The Bottom Line
Rihanna's second single lacks the killer hook of "Pon De Replay" (Listen). It's not offensive, but then it doesn't stick in the memory either. It amounts to pleasurable, summery, radio background music.
Pros
- A ray of sunshine in the winter
Cons
- A little too light and frothy to be memorable
- Thin voice
Description
- Vaguely Carribean backing beat.
- Simple, pleasant vocals
- Light, undistinguished pop
Guide Review - Rihanna - If It's Lovin' That You Want (Def Jam)
In the summer of 2005, Rihanna, a teenage star in the making raised in Barbados, charged onto the international scene with a beat-happy smash hit "Pon De Replay." The main question left in the minds of listeners after that single spent months near the top of the charts was whether or not Rihanna would be an enduring pop star. With the release of her second single "If It's Lovin' That You Want," the jury is still out.
There is nothing specific wrong with "If It's Lovin' That You Want" other than the general lack of distinction. The beats that propelled "Pon De Replay" have been signficantly lightened while the production gives little more focus on Rihanna's vocals. She is in a crowded field of young female pop stars, and it will take much more than this to hold the attention of the world's pop music fans.
