Rihanna: Rude Boy (Video Premiere)

by Bradley Stern
filed under: Grace Jones, Keith Haring, M.I.A., Rihanna, Video Premiere

The video for “Rude Boy” is here, adding yet another piece of perfection to the sublimity that is the Rated R promo campaign.

Ditching the moody noir of Rated R for a moment, Riri takes us on a much needed trip to the tropics in her newly released video. It’s bright, brash, and everything I could have hoped for and more. The hip twerks! The lip action! THE RUDENESS.

I AM LITERALLY FREAKING OUT.

Sure, there are copious amounts of similarity to M.I.A.‘s signature style and Grace Jones‘ work with Keith Haring from the mid-eighties, but this doesn’t feel the least bit ‘stolen’ to me. In fact, everything about the “Rude Boy” video screams authentic: This is how this island girl gets down, and she is such a fuckin’ lady about it.

Beg to differ and call her a thief (a swagger jacker, if you will)? I don’t care. I love this woman, and all I want is more.

pixel Rihanna: Rude Boy (Video Premiere)

  • pandora231

    ummm…. What’s with the wannabe M.I.A. snarl and stealing the theme and dances to her ‘Boys’ video. Neon colors and flashes? Oh and stealing some of Aaliyah’s mooves? Not to mention the video is raunchy and gross. Rihanna you are so over R-ated!

  • http://www.muumuse.com Bradley Stern

    Haters to the left.

  • Michael

    I like Rihanna regardless. But, the influence is clear:

    Grace Jones 2009:

    M.I.A. 2007:

  • Michael
  • http://masood-tanha82.blogfa.com masoud
  • geminithabomb

    i love rihanna because she is just being her to the fullest i really look up to her as just being the baddest bitches and screw all her dumb ass haters.