*Ahem*
I just finished listening to Rihanna’s “Russian Roulette” and I am at a loss for words. Okay, so I’m never at a *loss* for words, but you know what I mean. The pit of my stomach is queasy just knowing that an army of insecure, vulnerable, and impressionable young girls who idolize this ‘artist’ are listening to a song that – in a time of uncertainty and depression – would encourage them to commit suicide. You want to entertain the notion that I’m blowing it out of proportion? Tell that to every mother who has scrubbed her child’s brain off a wall after having shot him/herself while listening to an iPod – or a Walkman.
Music is powerful. Think of all your favorite songs – you catch a feeling every time you hear one. They remind you of things… they take you back to places… they cause you to reflect… they help you to escape… they can comfort you, enrage you… studies have shown that music can even cause a person to crave sex. Now, consider the unstable mind of a teenage girl who has just been through what she considers to be a traumatic situation… she’s sitting in her room crying, thinking of how pointless life is and how no one loves her and she doesn’t fit in anywhere. Then she switches on the radio and is met with the words, “…so just pull the trigger…” Maybe none of you have ever been that lonely, self-destructive teenager – but I have… and this song concerns me deeply.
Rihanna has lost her everloving mind. I’m sorry, but I think Chris Brown knocked something loose. In case you haven’t heard the song for yourself:
LYRICS
[Verse 1:]
Take a breath, take it deep – Calm yourself, he says to me
If you play, you play for keeps – Take a gun, and count to three
I’m sweating now, moving slow – No time to think, my turn to go[Chorus:]
And you can see my heart beating – You can see it through my chest
That I’m terrified but I’m not leaving – Know that I must pass this test
So just pull the trigger[Verse 2:]
Say a prayer to yourself – He says, close you eyes
Sometimes it helps – And then I get a scary thought
That he’s here means he’s never lost[Chorus:]
And you can see my heart beating – You can see it through my chest
That I’m terrified but I’m not leaving – Know that I must pass this test
So just pull the trigger[Bridge:]
As my life flashes before my eyes – I’m wondering will I ever see another sunrise?
So many won’t get the chance to say goodbye
But it’s too late to think of the value of my life
Am I overreacting? What do you think?
Leave a comment below and let me know!
[Verse 1:]
Take a breath, take it deep – Calm yourself, he says to me
If you play, you play for keeps – Take a gun, and count to three
I’m sweating now, moving slow – No time to think, my turn to go
[Chorus:]
And you can see my heart beating – You can see it through my chest
That I’m terrified but I’m not leaving – Know that I must pass this test
So just pull the trigger
[Verse 2:]
Say a prayer to yourself – He says, close you eyes
Sometimes it helps – And then I get a scary thought
That he’s here means he’s never lost
[Chorus:]
And you can see my heart beating – You can see it through my chest
That I’m terrified but I’m not leaving – Know that I must pass this test
So just pull the trigger
[Bridge:]
As my life flashes before my eyes – I’m wondering will I ever see another sunrise?
So many won’t get the chance to say goodbye
But it’s too late to think of the value of my life
[Chorus:]
And you can see my heart beating – You can see it through my chest
That I’m terrified but I’m not leaving – Know that I must pass this test
And you can see my heart beating – You can see it through my cheat
That I’m terrified but I’m not leaving – Know that I must pass this test
So just pull the trigger
Read also
I will probbaly blogg about this later. When I was in 6th grade my close friends brother played russian roulette and lost. He shot himself in the head. This song is SICK! I haven’t talked to this friend since grade school but I’m wondering what her family must be thinking
. Russian Roullette is not something to joke about and sing about. I remember how much it impacted his family, and how his death changed them all. and Rihanna singing about it….If you’re going to be stupid enough to kill yourself girl…GO DO IT! Don’t being a bunch of young impressionable boys and girls with you!!!!!!
*cosign* I mean, of all the messages she could send her fans, she chooses to say, “Shoot yourself in the head… for fun.”
Lame.
My cousin died playing Russian Roulette as well. I don’t know what her intentions were for this song but I’m waiting to hear what she has to say. I’m sure it will spark some controversy.
Unfortunately, society has gotten so desensitized that the shock factor just isn’t there anymore. We hear songs like this now {well not “we” but you know – society in general} and it’s like, “Oh I love this beat!” Half the people don’t even care that they are listening to a song about someone killing herself. It’s sick – but the sad thing is, no one even notices…
with or without music and what not bad stuff happens, stop blaming the artists and blame to parents.
I acknowledge that bad things happen with or without music. But I also stand by the notion that music is an influential force – especially in the life and mind of a young person. I can only imagine how many murders were charged by the lyrics of Lil Boosie, 50 Cent, and other artists who choose to portray violent messages. Are they ‘responsible’ or ‘to blame’ ? That’s a good question. I am not blaming the artists. I am blaming the message they deliver. These messages are ridiculous and unnecessary. That being said, this is my personal opinion. I am very passionate about audio and visual media and about the things our children are exposed to as a result of them. It’s disappointing that more and more, I see the industry turn into a collage of paper chasers whose only objective is to pass on the message that the most important thing in life is respect – at all costs – and getting money – by any means. It’s sad… and it’s sick.
Even in this song – the lyrics say she’s terrified… but she’s not leaving – she knows she has to pass ‘this test’ – it’s not about personal satisfaction; it’s not about the value of life; it’s not about achieving a goal; it’s not even about acting out emotionally driven tragedy… it’s about acceptance and respect – and dying for the sake of your name and what others think of it. Silly. Immature. Sick.
I can’t believe how retarded this blog is. This song is a metaphore for making tough choices – the kind that make or break you. Even if that wasn’t the case, it has many ambiguities. If you took every song by its literal meaning, a lot of songs would be f***ing stupid; like this blogger.
It’s amazing how a difference of opinion can motivate the immature babblings of those with such narrow vocabulary that their spewings include little more than confrontational rants and foul language. Broaden your vocabulary and then come back and post a meaningful rebuttal. The purpose in presenting your viewpoint is typically to convince the other party to accept your rationale. Sadly, your argument has none. Disrespect isn’t rationale. It’s just proof of how small of a person you are.
And just for the sake of responding, IF her song was intended to be symbolic of making difficult life decisions, a smart move would be to reflect that in the video. What was the video about? Hmmm… yeah, Russian Roulette… and in the end, her male counterpart shoots himself in the head. Ouch.
Good day.
Don’t take it personal, sweetheart. You said it, princess; it is a matter of opinion. My opinion still stands: you’re a f***ng idiot.
Apparently, you also don’t have to play by your own rules and can attack personal things about me, like my vocabulary. Argumentum ad personam. That doesn’t surprise me coming from the person that wrote this blog though, buttercup.
P.S. Art, or in this case the video, can be just as much of a metaphor as a song or poem.
You are definitely not overracting. I wrote a post very similar to this last month because I had the same gut reaction. While I like the melody of the song and it pulls me in each time I hear it on the radio, I feel wrong for listening to it. It makes me feel very uneasy.
http://www.theunexperiencedmom.com/2009/11/media-chatter-monday-rihanna-song.html
Thanks for what you wrote about here, I really liked it. We are so blessed to live in a time when there are so many wonderful sisters singing their music. Sad to hear about Beyonce and Solange’s parent splitting up, isn’t it? Oh well at least Beyonce and Jay-Z are still together! Click here if you’d like to check out my site. There’s also a game there u can play – it’s here. Hope you enjoy it! Peace!
I’m shocked by the lyrics of this song. Rihanna is a role model to many young women, whether she likes it or not. This song is unacceptable. Shame on her!
Regardless of whether or not a person signs on to be a “role model” when they sign a record contract, that is what they become when they get famous. They MUST carefully consider possible outcomes of the messages they send in their song.
I wait for her own words on this subject matter. The only defense I could think of was wanting to bring awareness to such a sick game kids play these days. THAT I can understand but the lyrics don’t seem to be against it but rather FOR it. Endorsement of Russian Roulette?? Reallllyyyy??
I lost my first husband to a suicide. These types of messages are just SICK to send to kids! Think before you speak or SING!