This song compares the risks of being in a romantic relationship to playing Russian roulette. The lyrics use the dangerous game as a metaphor for how relationships can potentially end with someone getting hurt. The music video depicts Rihanna playing an actual game of Russian roulette with a man at a table. As the game progresses, flashbacks show her in dangerous situations where she is interrogated, hit by a car in the woods, and ultimately shot underwater, depicting her character dying at the end of the video from playing the risky game. The video aims to portray Rihanna as a strong yet dangerous woman through her bold style, makeup, and willingness to take risks in the game.

1. RUSSIAN ROULETTE

2. This song is about being in a
relationship and being afraid of
getting hurt in the end which is
kind of similar to the feeling that
you get when you play the game
Russian roulette. You know
somebody could get seriously hurt
in the end, and it could be you.
Basically, the lyrics metaphorically
refer to the game of love in which
you take chances even though
anyone can get hurt.

3. This music video contains many of the different conventions
of R’n’B. Firstly the clothing that Rihanna wears is very
sexual which is normal in this genre as minimal clothing is a
must to attract and appeal to its audience. It also helps sell
and make people want to watch the video, especially
people who see Rihanna as an icon. The type of clothes
worn conveys her sexuality in many ways. Her hair is short,
sharp and dramatic, but this is her own individual look.
Rihannas makeup in this video is very bold and it stands
out to the costumes she wears. Her eye makeup is very dark
and it brigs out her eye colour. She wears very high heels in
this video and short clothing to show off her legs. The look
she portrays in this video is 'dangerous' as she is playing
this very challenging game. The audience and people that
would listen to this song are people that listen to R’n’B and
also people that can relate to the lyrics of this song.

4. The flashbacks shown in the beginning of the video gives us an insight on what’s going to be included in this
video and what it’s about. For example the blood the gun and the scratches etc. (The semantic field of
danger)
When it shows her and the man in the room with the gun on the table a two shot is used.
This creates a better effect as it includes them facing each other with the gun placed in the middle on the
table. Then when the man picks it up, an over the shoulder shot is used to show Rihannas face-expression
which is quite scared and worried.
She also puts her fist near her mouth which we could say is for protection or to show that she’s nervous. A
medium close up of just her face is used again showing her take a deep breath, then a fade is used which
then shows us a shot of Rihanna laying on the floor.

5. A close up of Rihannas face is used which shows us a clear view of her hair and makeup and her
expression looks quite brave, and dangerous like she is capable of doing anything. Another two shot is
showing Rihanna taking the gun and putting it under the table. Flashbacks are used again. Eye level is
used to show us the real-world angle. it shows us as we would expect to see in real life. a mid shot is then
used to show Rihanna in a change of outfit, and blood appearing on her chest.

6. This video features Rihanna in different situations.
First she is in a room where men are trying to get
information out of her then she is shown at the table
with the guy she is playing the game with, then in
the woods she gets run over by a car then under
water she is being shot. At the very end of the music
video she dies.

7. What we’re using in our video
from Russian Roulette
• From this video, we are going to take her style an
clothing. In this video she wears a very short white dress
that has huge shoulder pads, also she wears a hoodie
type revealing dress. It’s very sexual and we like the idea
of how she portrays her strength through how she’s
acting. E.g. In this video she is being brave by taking on
a very dangerous game clueless to what the outcome
might be.