![]() ![]() Listen closely to Rihanna’s discography, and her Caribbean background has never faltered: from 2009’s flirtatious “Rude Boy” and 2010’s haunting “Man Down” to 2012’s Unapologetic deep cut “No Love Allowed” and the sweltering “Work” team-up with Drake on 2016’s ANTI. Sure, the artist has a Fenty-monogrammed suitcase stuffed with career-defining blockbusters like “What’s My Name,” “We Found Love,” “Diamonds,” and “Umbrella,” and in the shadow of its successors and her image overhaul, “Pon de Replay” reads timid. Fifteen years later, while now a distant 2000s relic, “Pon de Replay” deserves recognition as the anchor of her entire career. Thanks to support from Jay-Z and Def Jam, Rihanna’s fame will likely last longer than Bega’s, but it shouldn’t.” On the opposite end, the New York Times commended Rihanna for being “the latest singer to discover how versatile spring-loaded electronic rhythms can be.” ![]() Rolling Stone compared Rihanna to a “young Mariah Carey minus the birdcalls, and the generic vocal hiccups and frills clearly learned from American R&B often overwhelm her Caribbean charm.” Entertainment Weekly said, “The Barbadian belle’s ‘Pon de Replay’ rode a beat reminiscent of Lou Bega’s ‘Mambo No. While it was a familiar sound to dancehall fans throughout the Caribbean and the New York tristate area, most critics at the time didn’t know what to make of it. Before you can grab a drink, it shifts into fifth gear as Rihanna coos in her lilting Bajan accent: “Come Mr. It starts off boastful, with a handclap-heavy drum line that quickly ushers the body to the middle of the club. But in 2005, she was just a tenacious, unknown 17-year-old named Robyn Rihanna Fenty from the left side of a Caribbean destination island who demanded the attention of the international music scene with a simple request: “Turn the music UP!” “Pon de Replay,” the first single from Rihanna’s debut album, Music of the Sun, was a product of its musical environment that meshed together bubbling dancehall rhythms with a pop approach. It’s hard to picture Rihanna in 2020 without her multiple crowns: wealthiest female musician, one of the world’s best-selling artists, a multi-hyphenate businesswoman, the first woman of color to lead a luxury fashion house under LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton. Listen to “Born Again” below, and check out the full lyrics via Genius.Photo-Illustration: Maya Robinson/Vulture and Photo by Youtube Her raspy vocals then ripples into primal chants of oh’s and oooh’s, which carry to the climatic outro. She hauntingly begs, “Just tell me what I need to do / I’d die and come back just to love you / Just tell me, I'm begging you / Just tell me what I need to do, oh.” ![]() ![]() Here, she begins to reverently plead on what else can she do to prove her loyalty, because she would do whatever it takes to stay near. Those dramatic synth lines absolutely come alive, almost as if this is the beginning of Rihanna’s rebirth. Her tone switch is soft, almost angelic as the orchestral arrangement gradually swells to the bridge. “So until those rivers run out / It runs through me / Wherever you are, I'll bе there / We carry on / Born again,” she coos. She would give her last and, when reborn, first breath to this place or her chosen loved one. Solemnly, she reassures the messenger that even death couldn’t rip her away from them. Rihanna doubles - triples, even - down on that unwavering loyalty in the chorus, which sees her briefly retire her low vocals for some high notes.Īxelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty Images His devotion and love for the mythical nation glimmers throughout the Black Panther franchise, including his memorable “Wakanda Forever” chant. This powerful opener could also reflect T’Challa’s deep connection to Wakanda. “I’d give my heart to this place / I’d give my soul or whatever it takes, never run away / I’ve got enough angels to storm the gates, I’m not afraid / And behold the brave, not have it no other away,” Rihanna sings. There, she warmly croons how she would sacrifice her “heart” and “soul” for what comforts her the most. Within seconds of the track, Rihanna’s layered vocals pierce through the piano solo. Let’s dive into the lyrics.Īlongside Rihanna, “Born Again” was co-written by James Fauntleroy, Ludwig Göransson, and The Dream. 11, the singer released another comeback ballad, “Born Again.” This resilient track is Rihanna’s second contribution to the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack, with her first being “Lift Me Up.” This release is not only a new stunning banger to add to her music catalogue, but most importantly, it’s a touching ode to Chadwick Boseman. ![]()
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