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Rihanna tends to zag when a zig is expected.
Its a reason to love her, but its also the main source of our intermittent frustrations.
We want bops, and Robyn has a dozen other plans.
Savage X Fenty, a lingerie line, followed in 2018.
The moguls social-media mentions have been a smokestack since at least 2018.
Waiting on Rihanna taught you not to wait on Rihanna.
Well, that was the story last month.
(Trade whisperssuggest a tour will follow next year.
Time will tell.)
On Friday, she released Lift Me Up, her first solo single since 2016s Love on the Brain.
The sequel has got to contend with it.
Lift Me Up does so gracefully.
For listeners whove been sweating over half a decade for a taste of Rihannasnext direction, this aint it.
Rihanna sounds incredible, unfurling ever more impressive vocal runs as the songs core refrain repeats.
(That repetition is off-putting but useful.
Lift Me Up isnt giving youAll the Stars.This couldnt be that.
Hope is in shorter supply.
Everyone has felt the sting of loss, the nausea an awful surprise engenders.
The video for Lift Me Up seems to subtly acknowledge that reality.
Its also tapping intoForevers unique circumstance: The Wakandans pine for TChalla as we remember Boseman.
For now, its just great having that triumphant voice back.
