Whips, Chains and A really good time?

This is the much touted, "controversial" video from Rihanna from her album "Loud." The controversial, "S&M."

Reporters from NME, to the Huffington Post have been criticing Rihanna for releasing a video too hyped up on sexuality and trying to be "Gaga-esque."

"Just because something is weird doesn't mean it's gaga." - Poutz

I'm really tired of this, people, Lady Gaga is not the first and will not be the last of musicians to indulge in subcultures. It's pop music. The main point is to make things acessible to a mainstream audience. No duh.

That being said, this video for all it's constant refrences to kinky practices, is not sexy and is not dark and creepy (see: 30 Seconds to Mars Review). In fact the video is cute. Yes, cute. With all its colorful latex outfits, famed celeb blogged Perez Hilton on a leash, the message Rihanna is sending is not that she wants to engage in such acts but rather the video is a shot out to the media speculating that she does engage in those acts. That's what pop stars do, they flirt with their controversy (see: Britney Spears "Piece of Me" video). I thought the video was well done and am surprised that its being banned from countries as well as MTV. In fact, the 30 seconds to mars video could be seen as offensive with its shot of the Veterans Coffin. But, people will complain. RiRi, well done.

Keepin' up with Rihanna and Lady Gaga

Ahh, so in case you seriously don't watch MTV or you just dont care. Both Rihanna and Lady Gaga have new vids out and these ladies rule the video charts. I can't go anywhere without seeing either one of them and frankly their faces are starting to bug me.

I kid.

first on the chopping block we have Lady Gaga's mini opus, homage, basic rip-off, way too long, monochromatic much....video for "Alejandro." The song, an ABBA tinged dance medley from the "Fame Monster" finally gets a video and is it everything little monsters we're waiting for.

Nah.

As much as I can go gaga for gaga, this video is boring. The colors are harsh and what's with all the catholic church sexualization? *Yawn* Over it. Madonna already did it Gaga, and yeah cone-bra we see you. Can we get some glitter and soon? Why? It's mad sparkly. I'm sorry this video just does not do it for me and it might be a tattle tale sign that Gaga needs to recharge because nothing about this video echoes her earlier videos that gave you this feeling of "OOH LEMME SEE!"



Onto Rihanna, by the way, this video came out long before "Alejandro." That's for anyone who wants to say that she's copying.
Already this song from the "Rated R" album is about a lesbian tryst (everyone is kissing each other these days hmmm..) the video is *nice* but so much can be done you know? I'm really getting tired of all the pop starlets running around doing things to "shock" the public. We. Are. Shocked.

In contrast to Gaga's video we have lots of colors here which is nice, but, yeah it's all very same same-y. Maybe as viewers we're becoming jaded.