Tonight’s Brit Awards didn’t just serve as the latest stop on Amy Winehouse’s during-rehab Rehab Tour: the ceremony also had a segment where Rihanna interpolated “Umbrella” with the Klaxons’ “Golden Skans,” the latest incidence of her formerly ubiquitous hit being smooshed together with a song from a different genre/era. But did melding the track with the “Shattered Dreams” soundalike really work? I’m unsure, although I should note that said uneasiness didn’t really hit me until “Golden Skans”‘ “ooh-ooh-oohs” kicked in–and I’m pretty sure Ri-Ri’s somewhat challenged enunciation didn’t help my overall perception much. For comparison’s sake, the version Rihanna performed with the Time last week at the Grammys is after the jump.
Rihanna & The Time [DailyMotion]
The Klaxons and Rihanna sing live at The Brits 2008 [YouTube]
That… actually sounded better than the concept of it did in my head. They just can’t repel catchiness of Umbrella’s magnitude.
It’s a Trap!
@Chris N.: perhaps. or perhaps the reporter who transcribed the radio 1 interview didn’t want to mix up his klaxons?
@Chris N.: “They’ve got this funny idea of what our band sounds like and we’ve done three or four different versions,” the band said. “Her people kept sending versions back going ‘No, this sounds more like you.’”
[idolator.com]
i liked it. then again, ever since that song dropped, rihanna has done no wrong in my eyes. she has gone from being a beyonce clone to kelis lookalike and i say that’s a step up towards some semblance of originality, right?
So, Umbrella is turning out to be her Irreplaceable right?
@Tauwan: No, I’d say “Umbrella” is Rihanna’s “signature song”, like “I Will Always Love You” is for Whitney, or “My Heart Will Go On” is for Celine, for example.
i didn’t think this was particularly great but it was still pretty fucking cool. i mean this is what the grammy should be doing right? rihanna + paramore instead of rihanna + old ppl
With the pyramid and the lasers, I really was hoping the KLF were going to come out at some point.
WHAT TIME IS LOVE, RHIANNA?
Why does it have to be her “handlers” coming up with all the ideas? Don’t you suppose she has a say?
I thought it sounded pretty bad. But maybe it’s just the WOLF IN ME!
Patrick Wolf that is.
I found a version of Umbrella mashed up with Red Red Wine. It’s awesome.
@Maura: Did the band all say it in unison?