by Ivy McKinley

“Too cold for you to keep her, too hot for you to leave her, who’s that chick?” It’s Rihanna of course!  The majority of people don’t know that pop’s resident bad-girl does a great deal of charity work, since it’s usually overshadowed by her brash style, flagrant lyrics, or public persona.

Rihanna’s controversial image stems from her free-spirited attitude.  Her name has become synonymous with drugs, sex, and outrageous behavior in the public eye. Keeping with the tradition of her idol Madonna, Rihanna has mastered the queen of pops formula of rebellion, versatility, and willingness to adapt to new trends. This equals one thing “longevity”!

Her style is unique. Her voice is melodic and alluring, and when you combine that with high-energy music, it’s almost impossible not to move all or part of your body to the beat.

Her latest album, Talk the Talk, combines many different genres, displaying her versatility. Listening to this album can invoke raw emotion, and it’s hard to know whether to dance or weep.

No matter how much she changes outwardly she will always stay close to her roots, unlike many stars that have come and gone in the past. Her music truly invokes strong emotions; good or bad…isn’t that what art is about?  Taking your experiences and making an impression on the audience. In the end, it’s difficult not to smile when your inner spirit begins to bounce to the rhythm of this album. It’s no wonder why it was nominated for pop album of the year.