Work, Work, Work, Work, Work….Those are the first words Rihanna has to say to everyone on her first single ”Work” featuring Drake, from her much anticipated eighth studio album ”Anti”. The song starts off with the chorus, which tells how Rihanna is working and going through dirt for her to be with her love. It’s nothing groundbreaking here as it’s repetitive, but what will make it get stick in your head, is that the island vibe of the song is delivered as only Rihanna can, which some of her contemporaries can not achieve.
The verses in the song showcase a Rihanna that wants to be better and make things right for what her lover has done to her and what she has done to him. Lyrics like ”You mistaken my love I brought for you for foundation. All that I wanted from you was to give me something that I never had” and ”I mean who am I to hold your past against you. I just hope that it gets to you” are relatable. Don’t get me wrong, these are not Adele lyrics, which will make your heart skip a beat but they are still better then half of what popstars release these days.
Drake steps into this party and melts perfectly into the song as he makes it clear what he wants ‘‘We just need to slow the motion. Don’t give that away to no one. Long distance, I need you!” and ”You need to get done, done, done, done”. You can almost never fault Drake for the delivery of his rhymes, Let’s just hope that when the music video for this song is released we don’t get a Hotline Bling Dance Part II.
Overall the song does not at any moment screams ”First Single”! The production is sweet and brings us back to those Barbados days of ”Music of The Sun” (Yes, that was her first album.. Not ”A Girl Like Me”), but the song feels to safe and clean for a global popstar like Rihanna. All in all let’s not forget this is still a gem to which we will all be singing along to in a week, and everybody will think this is what we all wanted from her….. Gosh, Can’t hate the girl….
3.5/5
PS: Four Five Seconds, American Oxygen & Bitch Better Have My Money never happened for ”Anti” just to let you know ;)
Buy ”Work” featuring Drake on Itunes or listen on Tidal.