After getting beaten bloody by her ex-boyfriend, Chris Brown, I had hoped that Rihanna would return to the music scene with a message of courage and hope that would help strengthen the young women who admire her. Instead, Rihanna has come back with the most disgusting, demoralizing and potentially dangerous song about female victimization that I have ever heard. "Russian Roulette" is not a metaphorical song. It is literally about a woman pointing a gun at herself - and, judging by the gunshot sound at the end, shooting herself -- in order to please her man. Rihanna sings about being afraid but still going through with this deadly act of self-violence...
You can see my heart beating
You can see it through my chest
I'm terrified but not leaving
I know I must pass this test
So just pull the trigger.
You can see it through my chest
I'm terrified but not leaving
I know I must pass this test
So just pull the trigger.
Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised that a song like this would come from a woman who was assaulted repeatedly by the man who said he loved her. "Russian Roulette" offers a glimpse into the tortured, self-hating mindset that causes a lot of women and girls to choose relationships in which they are humiliated, intimidated, exploited, assaulted...and worse. So, in that respect, Rihanna's record is kind of educational. It could serve as a call to action for all of us who seek to understand, empower and defend the ladies in our sphere of influence. On the other hand, we've had plenty of excellent books, articles, TV news shows and Oprah episodes to do that. So, it isn't like Rihanna is broaching a taboo or hidden subject with her song.
I am sickened by Rihanna's comeback single. Releasing this song is irresponsible (to say the least) considering the depth of confusion, fear, sadness and hopelessness felt by so many girls and women who are trapped in abusive and frightening relationships. Instead of reminders of their misery, these ladies need to be shown that happiness, hope and love really do exist and that they are destined for something much, much better than being with a man who demands that they suffer for him.
I'm Cameron Turner and that's my two cents. THINK! IT AIN'T ILLEGAL...YET!