Rihanna gained success through an audition with music producers in 2003. She signed a six album deal with Def Jam Recordings in 2005 after Jay-Z requested an audition. Rihanna does not have a clear ideology in her work but has explored themes of violence, sexuality, and relationships. Her hit song "S.O.S" contributed to her worldwide success and image as a newly rebranded artist after "Pon de Replay". Her video for "Russian Roulette" showed a darker artistic direction and her transformation from girl to woman.

1. 2005-2012

2. How She Broke into the
Business
• Through mutual friends in Barbados, Rihanna gained an
audition with music producers Carl Sturken and Evan
Rogers in December 2003.
• In late 2004, Rihanna completed a demo with Rogers' and
Sturkens production company, Syndicated Rhythm
Productions.
• Early 2005, Def Jam Recordings’ CEO Jay-Z and L.A Reid
requested an audition with Rihanna.
• That same day Rihanna signed a six album deal with Def
Jam Recordings.

3. Ideology
• Rihanna does not have a clear ideology in her work.
• Although she does not have a set ideology she does bring
up many themes within her music and her videos.
• Due to videos such as ‘Man Down’ and ‘S&M’ Rihanna has
been hinted as the new face of girl power as in both videos
she is shown to have the higher ground over the man. Be it
through violence or through sexual dominance.
• Many themes that Rihanna has touched on within her
career are murder, domestic violence, sexual
dominance, drug abuse and alcoholism

4. Record label and relationship
• Rihanna is signed to Def Jam Recordings.
• Her relationship with her record label is a very close
and public one.
• She was signed by Jay-Z who she has collaborated
with on many songs including her hit record
‘Umbrella’.

5. Significant Press Attention
• Rihanna has gained significant press attention
over her 7 years in the industry.
• Most of the press attention she has gained is
due to her provocative image and her
relationship with Chris Brown.
• Early 2009, Rihanna was victim of an attack by
her then boyfriend, Chris Brown.

6. ‘S.O.S’
1. The music video for ‘S.O.S’ does demonstrate
genre characteristics. The song is has an upbeat
tempo and with this comes an upbeat music
video featuring Rihanna in various scenarios.
Many of which involving a dance
routine, something common within pop
videos, especially those made around the time
this song was released (2006).
2. Due to the pop nature of the song there area
few moments in which the visuals relate to the
lyrics. Although due to the video not following
a story this relation is mainly made using a
dance move. An example of this is during the
line “My tummy’s up in knots”. As Rihanna says
“My tummy’s up in knots” this line she rubs her belly.

7. 3. There is not much of a relationship
between the music and visuals other than
the shots moving and changing in time to
the music.
4. During the video there does seem to be a
strong influence from the record label. There
are many close ups of Rihanna throughout
the video which is common amongst new
artists.

8. 5. This being a Rihanna music video there are
many references to the notion of looking
and a voyeuristic treatment of the female
body. This biggest moment that shows a
voyeuristic treatment of the female body
is during the chorus as Rihanna sits in a
mirrored room appearing to be trapped.
6. During the video there is no visual intertextual reference. Although
this is the case the song does feature a sample from the Soft Cell
song ‘Tainted Love’.

9. How it contributed to Rihannas image and
success
• S.O.S contributed to Rihannas success by gaining
her, her first number one single at the age of 16.
• S.O.S was the start of Rihannas worldwide success in
which she would go on to gain 11 number one hits in 6
years.
• S.O.S contributed to Rihannas image as it marked the
beginning of the newly rebranded Rihanna who had
already proven to be a success after the success of her
debut single ‘Pon De Replay’.

10. ‘Russian Roulette’
1. This music video does not demonstrate genre
characteristics, unlike S.O.S, as Rihanna is
known for her videos upbeat dance videos.
This video instead focuses on the story of four
characters, one playing a game of Russian
Roulette , one in a padded cell (who seems to
display two strengths, one weak and one
strong), one who is standing in a deserted area
as she awaits being hit by a car and another
underwater dodging bullets.
2. During the video there is a relationship
between the lyrics and visuals. This
apparent in the shot to the left. Where a
pulse of energy expands from Rihannas
chest.
‘And you can see my heart beating’

11. 3. There is a relationship between music and
visuals in the song. Again this takes place
during the line ‘And you can see my heart
beating’. Which is the first line of the
chorus. As the chorus kicks in, two blasts
red smoke are fired either side of the timid
character.
4. There are many instances within the video
which could be deemed as a demand of
the record label. This includes many close
ups (example on the left). The video also
responds to the dark theme of this era in
Rihannas career.

12. 5. This video, Like many of Rihannas music
videos have frequent reference of voyeuristic
treatment of the female body. This is even
more apparent during this video as the
character Rihanna is playing is being
watched by three uniformed men whilst she
is shown to be having a breakdown.
6. It is not clear during this video whether or not there is any inter-
textual reference to any films, TV series or music videos etc.

13. How it contributed to Rihannas image and
success
• ‘Russian Roulette’ contributed to Rihannas success as it
marked the start of her darkest era which saw her
album ‘Rated R’ reach critical acclaim.
• ‘Russian Roulette’ contributed to Rihannas image by
showing her transformation from a girl to a woman.
• ‘Russian Roulette’ was the first video to show Rihannas
new darker side after the Chris Brown incident at the
beginning of 2009.