Is It Just Me …?


Or does Rihanna’s “Take A Bow” sound like a gimmickier version of Beyonce’s “Irreplaceable?” I don’t like either song, but they basically tackle the same topic (woman kicking out pathetic man), only Rihanna’s takes on this cheesy theme of equating the man’s pleas to take him back with Masterpiece Theater.

I’m not saying her song blows, but … “you’re so ugly when you cry?“

I’m not a huge fan of Rihanna’s although I do like one or two songs by her. And I initially wasn’t that big of a fan of Beyonce’s until “Crazy In Love” came out and I had to concede that she could throw down even if she tends to over do it a bit (which is why I don’t like “Irreplaceable). I also find these sort of songs a little ridiculous.

I prefer furious to snarky when it comes to my jilted woman songs as I wrote in an earlier column. Snarky makes it sound like you’re this superior, arrogant, schadenfreude-loving drama queen. You sound so Holier Than Thou that I’m saying “No wonder he cheated on you” to the radio. There’s no real anger in “Take A Bow.” There’s no real examination of actual pain, no hurt, no damage. Only the fantasy of “You’re perfect and he sucks.”

It’s an ideation of how we all wish we could act in a break up as opposed to what we actually do — which is seethe, cry, possibly plot revenge then tearfully let it go. I’m not saying we all haven’t fantasized about our jerks begging to take us back while we laughed manically, looking fabulous and 15 pounds slimmer, but most of us just gave his stuff to the Goodwill, cut him out of the pictures we wanted to keep, then lied around the house eating ice cream and listening to Sade.

Most of us are not that hard rock about it. We like to think we are, but we’re not. It’s OK to be jealous, hurt and act out as long as you don’t do anything that could get you arrested. You’re not weak if you can’t coolly kick a man to the curb while telling him off ever-so-perfectly. You’re just human. So give me a song about humanity.

And on second thought, “Take A Bow” does blow. I’ve seen Rihanna. She’s cool, but I don’t care what she sings. She does not look like that much of a badass.

daniellebelton

16 responses to “Is It Just Me …?”

  1. leneypoo Avatar
    leneypoo

    Both songs are done by the Stargate producing team. They’ve been doing tracks for a lot of artists these days. Beyonce, Rhianna, Chris Brown, Ne-yo, Elliot Yamin, Jordin Sparks. That annoying clap beat gets old fast.

    Reply
  2. The Black Snob Avatar
    The Black Snob

    leneypoo: Of course! That makes perfect sense. And that clap beat is annoying!

    Reply
  3. tallulahbankhead Avatar
    tallulahbankhead

    rihanna is beyond boring. I thought the same thing when I heard Take A Bow….maybe Rihanna will marry Chris Brown in 2 years to continue the slavish devotion to following Beyonce’s career?

    Reply
  4. Fantastically Misunderstood Me Avatar
    Fantastically Misunderstood Me

    I think Ne-Yo also wrote both songs. Which I happen to like, lol. But every music lover has his/her guilty pleasures!

    Reply
  5. The Black Snob Avatar
    The Black Snob

    fantastically misunderstood me: I still like you anyway. But let us never speak of your love for this song ever again! 😉

    Reply
  6. Lisa Marie Turtle (2008 Model) Avatar
    Lisa Marie Turtle (2008 Model)

    I hate Rihanna. I didn’t hate her until she decided to try ballads. GO BACK TO PONNIN REPLAYS PLEASE! But yeah, Ne-Yo’s writing and stargate’s production got extra stale on this one.

    Reply
  7. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    I actually thought the same thing when I heard the song this first time. That was actually like 2 days ago. I like Beyonce’s better and I’m not a fan!

    Reply
  8. texasladybird Avatar
    texasladybird

    I downloaded this song last night, along with Ashanti’s new one (They Way That I Love You) and started singing Irreplaceable…hmmmWhat I like about Rhianna (for now anyway) is that she comes across an entertainer and nothing more. I say this and tomorrow she will star in a new movie with Mike Meyers and start her own fashion line of marginally cute clothes.

    Reply
  9. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    Snob,I just saw the vid for Rhianna’s song on Tuesday and I thought the same thing.I’m not a real fan of Rhianna but I think she’s really cute. Also I love the hint of her accent in her voice.Monie

    Reply
  10. mynameismyname Avatar
    mynameismyname

    Rihanna …that trick can’t sing. She’s screetching on that song.And yeah, Stargate conceived both songs. They also used similar melodies and rhythmic structures on some of their other famous productions like Jordin Sparks’ “Tattoo”, Chris Brown’s “With You”, Mariah’s “Bye Bye” and several of Ne-Yo’s songs, etc. “Irreplaceable” (which was actually a Posh Spice outtake that Beyonce’s label scooped up for her) was such a huge hit that the music industry did what it is expected to do when something hits: they kept remaking it! And I actually don’t find Rihanna to be all that, in terms of looks. She’s average. But she’s skinny and dingy and …safe, so the mainstream media/pop world will eat her up …they already do. But I’m not hating. Get that money, Ri Ri, ’cause the record company sure is making a lot more off of you than you are!

    Reply
  11. Talulazoeapple Avatar
    Talulazoeapple

    Both of these girls are pop princesses, meaning you can’t expect Lauryn Hill quality deepness from them. I miss Lauryn Hill ;(

    Reply
  12. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    Testing.

    Reply
  13. mynameismyname Avatar
    mynameismyname

    Well, Lauryn Hill sold more records, sold out more concerts and got more overall artistic respect than Beyonce Knowles ever got as a solo artist. Lauryn came from a mammoth group (Fugees) and then SUPERCEDED that success as a solo artist. Beyonce has never come close to surpassing all of the success that Destiny’s Child had. Not close at all.Don’t let media hype fool you! Same for Rihanna, Mary J. Blige’s lastest album has sold more copies in the U.S. than Rihanna’s album despite the fact that MJB’s album was released months after Rihanna’s. It goes to show that quality reigns over hype. Fakeness has an expiration date and doesn’t take you THAT far at the end of the day.

    Reply
  14. madame z Avatar
    madame z

    Snarky makes it sound like you’re this superior, arrogant, schadenfreude-loving drama queen. You sound so Holier Than Thou that I’m saying “No wonder he cheated on you” to the radio. There’s no real anger in “Take A Bow.” There’s no real examination of actual pain, no hurt, no damage. Only the fantasy of “You’re perfect and he sucks.”I hate these songs too. And this is why R&B/Pop music sucks for the most part. It’s f*cking empty as hell.

    Reply
  15. madame z Avatar
    madame z

    ^^^actually let me rephrase, Pop has never been too deep, but songs come along such as these and get the R&B classification it makes me weep for the genre.

    Reply
  16. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    Usually I’m a lurker…But today’s music is a shallow pool of fast food options.

    Reply

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