The Nation’s Ricky Jordan writes on Rihanna’s controversial song and video S&M. Barbadians have already expressed mixed views, with some saying it should be banned, while others said they saw nothing wrong with it. Ricky adds his voice to the issue.
I am always wary when society begins to dump the responsibility of being role models for children or young people on entertainers or just about anybody because they happen to be in some area of public life.
Yes, let’s admire them, talk about them, and even criticize – but do it constructively, Barbados. Neither Rihanna, Alison Hinds, Edwin, Shontelle or any young entertainer, politician or popular personality has the responsibility to guide our children. When I hear the role model “sermon” being spouted from people who I truly believe should know better, I’m astounded because our children’s role models should be us – their parents, followed by their teachers, Sunday School teachers, guidance counselors, and the like. Not an entertainer or some personality who probably doesn’t even know of the existence of my children or me.
Did Rihanna help me send my children to school or church? Where is Rihanna when I’m trying to make ends meet while shopping for school uniforms, food and books?
If parents are doing their duty of rearing their children to be law-abiding, hardworking, decent citizens of this or any other country, then we cannot use the cop-out that Rihanna should not perform a certain way or sing unsavoury lyrics because she is a role model for the youth.
If you parents want a role model for your children, do all you can to be better parents, seek God, attend church; do all you can to be the person your child would be proud to call his mum or dad; but please, do not blame Rihanna who is little more than a teenager herself.
Robyn Rihanna Fenty is 22 years old, a talented musical artist who was fortunate enough to realize her dream of becoming a star at a very young age. That alone would have been a challenge, but she has remained grounded, still loves her parents and siblings, and remains unmistakably Barbadian in her accent, her regular return visits home, and the bonds of friendship with many of her peers in Barbados.
Rihanna is not a nun. She is a young pop singer who is going with the trends of the music industry, and is extremely successful at it. We should instead be proud of her, as she has grown as an artiste in less than six years to be in the vanguard of the world’s top young entertainers. She is not some little known back-up singer whom we have to struggle to find during a telecast; she is one of the top live performers, recordings artists and beautiful women in the world!
So has the S&M video gone too far?
I think Rihanna is pushing the envelope by dabbling in areas that are designed to raise eyebrows and spark controversy: areas like suicide, lesbianism, violence against women, and media bashing. And she packages them with a thuglike coating of guns and chains under an umbrella of sex that simultaneously excites men, encourages women and makes children curious , while disgusting a minority. It works for her and for Def Jam.
Did the Government of Barbados hand her the cultural ambassadorship too quickly? I think so, for since being conferred in 2008 she has not represented Barbados in any official way across the globe. If the Government had indeed planned to have her represent this country from a tourism-cultural standpoint, such an idea clearly is not yet a priority for Rihanna who is busy establishing her niche in the competitive business of music. Maybe the ambassadorship should have come after she had cemented her place in the industry, when she would have been able to divide her time between Def Jam and the Government.
At the same time, it goes without saying that musical artists frowned upon in their youth have eventually been made knights and honoured in various ways by more developed countries like Britain, Australia and the United States.
The criticism and praise which she receives at every step is typical of the ups and downs Rihanna has had in her journey so far; for while her musical success seems like a fairytale, she has had some struggles in relationships and romance – proving that all that glitters is not gold.
Rihanna is young; therefore let her be young and enjoy her moment in the sun, let her make her mistakes, and at the end of the day let us be here for her as understanding Barbadians – most of whom would be glad to be in her shoes.
rickyjordan@nationnews.com
