Role of a Performer

 

    Robyn Rihanna Fenty was born on February 20th, 1988, in Saint Michael, Barbados. Robyn, who goes by her middle name, Rihanna, is a singer, actress, and businesswoman. Rihanna was discovered by an American record producer, Evan Rodgers in 2005. Rodgers invited Rihanna to the United States to record demo tapes which were then sent to Def Jam Records. Jay-Z, the CEO of  Def Jam listened to the demos and invited Rihanna to audition, where she left with a 6 album record deal. Rihanna quickly became the youngest artist to score 14 number 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100. Rihanna's top charting single "Umbrella" from her third studio album Good Girl Gone Bad (2007) earned Rihanna her first Grammy Award. 

    Rihanna who was named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2012 and 2018, has sold over 54 million albums and 210 million tracks worldwide. She is the only artist in the 21st century to have earned over 30 top-ten songs in the UK and Australia. 

   

  Rihanna is shaped by her home of Barbados, where she is widely influential. On February 22nd of every year Barbados locals come together to celebrate an annual 'Rihanna Day' where they celebrate Rihanna's life and music. Her influence in Barbados reflects in her musical style. Becoming an international sensation, Rihanna is known for her blending of R&B with Caribbean music, such as reggae. She is a mezzo-soprano with a range spanning form B2 to C#6. During the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards Drake introduced Rihanna with a speech stating, "She succeeds by doing something that no one in this music industry does, which is being herself." Drake goes on to say, "We love the music which can change styles from album to album, we love the videos, which change their artistic vision from year to year, but most of all, we love the woman, who hasn't changed since day one." 

    Music of the Sun, released on August 29th, 2005 by Def Jam Records is a Caribbean influenced dance-pop album. The lead single on the album "Pon de Replay" is a dance-pop, dancehall, and R&B song that infuses a reggae style. Lyrically this song is all about asking the DJ to replay your favorite song and is fairly repetitive. The beat is what really makes the song, as it's easy to follow. Barry Walters of Rolling Stone stated the song is  "a poppy piece of dancehall reggae with slapping syncopated beats recalling big-band jazz" 

   

     Rihanna is one of the most talented and influential female artists across the world. Throughout her career she has received numerous awards and honors all of which, in my opinion, are well deserved. One of my favorite songs preformed by Rihanna is "Love on the Brain" which was written and produced by Fred Ball and released in 2016. It is a mid-tempo 50's and 60's inspired song. The instrumentation played in this song include, guitar arpeggio, syncopated strings and a wave of an orchestra. The lyrics tell a story about a dark yet addictive relationship. Her vocals range from her "trademark snarl" to higher notes. Her soothing voice throughout the song as well as the beat is what makes this song. She starts out singing in a high and sweet pitch and then drops. This song, in my opinion is one of her most powerful songs. The way she performs this song is what makes it fantastic. 

Rihanna. (2020, October 30). Retrieved November 05, 2020, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rihanna 

Rihanna. (2020, February 24). Retrieved November 05, 2020, from https://www.biography.com/musician/rihanna 

Gathright, J. (2018, August 15). Rihanna Is The 21st Century's Most Influential Musician. Retrieved November 05, 2020, from https://www.npr.org/2018/08/15/638551793/rihanna-is-the-21st-centurys-most-influential-musician

Smith, D. (2019, August 19). Music Of The Sun: How Rihanna Basked In Her Influences To Find Her Voice. Retrieved November 05, 2020, from https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/rihanna-music-of-the-sun/