Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Rihanna - Umbrella



Rihanna feat. Jay-Z, "Umbrella"
(YSI link)

Rihanna feat. Jay-Z, "Umbrella (Jody Den Broeder Destruction Club mix)" (YSI link)

Rihanna feat. Jay-Z, "Umbrella (The Lindbergh Palace remix)" (YSI link)

Rihanna feat. Jay-Z, "Umbrella (Steve Angello remix)"
(YSI link)

Here's our next lady, pretty much the lady of the moment in hi-hop/r&b, Rihanna. She's got a new album, Good Girl Gone Bad, and it's dominating the summer radio (and the walls of South Williamsburg) and really doesn't have any competitors. I never have a good sense of these things, but I feel like she's a superstar in the making, like first post-Beyonce r&b/pop/hip-hop crossover star.

Fittingly, the first big single from the new album features Mr. Beyonce, Jay-Z. "Umbrella" features the Jigga man, which seems to back up my contention that she's playing in the big leagues now. Anyway, Jay drops a pretty average track for him now, which isn't a compliment. I mean, seriously, what's the deal, dude? Can't you just go away for good and spend your money? I'm torn with the rest of the song. Rihanna has this sort of cold, detached singing style (or maybe it's lack of a style) that works for me. I like the idea of that, but it doesn't work when the lyrics are the complete opposite, traditional, love-y r&b ones. The music has a nice, slow, unhurried sound, background synths, dominating drums, it seems better for a more cynical or heartbroken song. I need to sit with this one more, let me know what you think.

Can't say I'm a huge fan of the remixes, as they mainly tend to make them more dance-floor friendly. All of them would work for a big room, They throw a more 4/4 beat under the proceedings, which is nice. I guess I just hoped that someone would take this into more robotic, even minimalist territory. That's not fair, as I should judge this on what's happened not on what I wished happened. I'd go withe Lindbergh Palace club remix as my favorite; ironically it's a beautiful, upbeat affair, the complete opposite of what I just wrote. I contain multitudes, people, I contain multitudes!

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Did something happen to the Angello remix?

Jack said...

Sorry, I'm an idiot. Forgot to put up initially.

Enjoy.

Unknown said...

I hate how jayz is in this track.
actually WHY is he in it! he does
nothing for the song at all.
I bet rihanna begged him to be on
the track so it would get more hype
and jayz was all like Bitch I got
tennis to play. so he jumps in the
studio and cranks it out in 2min tops!

Elizabeth said...

dude, have you heard "don't stop the music"?? it's unstoppable!!!

Nana on the Interweb said...

I like how I always end up listening to the remixes first and when it comes time to forcefully listen to the radio... I don't like the original.

PS... If you are bored watch this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbjogMSk1Bk

Anonymous said...

hmmmmm the "angello mix" is that a mix cause i got that one as Steve_Angello Sebastian_Ingrosso - Umbrella Original Mix Promo i coincidence.... am i wrong?

Anonymous said...

and you should really really really put the vandalism remix here!

Saint Andres said...

Check it out this piano version of "Umbrella" on my blog, it's amazing!
Thanks!

qorksqrew said...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=s6WqAutpPVc this is a pretty fun one too! and shane might like it, much less jay z.....i heard that was a surprise from the label actually....she didn't know he was going to rap on it.....

qorksqrew said...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=s6WqAutpPVc this one is pretty fun too!!!
i heard jayz rapped on it because the label got him she didn't know until way later....
and also in this remix, less jayz....just for shane....