Album DescriptionThere's nothing like the warm spirit of the Caribbean to re-energize a dry, stale season of the same old song and dance. And with summer fast approaching there couldn't be a better time for Barbados-born singer Rihanna to break into an industry that is eager to celebrate the next big thing. Thanks to multi-platinum island-born superstars like Sean Paul, Shaggy and Elephant Man, the mainstream has been primed for a rhythmic female star to step into the forefront of popular music.
Besides ripping traditional reggae tracks like a seasoned dancehall queen, the stunning 17-year-old Rihanna possesses a powerful singing voice that conjures up feelings and experiences way beyond her years. It's no wonder that all it took was a quick audition with Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, President and CEO of Def Jam Recordings, for the green-eyed beauty to solidify a recording contract with the multi-million dollar record company. While that performance ended up changing her life forever, the sweet natured island girl laughs at her own naiveté at the time. "I was in the lobby shaking!," remembers Rihanna with a healthy dose of her Bajan accent hanging onto every one of her words. "I saw just a little bit of Jay's face down the hall and I was just like, 'Oh my God!' I had never met a celebrity, and to meet a celebrity who's also the president of the label, that was crazy!!"
Luckily Rihanna was able to shake the jitters as soon as she started her impromptu showcase, a performance that forced her future label bosses to sign the deal before she walked out of their offices. "We were there until 4:30 in the morning closing the deal. Every time I signed my name I was just smiling."
Growing up in the parish of St. Michael, Barbados, it never occurred to Rihanna that one day she would be sitting in the company of mega music moguls. Before moving to the US in 2005, Rihanna lived somewhat of a simple life on her home island where she attended high school and like most teenage girls sang songs for fun with her friends. Aside from winning her school's beauty and talent pageant, Rihanna never realized how talented she really was until she attracted the attention of a New York City music producer named Evan Rogers. (Evan and his partner, Carl Sturken, have produced hits for such artists as Christina Aguilera, Ruben Studdard and Kelly Clarkson.) Evan and his Barbadian wife Jackie were vacationing over Christmas near Rihanna's hometown and through a mutual friend were introduced to the young diva. After hearing her belt out a couple of tunes Evan realized Rihanna's future star power and invited her to New York to record some tracks.
Rihanna, Evan and Carl ended up creating close to a dozen songs. Together they pulled inspiration from the dancehall and reggae that are embedded in Rihanna's rich musical culture and fused it with a fresh R&B soul sound - a mixture Rihanna likes to compare to one of her favorite Caribbean dishes, callaloo. "It's like a gumbo or a stew," explains Rihanna. "My music is mostly Caribbean beats mixed with R&B. I don't want to be pigeon holed into being just a dance artist because I can sing too. I have ballads on the album as well as upbeat tracks."
Rihanna's debut album promises to have all the ingredients that make musical magic. And like her influences Beyonce, Alicia Keys, and Mariah Carey, Rihanna is a talented songwriter who has co-written much of her album. "Music is in my D.N.A.!" exclaims the bright eyed singer. Her first single "Pon De Replay" is sure to mash up dancehalls worldwide with Rihanna's soul stirring vocals demanding the DJ to play her song again and again 'til it touches every single person within earshot. With tracks featuring both Elephant Man and Vybz Kartel, Rihanna is guaranteed to supply some serious heat for both radio and clubs nationwide.
Rihanna is indeed living a real life Cinderella story. "If I hadn't met Evan and Carl I might have just been dreaming forever," she muses. "I am so thankful for everything they've done for me." Soon the whole world will be giving both Rihanna and her producers thanks.
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Music of the Sun hits closer to my Caribbean roots. Back then I have never thought Rihanna would be this successful. There were other newcomers around that time who didn't last that long. It is nice to see someone of Caribbean descent made it this far. We need more of that. I feel that most of the songs on here sounded bland and weak especially Now I Know. It has a great tempo..but the lyrics had killed that song. It sounded a bit repetitive like they couldn't up with anything else. There's A Thug In Life sounds so ridiculous. Here I Go Again sounded ok. I did not care That La, La, La or The Last Time. yes, you will hear the Beyonce influence in some tracks. Rihanna has come along way from Music of the Sun. Time went by so fast.
TOP 5:
1. Pon De Replay-huge throwback to my senior year
2. Willing To Wait-the tempo sounds alot like Mariah's Sent From Up Above while lyrically it reminds me of Let's Wait Awhile.
3. Let Me-sounds very amerie-ish..i love those steel drums at the end.
4. Music of The Sun-sounds very laidback and easygoing
5. If It's Loving That You Want
Honorable Mention: You Don't Love Me (no, no, no)
2010-03-29 Fairly Decent Debut
All you have to do is read the tags and whatnot here on Amazon to figure out that if there's one person these days who seems to inspire more haters in music is has to be Rihanna. The reasons are fairly obvious on the surface;she was a scantily clad teen star with a on syllable name and a clipped,nasaly singing style at a time when that seemed to be the standard style in contemporary R&B female artists. Nonetheless the reason Rihanna has maintained such staying power is because of how much of a tease she is in that way. She's not a songwriter/producer at least here (she does on her backup vocals-that's about it) so the slew of producers who are directing her career apparently only had her imput in as much as they didn't make a typical album with her. Rather than creating a very typical contempo R&B album with song after song in the electro overkill variation of the British 2-step style this album thankfully makes a lot of nods to the Barbados born singer's roots in the Caribbean as well. "Pon De Replay" completely anticipates the sound Beyonce' would achieve several years later on her blockbuster Single Ladies,although this song is more call and response chanting and doesn't have such a composed song attached to it. The same feeling is recaptured later in the album on the funky percussive "Let Me" which comes straight from the Miriam Makeba/Ladysmith Black Mamboza school of south African township pop. "Here I Go Again","If It's Lovin' That You Want" and "You Don't Love Me (No No No)" have a pop-reggae sound that is not all that typical in modern R&B outside perhaps the then popular genre of reggaeton. The title song has more of a latin American flavor and reminds me of something J.Lo may have done somewhat earlier in her career. There are...well a handful of generic,throw away modern R&B songs here that I'll choose not to mention because they plain just don't stand out but "Willing To Wait" takes the electronics and puts them with a purpulsive rhythm and has all the sounds in a context where it's neither too mellow nor does it knock you over the head with too heavy a beat. In short,just about a perfect electro,Jam/Lewis style early 80's midtempo jam. The album ends on a wonderful note on the soulful piano ballad "Now I Know" which gets a powerful vocal from Rihanna. As with most albums released in the past decade,and a lot of debut albums throughout history for that matter this is very uneven and sometimes has the feeling of trying to reach as many types of listeners as possible but when it cooks it really gets going and possisioned her in the place of someone who'd be good for some great,jamming singles. At least...that's the impression you'd get at this point.
2009-01-01 Not as good but still five (5) stars!
This was a great CD, there are some songs i don't like, really only one! it still deserves 5 stars though! A girl like me was a better cd then this. on the other hand i plan to listen to this again :] she really did a great job on this CD! you should really get this!
2008-11-27 Music of the sun
I thought this album was really nice. It Makes you feel good and relaxed. it also has a lovely beach vibe throughout the album, which is also nice. Here is my review, song by song:
Pon De Replay-10/10-A great dance track, makes you feel excited and ready to have fun
Here I Go Again-10/10-love the beach vibe! Rihanna's voice is really good in this song.
if it's loving that you want-10/10-really catchy and fun!
you dont love me-6/10-aright
that la la la-9/10- a FABULOUS dance song! Crazy cool beat.
The last time-7/10-good to listen to after a break up
Willing to wait-8/10-a nice, relaxed song
music of the sun-10/10-it tells how music lets you escape into a new world. wonderful!
let me-9/10- good dance track
rush-5/10-ok
theres a thug in my life-i dont know...
Now I know-10/10-Beautiful. All about love and accepting it. Flaw less.
Pon de Replay ft. "Elaphant Man" 9/10-good but not as good
Over all, a good CD.
2007-09-10 kay book worm/movie addict
Love the Cd cant quit listening to it put it on my MP3 playes to listen while mowing the lawn