|
"Russian Roulette" is a song recorded by Barbadian singer Rihanna for her fourth studio album, ''Rated R'' (2009). It premiered on radio stations worldwide on October 20, 2009 and was released as the album's lead single on October 27 through Def Jam Recordings. Written and produced by Ne-Yo and Chuck Harmony, "Russian Roulette" is a pop ballad that contains dark, morbid, and tense atmospheric elements in its composition. Lyrically, the single is about an abusive romantic relationship that ended abruptly. Music critics noted the lyrical theme as a response to the domestic violence case between Rihanna and her boyfriend, singer Chris Brown. "Russian Roulette" received generally positive reviews from critics, with many praising Rihanna's vocal performance and the song's lyrics. It reached the top-ten in over twenty countries worldwide including number one in Czech Republic, Israel, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia and Switzerland. The song reached number two on the UK Singles Chart and number nine on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart. "Russian Roulette" also topped the UK R&B and US Hot Dance Club Songs charts. It was certified two-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) denoting sales of over two million copies in the United States alone. The song's music video, was shot by director Anthony Mandler, a frequent collaborator of Rihanna's, and depicts Rihanna playing a game of the titular Russian roulette with her love interest played by American actor Jesse Williams. Other scenes include Rihanna in the woods where she is run over by a car, in a gas chamber, in a padded cell, and shots being fired at her underwater. The singer performed "Russian Roulette" on several occasions including on the sixth series of ''The X Factor'' in the United Kingdom, and on the ''Late Show with David Letterman'' in the United States. The song was included on the set list of Rihanna's Last Girl on Earth Tour. English singer George Michael performed a cover of "Russian Roulette" during his Symphonica Tour. ==Writing and production== In 2009, producer Chuck Harmony and singer-songwriter Ne-Yo convened together to conceptualize a song that would take Rihanna's music to a further level. According to Harmony, they didn't wanted to re-work the previous efforts by Rihanna—something that according to him the fans expected. The producer told MTV News that they wanted to give Rihanna a film, not just a song with a length of three minutes, "I felt musically like everybody was gonna give like that 'Disturbia,' 'SOS,' kind of pop, uptempo stuff, and I really wanted the song that me and Ne-Yo did to stand out."〔 Following a domestic violence case between Rihanna and her boyfriend American entertainer Chris Brown, media speculated as to whether any song featured on her fourth upcoming album would be about him. In an interview with MTV News, Ne-Yo clarified that he would not write a song for Rihanna about Brown, because he considered the idea unnecessary.〔 Harmony said that no matter what song Rihanna released as a lead single from the album, it would be looked at as a song about Brown. In an interview with the same publication, Ne-Yo explained how he wrote the lyrics, "I'm listening to the track, and all I can see is Rihanna and some random person sitting across from each other at the table with a gun sitting in the middle of the table and playing Russian roulette." Ne-Yo further stated that Rihanna is not afraid to trying new things and from the first moment she heard the song he knew she would like it, "I trust Rihanna to be Rihanna, and she trusts me to be me. That's the coolest thing about our relationship. I must say this song is a step in somewhat of a different direction for both of us." When Harmony heard the song, both he and Ne-Yo were aware that they should change some elements and that it had to be darker and edgier.〔 "Russian Roulette" was recorded during the summer 2009,〔 at the Roc the Mic Studios in New York City by Marcos Tovar.〔 Mykael Alexander was the assistant recorder while Makeba Riddick made the vocal production of the song. Mike "TrakGuru" Johnson recorded the music and Kevin Hanson served as an assistant. "Russian Roulette" was mixed by Kevin "KD" Davis together with Jared Newcomb who served as an assistant. Jessie Bonds played the guitars in the song. Harmony explained that after the song was done, Rihanna called Ne-Yo and told him that "Russian Roulette" is one of her favorites, "I think overall she was comfortable with the vibe of the song and comfortable with the lyrical content of the song. She loves the song."〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Russian Roulette (song)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|