G-Magazine Now

SONG REVIEW: "Russian Roulette" by Rihanna

The world finally has a chance to listen to pop singing sensation Rihanna's new single "Russian Roulette" after weeks of strong buzz.  Was "Roulette" worth the hoopla?  Surprisingly, the Bajan singer ops to deliver a haunting, dramatic ballad over a uptempo club jam.  The results bring a Toni Braxton-esque serenade with Rihanna's signature hypnotic cooing which equals a darker version of her #1 hit "Take A Bow."  With regards to Rihanna's recent work, it seems her sound has turned edgier with a Eurocentric feel.

"Russian Roulette" by Rihanna

Click on the title to listen to the tune.

SONG REVIEW: "Chosen" by Anwar Robinson (Exclusive!!!)

Former "American Idol" finalist-turned-Broadway actor Anwar Robinson released a new single in time for Breast Cancer Awareness month.  "Chosen" is a beautiful inspirational, adult-contemporary tune with bold gospel lyrics that encourages women who battle breast cancer to be strong and fight the fight that they were meant to overcome.  Though the idea of telling a victim of breast cancer that she was chosen by God to overcome that battle might seem unsettling, it is empowering that the song gives courage to victims in not giving up.

The song is currently available on iTunes.

"Chosen" by Anwar Robinson

Click onto the title to listen to the song.

SONG REVIEW: "The Break Up" by Toni Braxton

R&B songstress preps her upcoming Pulse album with a return to her melodramatic sound.  "The Break Up" ups the ante as she tells her story so vividly of about the ending of her lovelorn romance.  The piano ballad cautiously follows Toni's slow descriptive lyrics.  Only one can imagine how great of a live performance "The Break Up" can deliver.

 "The Break Up" by Toni Braxton
Click onto the song title to listen.

SONG REVIEW: "Celebrity" by Rich Boy

Alabama rapper Rich Boy changes up his sound for the recently leaked tuned "Celebrity."  Over the Polow da Don production, Rich Boy stays on the same topic of material things for what he's been known but changes up the sound with the dance-pop sound that fellow rapper Flo-Rida has popularized for hip-pop artists since 2008.  The track may sound very catchy and like a club banger, but his fanbase may witness a 180-degree change.

 

"Celebrity" by Rich Boy

Click onto title to play song.

SONG REVIEW: "3" by Britney Spears

Since her successful comeback in late 2007, pop music icon Britney Spears plans to release a second greatest hits collection after 10 years of recording.  While that news sounds bizarre, Spears has a new bouncy, electro-pop track titled "3" that will be packaged with the hits.  Produced by Max Martin, who created many of her hits including "...Baby One More Time" and "If You Seek Amy," the song boasts a racy double-entendre such as the latter song which insinuates engaging in a threesome.  The song may taste sugary sweet, but the composition hits a stale point where Britney's voice is computerized once again.

SONG REVIEW: "Transform Ya" by Chris Brown

Apparently, R&B singer Chris Brown pays no attention to the naysayers about the demise of his career with regard to his run-in with the law for beating ex-girlfriend pop singer Rhianna.  Brown drops the first single from his upcoming Graffiti album titled "Transform Ya."  The single features ubiquitous guest rapper Lil' Wayne and simple beat maker Swizz Beatz, both who steal the shine away from Chris on the single.  Though the song does not horrendous, it does possess a noisy instrumentation recycled by beats Swizz used for R&B superstar Beyonce for 2005's "Check On It" and 2007's "Get Me Bodied."

If Brown is perceived to be one of R&B's A-list talents, he should hire an innovative producer who can create a timeless beat with a top-notch songwriter to scribe top-notch lyrics.

SONG REVIEW: "Good Night, Good Morning" by Brandy & Ne-Yo

R&B singers Brandy and Ne-Yo are concocting new albums to be released in 2010; however, there have been links of duets from the two as of late.  The most recent "Good Night, Good Morning" is a midtempo track the twosome recorded.  Though, there is no word of whose album the song may appear, the lukewarm song serves best as an album filler rather than a buzzworthy tune or single.