Song of the Week: "We Found Love"

- NOW PLAYING -

"We Found Love" performed by Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris

Even though the world has heard enough of (and about) Rihanna, "We Found Love" is #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 and #1 on my playlist. I never liked Rihanna in the past. In America, I upheld a No-Rihanna Policy in closed spaces, so I that wouldn't be boxed in by her whiny voice. In late 2009, I found refuge by listening to more electronic music with an understanding that underground house music existed on a different wavelength than America's Top 40. Meanwhile, Rihanna continued to dominate the surface with releases of her chart-topping hip hop and R&B singles such as "Hard" (2009) and "Rude Boy" (2010). 

In September 2010, Rihanna released "Only Girl (In the World)" as the lead single of her 5th studio album, Loud. Unlike her previous singles, "Only Girl" creatively embraced the dance-pop genre with elements of Europop. Occasionally the bass would interject 4-on-the-floor beats as the backdrop of Rihanna's shrill voice. Still whiny, but dance-able. "S&M" (2011) sounded equally promising because it fell within the Eurodance and dance-pop genre. Her music began to show some potential as audibly palatable as her singles conformed to the electronic dance music (EDM) genre, a loud shift indeed towards a pop cultural revolution. 

The simultaneous release of LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem" (2011) and its overwhelmingly positive reception indicates a brewing and unprecedented peak in demand for electro-pop music today. ("Party Rock Anthem" held the #1 spot on Billboard.com for 6 consecutive weeks, sharing the 2011 record for the most weeks at the top with Lady Gaga's "Born This Way.") 

Fast forward one year from the release of "Rude Boy," and the title "We Found Love" speaks for itself. I know that I love house music, and I know that I couldn't care less about Rihanna. Yet, Rihanna collaborated with one of my favorite DJs, Calvin Harris. This British singer-songwriter produces the most amazing beats and has recently gained a lot of momentum as a headlining DJ. Something had to give. 

Well, Rihanna finally got it right. Her previous work has been showered with awards beyond a doubt of her accomplishments, but I think that this song marks a major turning point in her career. The intersection of the underground and the mainstream raises a flag in the revolution. Rihanna actively chooses a lead single featuring a DJ. Not Ne-Yo. Not Jason Derulo. A DJ. The pop star-DJ duo demonstrates a new, strategic formula for popular music development, one seen previously when David Guetta borrowed Rihanna's vocals for "Who's That Chick?" (2010) and lent his talents to the Black Eyed Peas to produce "I Gotta Feeling" (2009). Considering the escalating preference for electronic music (more commercially distributed as electro-pop), Rihanna successfully satisfied the trend, which happens to be aligning itself with my taste. 

Similarly, Calvin Harris found the opportune platform for media exposure. "We Found Love" marks his debut on the Billboard Hot 100. Now, he cannot return to the underground. Like David Guetta and Afrojack, he is transitioning into a household, or rather vehicular, name via radio airplay. Everyone is going to rave about his forthcoming projects and show their new-found support at actual raves, thereby boosting the economy for music festivals. (Check out this article from TIME Magazine about music festivals on the rise.) 

In the end, everyone appears to win: Rihanna will sweep up the nominations (maybe a few awards, but who can really contend with LMFAO?) Calvin Harris will continue to collaborate with chart-toppers -- with any bout of irony, Chris Brown will be next. I get to listen to electronic music on the road. And as soon as everyone asserts their fanatical ownership over "We Found Love" --'oh mah gawd! I love this song! This techno is soo gooood!'-- I will need to accept that the integrity of electronic music itself is headed towards a 'hopeless place' as it feeds into the jaws of the consumerism and the finicky commercial music industry. Check out this song by Calvin Harris, "Feel So Close." The cheerleading uniforms are from my high school back in La Crescenta. Random, I know.

"Feel So Close" produced & performed by Calvin Harris

Cheerleading uniforms from Crescenta Valley High School (CVHS). Represent!

"Stereo Hearts" performed by Gym Class Heroes feat. Adam Levine

- SONG SUGGESTIONS - 

"We're All No One" produced & performed by NERVO feat. Afrojack and Steve Aoki
NOTE: These DJs are walking a fine line between underground & mainstream.

- NERVO opened for Britney Spears' Femme Fatale in June 2011.

- Afrojack is radio fodder today with his hit "Take Over Control" feat. Eva Simmons, which might I add was one of my favorites a year and a half ago.

"Big" performed by Sneaky Sound System

"From the Music" performed by The Potbelleez