna go to the pub with my mates! I can’t be bovvered. It’s not even lazy, it’s just other things thrill me in life.”

Nonetheless, Adele has become a great example and defiance to the media’s perspective on the female body. Just the fact that one star can stand up and not give in to the pressures and be confident and gorgeous is changing the mainstream definition of beauty altogether.

Her phenomenal voice and universal lyrics have reached so many, and, like she’s pointed out herself–her music talks about the human experience, love, loss, joy, and pain.

Adele

Edited: July 13th, 2011

Rebecca Black Friday

It may be a little late to jump on this band wagon, but it is Friday; which means I feel like sharing a global guilty pleasure. In case you have been living under a rock recently I would like to introduce you or re-introduce you to the infamous Rebecca Black. Rebecca Black’s song and music video “Friday” is like a train wreck—you can’t help by watch.

There’s a 99.9% chance Rebecca Black will never win a Grammy, but she will be known as a viral star. The teen pop music video has received over 120 million YouTube views. The negative criticism from the public is no secret. The song has been titled “the worst song ever” by numerous critics (but you don’t need to be a critic to know BAD music when you hear it). I wouldn’t feel sorry for the 13 year old, she is laughing it all the way to the bank (not to mention the publicity and parodies that have echoed her fame).

Believe it or not “Friday” was even available on iTunes. So in celebration of the weekend I would just like to echo Ms. Black and say “we so excited!”

Edited: April 29th, 2011

Best New Music

Kip Moore hid his talent for most of his life because he felt intimidated. For years he taught himself the guitar as he watched other songwriters to help him hone the craft. Now, with confidence and a killer voice—Kip Moore proudly emerges from the shadows as an up and coming artist in a country band.

He describes his own voice as raw and rustic and his lyrics as honest, which is refreshing. Too many artists write about the fame, fortune, and fairy tales. Kip Moore sings about stories the way it is; like the one person you should have paid more attention to, trying to live life to the fullest, and finding a safe harbor in someone else.

Kip’s first single is called “Mary Was the Marrying Kind.” It happens to be a personal page of out Kip’s past.

Edited: April 19th, 2011

Music Videos – Vodpod

If you like music videos here is another place that you can see them. No longer do you need to search on Youtube and get music videos that don’t work, or have been banned, or is just a picture with the song. or is a remake.

But now with vodpod you can see a bunch of  “Legit” music videos. They are organized by pop, hip hop, rock, electronic, country, indie rock, and classic rock. Of course you can search by artist too.

Vodpod also has tons of other videos that you can watch too. The only problem I can see with vodpod is that it is addicting…

Vodpod is also available for your Android and Iphone so you can listen to your feeds on the go.

Vodpod is actually  a really simple and straight forward site. To keep it simple this is what vodpod says to describe itself…

Our Mission

We love computers. But only people can decide if a video is good, funny, beautiful, sad, or interesting. Our goal is to make Vodpod the best way for people to find & share the best videos from any site, with anyone, on any device.

Go and watch videos here.

Edited: February 11th, 2011