Russian Roulette (song)

For other uses, see Russian roulette (disambiguation).
"Russian Roulette"
Single by Rihanna
from the album Rated R
Released October 26, 2009 (2009-10-26)
Format CD single, digital download
Recorded 2009; Roc the Mic Studios; (New York City)
Genre R&B, pop
Length 3:47
Label Def Jam
Writer(s) Ne-Yo, Chuck Harmony
Producer Ne-Yo, Chuck Harmony
Rihanna chronology
"Run This Town"
(2009)		 "Russian Roulette"
(2009)		 "Hard"
(2009)

"Russian Roulette" is a song by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna, taken from her fourth studio album Rated R (2009). The song premiered on radio stations on October 20, 2009 and was released as the album's lead single on October 26, 2009 through Def Jam Recordings. It was written and produced by American singer-songwriter Ne-Yo along with Chuck Harmony. "Russian Roulette is a mid-tempo pop song, that contains prominent R&B ballad characteristics. Lyrically, the single is about an abusive romantic relationship that ended abruptly.

"Russian Roulette" received generally positive reviews from music critics, with many praising Rihanna's vocal performance and the song's lyrics. The song received commercial success, reaching number one in Norway and Switzerland. It also reached top-ten positions in sixteen other countries including Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand and others. The song also reached number two on UK Singles Chart and number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100.

The song's accompanying music video, directed by Rihanna's long collaborator Anthony Mandler, premiered on November 13, 2009 via the ABC television show 20/20. The video features Rihanna interviewing her love interest, while sitting on a table, with a revolver between them. Other scenes including Rihanna in the woods and in a gas chamber. "Russian Roulette" was promoted with live performances on both sides of the Atlantic, including on the Nokia Rated R promotional concert and series six of The X Factor in the United Kingdom, and on the Late Night with David Letterman in the United States.

Contents

Background

On October 14, 2009, a black metal "R" along with a message saying "The Wait is Ova" was placed on Rihanna's official website.[1] At the same time, Rihanna tweeted on her official Twitter profile "#The Wait Is Ova. Nov. 23 09".[2] Speculation rose among fans that "The Wait Is Ova", literally meaning "The wait is over", would either be the name of a new single or the then-upcoming album.[1] However, according to Entertainment Weekly the date looked "accurate" for her album release and "The Wait Is Ova" would not be the title of the album.[2] Two days later, a countdown timer appeared on her website, alongside the image, and was scheduled to end on October 20, 2009.[3] After the timer finished counting, "Russian Roulette" was solicited worldwide and premiered on BBC Radio 1, on the official website and American radio stations, as lead single from her fourth studio album Rated R.[4] The track was recorded during the summer 2009,[5] at the Roc the Mic Studios in New York City with Marcos Tovar.[6] When the song was recorded, Rihanna called Ne-Yo, to tell him that "Russian Roulette" is one of her favorite songs from the upcoming album.[5]

Composition

"Russian Roulette" is a mid-tempo pop[7][8] song, that contains prominent R&B[9] ballad characteristics.[10] The song was written and produced by American R&B singer-songwriter Ne-Yo and American music producer Chuck Harmony. Ne-Yo had previously worked with Rihanna on "Hate That I Love You" (2008) and "Take a Bow" (2008).[10] After the release of the single, Harmony was aware that the reaction was mixed from fans who've heard the track.[5] He further clarified that the song is not relating to the rest of the album and that it is a reflection of Rihanna's growth as an artist.[11] Ne-Yo called the track "my first ventures off into the fictitious," as he stated how he came up with the theme of the song:[12]

"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. And I just started thinking, 'What would go through your mind if you was in that situation?' It just all started coming together, and Rihanna has never been one to be afraid to take a chance, especially with me. She's always game to do something a little different. I played it for her, and she loved it — went in and knocked it out. The rest is history."[12]

According to Jocelyn Vena from MTV, the song's lyrics are about an abusive romantic relationship that ended abruptly, referring to the relationship that Rihanna had with Chris Brown.[10] The song opens with a guitar solo, where the transitions are constant sinister beats within a ballad.[10] The metaphor of Russian roulette can be seen in the chorus line "And you can see my heart beating / you can see it through my chest / that I'm terrified, but I'm not leaving / I know that I must pass this test / So just pull the trigger". Eric Henderson of Slant Magazine praised the song and said that the most prominent instruments are Rihanna's vocals, accompanied by guitar and backed by piano.[13] According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, the song is in common time, with a slow tempo of 80 beats per minute. It is written in the key of F-sharp minor with Rihanna's vocal range spanning from the note F♯3 to the note C♯5,[14] and chords are following the order: F♯m–D–Bm–C♯, and then for the chorus F♯m–D–E–Bm.[15]

Critical reception

Upon its release, "Russian Roulette" received generally positive reviews from music critics. Todd Martens of the Los Angeles Times described "Rihanna's command performance" as "[a] midtempo song without overbearing production, the single belongs all to Rihanna, and she makes the best of it – a bit icy, a tad fearless, with the vocal strength to keep the orchestral flourishes at bay."[16] MTV News stated "it retains the same sort of attitude and atmosphere that has made Rihanna such a definitive artist."[17] Simon Vozick-Levinson of Entertainment Weekly said that Rihanna took some risks with this track, and "those risks absolutely pay off. Rihanna is in fine vocal form throughout, and Ne-Yo’s songwriting is economical and evocative per usual."[18] On the single review, Nick Levine of Digital Spy awarded the song five out of five stars, commenting "'Russian Roulette' is a masterful return effort: brave, brilliantly-released and bizarre enough to distance Rihanna from the pop-R&B pack (and, of course, Lady Gaga). Factor in her most confident vocal yet and only her second songwriting credit on a single and the conclusion is inescapable."[19] Bill Lamb of About.com referred to the music as "gorgeous work of melancholy and dread", and refers to the fact that it was written with Ne-Yo: "Frequent collaborator Ne-Yo helps take Rihanna into uncompromisingly adult territory in the wake of the domestic violence in her relationship with Chris Brown."[20]

However, Andy Kellman of Allmusic stated that in the song Rihanna had a sudden desire to provoke: "Even with the realization that it is metaphorical, the song startles with its hesitant gasps, spinning cylinders, and verses that are glacially paced, where a cold piano line and the slight inflections in Rihanna's voice are front and center."[21] Pitchfork's Ryan Dombal suggested that "the single is a bad Céline Dion song with barrel-turning revolver noises that actually sound like a can of spray paint being shook up".[22] Rob Harvilla of The Village Voice also stated that "Russian Roulette" is a spare, suspenseful, violent torch song, that makes for profoundly unpleasant listening.[23]

Chart performance

The song debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number hundred on November 7, 2009, and reached its peak of nine just two weeks later, becoming Rihanna's twelfth top-ten hit in the country. However, "Russian Roulette" serves as Rihanna's lowest-charting lead single.[24] It also debuted on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and peaked at forty-nine. The song made its debut at number thirty-six on the US Billboard Pop Songs, and climbed to twenty-three the next week. However, the song managed to peak at the top of Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs. As of September 26, 2010, the song has sold more than 830,000 copies in the United States alone.[25] The song also managed to peak at number nine on the Canadian Hot 100.[24] In Australia the song debuted at number eleven on the ARIA Singles Charts on the week of November 16, 2009, and later peaked at number seven.[26] In New Zealand, the song peaked at number nine.[27]

"Russian Roulette" entered the UK Singles Chart at number six on November 29, 2009.[28] The following week, it rose to its peak at number two, giving Rihanna her eleventh top-five hit in the country.[29] Simultaneously, it peaked at number one on the UK R&B Chart and stayed there for three consecutive weeks.[30] It was certified silver in the United Kingdom on February 12, 2010, after shipping 200,000 copies. To date, the single has sold more than 360,000 copies in the United Kingdom alone.[31] Elsewhere in Europe, the song managed to reach the top ten in eleven other countries: number one in Norway[32] and Switzerland,[33] number two in Austria[34] and Germany,[35] number three in Belgium (Wallonia)[36] and Finland,[37] number four in France[38] and Sweden,[39] number five in Belgium (Flanders)[40] and the Republic of Ireland[41] and number six in Denmark,[42] Italy[43] and Spain.[44]

Music video

Background

The music video for "Russian Roulette" was directed by Rihanna's frequent collaborator Anthony Mandler, who has directed many of her music videos, including "Take a Bow", "Disturbia", "Rehab" and "Wait Your Turn".[45] In November 2009 Rihanna appeared on "TV Total" in Germany to talk about her new album and preview 30 seconds of the video for the song. The fan site RihannaDaily.com also has had three stills from the video showing three additional scenes.[46] The director of the video spoke to MTV News, stating "I think that with this song and the meaning of this song and how loaded it all is, no pun intended, how much imagery and perhaps symbolism that is loaded in this song, the only way to do it was to do something that was visually challenging".[47] The music video for the song premiered on ABC's 20/20 on November 13, 2009.[47]

Synopsis

The music video opens with shots of Rihanna hooded, lying on the floor of a gas chamber. Three men, dressed in black uniforms and wearing dark round glasses, are moving around her. One of the men plays creepy sounds as the song starts, trying to extort information from her.[46] The scene then moves to another room of the prison, lit by a dim lamp and cooled by a small fan, in which Rihanna, dressed in black, is about to face an interview with her love interest, played by American actor Jesse Williams.[46][48] On the table between them there is a silver revolver. Other scenes includes Rihanna in the woods where a car runs over her and while her heart bleeds.[46] Elements of blood and tears and vehicular assault dominate the video.[45] In the end, Rihanna is underwater where she is shot several times. The video ends with her lover committing suicide with the revolver that was placed between them.

Reception

The reception of the music video was mixed, with many of reviewers criticizing it's dark-theme. James Montgomery of MTV reviewed the video stating: "There's seemingly no bottom to the inky depths Rihanna plumbs in her brand-new 'Russian Roulette' video, a dark, claustrophobic descent that's creepier than anything she's ever done before (including the 'Disturbia' video)".[45] Katy Hall from The Huffington Post commented that the video comes from a pretty dark place and tells more depressing story than Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance".[49] According to Daniel Kreps from Rolling Stone, there is a lot of imagery that is influenced by altercation of Rihanna and Chris Brown that happened on February 8, 2009 including a speeding car that approaches Rihanna while she stands alone at night – "a moment that seems to mirror the events immediately following the assault" said Kreps.[50] About the music video, Megan Masters from E! Online commented that Rihanna's "Russian Roulette" portrays some seemingly real emotion with her bouncing back-and-forth between writhing around a padded cell.[51] However, Simon Vozick-Levinson from Entertainment Weekly explained: "What, you thought Rihanna was going to give 'Russian Roulette' a video full of sunshine and rainbows and peppy choreography? Her first single from Rated R is a song about violence".[52]

Live performances

Following the release of Rated R in the United Kingdom, Rihanna performed the song for the first time at the Nokia promotional concert at Brixton Academy in London.[53] Rihanna performed the song as part of a set list, which included "Wait Your Turn" and "Hard", the latter of which Rihanna was joined on stage by Young Jeezy, to perform the song together.[53] During the set, Rihanna also performed songs from her third studio album Good Girl Gone Bad, including "Disturbia", "Don't Stop the Music" and "Take a Bow". "Run This Town" and "Umbrella" were performed with assistance of Jay-Z, who's vocals are featured on the songs.[53] She performed "Russian Roulette" while particularly sitting on a throne chair. A reviewer from MTV UK stated that "The Barbadian beauty then sat seductively on stage in a throne that even the Beckhams would be proud of to belt out the ballad".[53]

After the release of the album in the United States, she embarked on some promotional performances. Rihanna performed "Russian Roulette", together with "Wait Your Turn", "Hard" and "Umbrella" on Good Morning America as part of the fall concert series in New York City.[54][55] Just a day later, she performed the song again, this time on Late Night with David Letterman.[56] On November 29, 2009, Rihanna flew to the United Kingdom, again, to perform "Russian Roulette" on the series six of The X Factor. The performance was similar to the one from the Nokia promotional concert and featured Rihanna sitting on a throne chair.[57] In February 2010, Rihanna recorded on AOL Sessions, where she performed the song, together with "Hard", "Rude Boy", "Disturbia" and "Take a Bow".[58]

"Russian Roulette" was the opening song on Rihanna's setlist for her Last Girl on Earth Tour, after the presentation "Mad House".[59] She performed the song on a moveable platform while wearing a floor-length gown covered with red LED lights.[59] Neil McCormick of The Telegraph, in a review of one of the tour's concerts, said: "She kicked off with the homicidal pop-rock ballad Russian Roulette to screen imagery of burning naked mannequins and had shed most of her clothes by her second song...".[59] Later the track was excluded from the setlist for the Australian leg of the tour, together with "Rehab", and was replaced with "Only Girl (In the World)" as the tour starter.[60]

Formats and track listing

Digital download[61]
  1. "Russian Roulette" – 3:48
Promo CD single / German CD Single[62] / UK CD Single[63]
  1. "Russian Roulette" (Main) – 3:49
  2. "Russian Roulette" (Instrumental) – 3:48
Digital remixes[64]
  1. "Russian Roulette" (Tony Moran and Warren Rig Radio Mix) – 4:25
  2. "Russian Roulette" (Chew Fu "Black Russian" Fix) [Radio] – 3:48
  3. "Russian Roulette" (Tony Moran and Warren Rig Pounding Club Remix) – 10:26
  4. "Russian Roulette" (Chew Fu "Black Russian" Fix) [Extended] – 6:01
  5. "Russian Roulette" (Tony Moran, Warren Rig, Dave Saronson Pounding Dub Mix) – 11:14
  6. "Russian Roulette" (Chew Fu "Black Russian" Fix) [Dub] – 4:54
  7. "Russian Roulette" (Chew Fu "Aciiid" Fix) [Dub Reprise] – 6:00

Personnel

  • Songwriting – Ne-Yo, Chuck Harmony
  • Production – Ne-Yo, Chuck Harmony
  • Vocal production – Makeba Riddick
  • Recording – Marcos Tovar at Roc The Mic Studio, NYC
  • Assistant recorder – Mykael Alexander
  • Music recorder – Mike "TrakGuru" Johnson
  • Assistant music recorder – Kevin Hanson
  • Mixing – Kevin "KD" Davis
  • Assistant mixer – Jared Newcomb
  • Guitar – Jessie Bonds

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Rated R.[6]

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (2009/2010) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[65] 7
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 75)[34] 2
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[40] 5
Belgium (Ultratop 40 Wallonia)[36] 3
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[66] 9
Denmark (Tracklisten)[42] 6
European Hot 100 Singles[67] 2
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[37] 3
France (SNEP)[38] 4
Germany (Media Control AG)[35] 2
Ireland (IRMA)[41] 5
Italy (FIMI)[43] 6
Netherlands (Mega Single Top 100)[68] 15
New Zealand (RIANZ)[27] 9
Norway (VG-lista)[32] 1
Scotland (The Official Charts Company)[69] 3
Slovakia (IFPI)[70] 1
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[44] 6
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[39] 4
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[33] 1
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[29] 2
UK R&B (The Official Charts Company)[30] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[71] 9
US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[72] 1
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[73] 49
US Pop Songs (Billboard)[74] 21

Year-end charts

Charts (2009) Position
Australian Singles Chart[75] 96
Austrian Singles Chart[76] 60
Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart[77] 97
Italian Singles Chart[78] 35
Swedish Singles Chart[79] 92
Swiss Singles Chart[80] 61
UK Singles Chart[81] 72
Charts (2010) Position
Austrian Singles Chart[82] 46
Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart[83] 100
Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart[84] 31
European Hot 100 Singles[85] 9
Italian Singles Chart[86] 94
Romanian Top 100[87] 29
Spanish Singles Chart[88] 33
Swedish Singles Chart[89] 69
Swiss Singles Chart[90] 33
UK Singles Chart[91] 130
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[92] 49

Certifications

Country Certification
Australia Gold[93]
Denmark Gold[94]
Italy Gold[95]
Spain Gold[88]
Switzerland Gold[96]
United Kingdom Silver[97]

Radio and release history

Country Date Format Label
Worldwide[98] October 20, 2009 Radio premiere The Island Def Jam Music Group
United Kingdom[99][100][101] October 27, 2009 Top 40, Rhythmic and Urban Radio
Australia[102] October 26, 2009 Digital download
Denmark[103]
Finland[104]
France[105]
Republic of Ireland[106]
Italy[107]
Japan[108]
Netherlands[109]
New Zealand[110]
Norway[111]
Portugal[112]
Spain[113]
Sweden[114]
United Kingdom[61]
United States[115] November 3, 2009
Germany[116] November 13, 2009 CD single Universal Music
France[117] November 30, 2009
Denmark[64] December 14, 2009 Digital remixes The Island Def Jam Music Group
Finland[118]
Netherlands[119]
Norway[120]
Portugal[121]
Spain[122]
Sweden[123]

See also

References

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