I have to admit, I don’t really hate the song or the video for Rihanna’s “Rockstar 101” featuring Travis Barker and Slash. Rihanna’s lyrical sensibilities can leave a lot to be desired, but isn’t that kind of the point? She’s a pop-dance artist, and you know all the lyrics after listening to the song once. So I like the song for what it is – a heavier, more metal pop song. The video is really good though! Very stylized, gorgeous black-and-white, quick cuts on Rihanna in various sketchy get-ups. The “Slash” get up is my least favorite. My favorite is the one with the Viking horns. Who knew Rihanna + Viking horns = magic? I also like the “blackface” look just because it’s so visually stunning to see her made up like that.
I was confused by the Slash get-up, actually, until I learned that Slash actually plays on the song, although he does not make an appearance in the video. Unless Rihanna’s outfit and wig count, which they don’t. MTV summarizes: “Although Slash is featured on the track as a performer, the GNR member doesn’t quite appear in the video — at least, not in the flesh. But Rihanna pays homage to him toward the end of the clip, comically sporting a skull-laden top hat, leather jacket, dark glasses and toothpick. Rihanna projects Slash’s swagger and plays the guitar in a way that would make most blush.”
More screen caps from the video:
Speaking of “selling your soul”….Case in Point: Rihanna.
Too much evil in this vid
I love playing this song in my car with the bass up, soo good. I AM A ROCKSTAR!
You liked the “Blackface” because it looks so “visually stunning to see her made up like that?”
Her looking darker? Okay….
Too many satanic symbols!!
And this girl is a POSER!!!!! Theres no way shape or form she should think shes a “rockstar” Her voice sounds way to ghetto to be even considered “rock” this song is just sad! Because it so R&B and shes just embarrassing herself with the “fake” guitar playing she does even at her concerts! Im embarrassed for her! Kinda feel sorry for her actually!
Please stick to your dance hall r&b music and stop being a poser
wait, so blackface is ok for her and not the rest of the world? Makes perfect sense.
And this girl is a POSER!!!!! Theres no way shape or form she should think shes a “rockstar” Her voice sounds way to ghetto to be even considered “rock” this song is just sad! Because it so R&B and shes just embarrassing herself with the “fake” guitar playing she does even at her concerts! Im embarrassed for her! Kinda feel sorry for her actually!
will she never go away?
Note to self: full moon tonight. (And that’s NOT a comment against Ri-ri, if I must elaborate…)
It’s the MUSIC INDUSTRY. Every singer is manufactured. Most singers are posers.
And I wouldn’t consider this blackface. I hate how “blackface” is becoming such a popular label nowadays. Unless white people paint their faces black and act like black people in a way that would be considered offensive it’s not really blackface.
@ d: Is that what it is? WTF…WOW.
Whatever one thinks of her talent, or lack thereof, Rihanna is an artist. She is doing her thing. Her thing may not always be exactly the same, she may experiment with variety now and then. How that makes her a poser is beyond me.
seems like a lot of these comments are coming from the same person….
@Lauram I was thinking the same thing! Why bother changing your screen name if you’re going to copy and paste parts of your original post over and over? Poser? More like Loser….
@Lauram
Haha, no. If they were Kaiser, would have deleted/banned all of their asses by now. Trust.
Countdown to someone saying she is copying CaCa in 10… 9… 8…
If the video is shot in black and white, how do we know it’s blackface? She could be painted purple…
@hun. What makes u think Rihanna is bleaching her skin to be something she is not. Hello, that’s a mighty fine BLACK woman who has a ridiculous, sick, luscious, BLACK woman’s body. Hun, she ain’t trying to hide that. BTW- It’s all natural baby, no fillers! Contemplate that!
Sorry about that! There was someone on here posting under multiple names, I banned them and deleted their comments.
I’m disappointed that Slash lent his talents to this – travis barker who cares. Yes, Meme, i agree she can’t go away soon enough because she’s totally manufactured none of her “music” comes from an inner spark or creativity, so she just mucks about in various styles and genres for selling purposes. There is no there there with RiRI.
As a martian, I found it completely insensitive when she painted her entire face and body silver.
People are artists, let them be.
Yuck, that was just terrible.
She looks like Slash’s daughter!
She sucks, there is no hook to this song.
i agree with a lot of you- it’s offensive to me that blackface is “visually stunning” if you are naturally black-enough (Rihanna is extremely light), but if you are too light it’s derogatory. Please.
meaning white= can’t do it. “black” to any extent= blackface is ok.
I find this video disturbing before anything. She uses many references to satanic and occult symbolism and so does EVERY popular artist. When people speak of Xtina’s new video copying Gaga’s, they must also realize the same machine is the driving force behind all of these artists. These artists are not copying one another, they are simply being driven by a negative force with a hidden agenda, that’s why there are so many similarities in Gaga, Madonna, Xtina, Beyonce and in pop culture period. All these artists reference the same thing, loosing control and having a power beyond their force take over them, the illuminati.
Check out vigilantcitizen.com and it will show you all the direct references to what I’m talking about.
Xtina didn’t copy Gaga, they both sold themselves out to a greater thief.
Some of you really don’t know what blackface is so I would advise you to look it up. Furthermore, why are some of you butt hurt that this so called blackface isn’t okay for white people to do? This is what has you upset and offended, that you can’t paint your body/face black and not get accused of wearing blackface???? Reallly??? Some of these comments are screaming white priviledge.
As far as “rock” music is concerned, it is a variation of R & B, does Elvis not ring a bell anyone?
And whoever said Rhianna is bleaching her skin is an idiot. I’m am lighter than Rihanna and I do not bleach my skin. Black people can come in all shades.
lena; i agree, there is a distinct lack of awareness about what blackface actually is and represents. white people can be so ignorant of white privilege and ignorant of the subtle kinds of racism we have today. and before anyone gets up my ass about being racist against white people- i am white
Gross and so is she – seriously? The whole devil worship thing is truly creepy and makes her look like a sad pathetic ho.
@ #11: there just seemed to be soooo many negative comments on the site today and I was trying to figure out why and whaddaya know: full moon. And, I guess as Kaiser discovered, a troll. The two may go hand in hand. I don’t care what Rhianna does. She’s a kid, surrounded by fashion, showbiz, and celebrity types…she’s going to do this stuff, like it or not. Although, I guess if it generates good discussion, that’s not a bad thing.
I thought this video and song was completely boring. Rihanna is trying to hard to make us believe she is “bad”.
Call me Cruise but I actually liked it. I’d let my kid watch this before that crappy Miley Cyrus song.
I may sound totally ignorant but isn’t “black face” black painted faces with white lips and eyes?
Personally I think she looks stunning in the first picture and I see nothing at all wrong with it.
This one needs the two-syllable damn:
DAAAAYYYUUUUMMMN!
@cristy and @Oi – Your comments are appallingly ignorant. Please read @lena and @Vi’s comments and check yourselves.
Kaiser, I think you should not have labeled the video as using ‘blackface.’ Commenters are using it to strengthen their silly “RACISM AGAINST WHITE PEOPLE NO FAIR” agenda because they clearly do not know what blackface is.
Blackface is the theatrical makeup that was used in 19th century theatre shows. White actors would paint their faces black, exaggerate their lips, and wear wool wigs. They would portray black people as lazy, dumb buffoons without morals and horrible speech. << THIS is the type of blackface that is offensive. In today’s context, people are offended when white people paint their faces black and act in stereotypical derogatory ways. For example, it was offensive a few years ago when there was a college party (in west virginia I believe?) where students painted their faces black, males wore basketball jerseys and wifebeaters, and females dressed ghetto or as “mammies.”
Rihanna, darkening her skin in this music video for AESTHETIC PURPOSES cannot be used in the argument of “black people can get away with blackface but white people can’t? I’m white and I take offense to this.”
After all, there have been models in Vogue that have had their skin similarly painted dark in photographs. There was no real controversy, and the African-American community was not up in arms. Artistic painting/changing of the skin tone is not racist, in any situation.
A lot of music is just catchy but kinda throw away music, & that’s Rihanna. Her music is fun, good to dance to, it doesn’t have to be any deeper than that.
I’m LOLing so hard at comment #26. Like, REALLY?!?!?!?!?
It’s a MUSIC VIDEO. Not a piece of a giant satanic comspiracy. LOL.
And all this stuff about satanism being devil worship is bullshit anyways. Satanists believe in doing what makes you feel good as long as it doesn’t harm anyone else. They don’t worship the devil.
I have nothing to say about the “blackface”. I think Rihanna is pretty and dragging race stuff into something she did because it looks good is stupid.
p.s. I believe this FIONA & KIA are the same wack jobs.
d: I was wondering what the heck balls was going on.
The song is ok and the video is very neat-very artistic. Why anyone ever thinks that the singers do the production design for their videos is a mystery to me. They don’t. They usually just show up, the director tells them what to do and they go home.
And no, white people, it’s not ok to do blackface. Blackface is, for those who are unaware, a form of degradation. It occurs when a person not of any sort of African descent puts black make-up on their faces, red lipstick on their lips and typically some kind of waitstaff outfit (tails and white gloves) and proceeds to mock and ridicule black people by acting like a general buffoon.
Do any of you see any of that in this video?
“Artistic painting/changing of the skin tone is not racist, in any situation.”
Unless you’re Beyonce and you’re trying to sell L’Oreal hair dye to the masses! (Remember the “photoshop bleaching” debacle?)
There was a My Chemical Romance video a couple of years ago for a song called “I Don’t Love You” and I remember that there was a little controversy at the time that they painted a white man black for that. I just thought it was a visually-arresting video. As for Rihanna’s new effort, my overriding feeling is that she’s “borrowed” the overall look a little too heavily from Christina Aguilera’s “Fighter” vid.
@ Cedar Falls
That is NOT Beyonce’s doing. L’oreal is a racially biased company that in earnest does not want women of color peddling their products, but has no qualms about hiring Beyonce (whom they deem acceptable, I suppose), splashing her face across some of its products, and lightening her up in order to attract the money of the pan “minority” demographic. Whether Beyonce knows this or not, I don’t know. Somehow, I think that the $$ assumes greater priority. Either way, I have a personal injunction against this company and they will not see a dime of my money. (Okay, maybe a dime. Just found out that they own The Body Shop. I just purchased a kabuki brush from there. SMH.) Henceforth, I will continue to shop at MAC. Thanks.
Okay, to the Satanic conspiracists:
Take your unfounded occultist propaganda, shove it up your a**, and shuffle on back to the “urban” blogs if you are intent of on disseminating BS. I am so sick of this shit. You speak of satanic symbolism, but you make no attempts to justify your claims. So, it’s just unsubstantiated prattle, isn’t it? Much like the ravings of a lunatic. (Get it? Full moon? Lunatic? Aaah, perhaps not. I guess that’s just the pagan Wiccan in me :P) You’re ignorance is much better served elsewhere, where the posters really just are stupid enough to believe you.
Hmmm….co-sign with Iris about the blackface. It’s more than just skin tone. It’s about the contextual get-up.
Oh, yes…and Rhianna. Well, there really is that much to say. Never is.
@ d: The second part of my comment wasn’t directed at you, just the first part. You just seemed to be the only sane commenter in the thread at the time! Until Kaiser caught the Full Moon Troll…LOL
This devil bitch.
RE: ViktoryGin
Occult and satanic symbolism has been around since the bible you moron.
You should read more into it; you’re clearly the epitome of ignorance and illiteracy.
i think the video is beautifully made, and i like the song.
i don’t see anything racist or reverse racist, or satanic about it & to the person who cited the illuminati as a point of reference for this vid i suggest you look up what the illuminati actually were/are before you associate them with “evil” things. a little education never hurt.
move on. it’s a cool vid & a cool song.
@ Fiona
Aaahhh….vitriol and name-calling signifying nothing but a weak recrimination to thinly veil YOUR skant knowledge of what “occultism” is. What I accused you sanctimonious prattlers of is the one thing that you have once again proven by addressing me: your ignorance and vacant awareness. Yet again, you and others have yet to proffer any practical evidence that would lend any valdity to your uncogent accusations.
The foundation of knowledge – astrology, geomancy, runes, numerology, alchemy – that was to be blanketed under the catch-all stigmatized term “occult” actually predates the advent of Christianity. So, to say that it’s been around “since” the Bible (which is capitalized, by the way) is incorrect. “Occult” simply means “hidden” or “esoteric” and actually there is nothing intrinsically “satanic” about it. Attaching Satan (a Judeo-Christian concept), however, was convenient for the agenda of the Catholic Church in order to increase its hegemony and promote its agenda, which was essentially dogmatic authority. And also convenient for those who take things at face value at the expense of critical thinking. You are proof-positive, Fiona, that their interests were quite successful 🙂 You have yet to tell me what is “satanic” about this video. Unfortunately, as I am not in the US, I can’t view it. It’s plausible there are those that harness dark forces for their personal manipulations and some in the name of the name of the “Devil”. That is, however, the corrupt wielder of the power. Not the power itself. Again, you have said nothing of this.
With that said, do you have anything of substance to provide? I would be more than happy to be disabused of my “ignorance”.
Is she a lesbian rockstar??? Cuz after catching a glimpse of her Te Amo video am now really friggin confused!!!
She needs to take a load off – she got too much pent up anger man.
This is for whoever asked what is “satanic” about this video…
PROOF OF SATANIC ELEMENTS:
1. Crown of thorns mocking Jesus Christ
2. Obvious themes of death and darkness
3. Flashing the sign of the baphomet
4. Wearing a baphomet horns helmet inside a satanic circle with a magick sigil drawn in the centre used to summon demon spirits
5. Derided Jesus Christ by wearing multiple crosses
6. Depicting humans as animalistic creatures who should succumb to every desire of violence and lust
IF ANYONE CAN DISPUTE THESE FACTS PLEASE GO AHEAD…
It’s sad when you have to get naked and PRETEND to worship the devil to sell records. = sh*tty voice
Ok this is my first time commenting on a blog hope people are nice lol
Well what I have to say is everyone should respect other people’s thoughts and opinions. Whether you believe in conspiracies or not RESPECT! Honestly I’m an open minded person and I leave room for possibilities. Personally I think Rihanna is gorgeous and I like her style. I’m not saying she is a devil worshiper or that she part of a conspiracy but this video is very dark and to me she does look very demonic w. the whole blackface look. Also when she is in the middle of the circle with the horned hat I mean come on now if you don’t think its kind of creepy then idk what is going on. :s anyway besides that looking at it artistically it is a very creative video and she looks amazing like always.
i was just thinking about this same thing earlier hehe, good article