Rihanna’s Anthony Mandler-directed video for “Russian Roulette” isn’t due to premiere till tonight on ABC’s 20/20, but the clip’s worked its way online (and off, and back on) already.
Go ahead and put yourself out of, or back into, your misery.
Mandler waxed philosophical about the gloomy “Russian Roulette” clip—wherein Rihanna is held prisoner and, well, pretty much murdered—to MTV:
“I think that with this song and the meaning of this song and how loaded it all is, no pun intended, how much imagery and perhaps symbolism that is loaded in this song, the only way to do it was to do something that was visually challenging… I think you can’t effect change unless you’re willing to take a risk. You can’t get people to pay attention and understand unless you’re willing to push the limit and try new things. The song, this situation, everything is so frontloaded with so much gossip and so much media coverage and so many emotions and stories that if you don’t try to do something that is poetic and layered in symbolism, then you’re either running from the truth or you’re being too obvious with it.”
If that’s not enough Ri-Ri for you, full clips of her Rated-R album were also leaked—and are still up—on ONTD.
The song didn’t really click for me until watching the video. Now it all comes together and I’m starting to think it was a really clever choice for a lead single.
Isn’t it time for another Lady Gaga post?
that guy is on grey’s anatomy. hard to take it seriously once i realized that
@brasstax: Are you being sarcastic? I can’t tell. Anyway, I felt kind of the same way, thinking it is a pretty weak song but the video helps it a LOT.
@chachwitablog: Nah man, totally serious.
ZOMBIEBOT-C27 CONFUSED. BRASSTAX SOFTENING STANCE TOWARDS IDOLATOR 2.0??? DOES NOT COMPUTE. DOES NOT COMPUTE. DOES NOT COMPUTE.
@ZOMBIEBOT-C37: Fear not, Zombiebot. Idolator 2.0 is still completely reprehensible. Rihanna video is nice, though.
@brasstax: I think I love you
eh its ok - it kinda reminded me of madonna’s die another day video for a minute
ZOMBIEBOT RELIEVED WITH BRASSTAX. DO NOT EVER CHANGE. THUMPER HAS BEEN ASSIMILATED. INSIGHT OF POSTS FADING FAST.
this really is a beautiful video - despite (or perhaps because of?) the lifting from basic instinct, blade runner, 300, and donnie darko - what is up with that brief shot of the black audio controller at the beginning? it’s the same one that’s in the new lady gaga video. product placement much?
yeah i noticed that black controller thing too, wonder who makes.
Am I the only who thinks she ripped off not only Madonna’s “Die Another Day”, but also Evanescence’s “Lithium” for this vid? Especially the underwater sequences, I can’t but think “Litheeeeeeium, don’t wanna lock me up inside, litheeeeeeeeeium, don’t want to forget how it feels without litheeeeeeeium, I want to stay in love with my sorrow”. Rihanna wants to stay in love with her sorrow— to sell records.