{{Infobox song
| Name = Skin
| Artist = [[Rihanna]]
| Border = yes
| Album = [[Loud (Rihanna album)|Loud]]
| track_no = 10
| Genre =
| Length = {{Duration|m=5|s=04}}
| Label = [[Def Jam Recordings]]
| Writer = Kenneth Coby and Ursula Yancy
| Producer = [[Soundz]]
| Recorded = 2010<br /> Studio, [[Palms Casino Resort]]<br />[[Las Vegas, Nevada]]
| Type = Song
| prev="Complicated"
| prev_no = 9
| next="[[Love the Way You Lie (Part II)]]"
| next_no = 11
}}
Skin ist ein Lied by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna from her fifth studio album, Loud (2010). The song was written by Kenneth Coby and Ursula Yancy, whilst production of the song was completed by Soundz. Musically, the song draws influence from rock and R&B genres, whilst lyrically, the song is about in a relationship with someone and only wanting to feel their skin close to the protagonists. Skin received generally positive reviews from critics, as part of their overall review of Loud, praising the song's compositions as well as Rihanna's "sensual vocal performance. The song was included on the set list of the Loud Tour, where Rihanna retrieves a man from the audience near the end of the song, and performs a lap-dance whilst on an elevated platorm. The song was also used in Rihanna's advertisement campaign for Armani Jeans.
Background and composition
BearbeitenRecording sessions for Loud began in February 2010,[1] and continued for six months, overlapping with her Last Girl on Earth Tour and filming during her debut feature film Battleship (2012).[2] The song was written by Kenneth Coby and Ursula Yancy, with production of the song completed by Hip hop and R&B producer, Soundz.[3] The song was recorded at Studio at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.[3] According to the digital music sheet published at musicnotes.com, the song is written in the key of G minor and is set in common time with a moderate groove of 62 beats per minute.[4] The song is instrumentally complete with bass instruments, synthesizers and and an electric guitar.[5][6] Skin contains elements of pop, dance-pop as well as dubstep.[4][7] As commented by Robbie Daw of Idolator, the song's „real“ hook is „the fuzzy electric guitar“ that begins sawing through the melody about three minutes in, and continues building until it reaches „a, er, climactic[sic] solo at the very end.“[6] Rihanna's vocal range in the song spans from the low note of G3 to the high note of B♭4.[4] As noted by Emily Mackay of NME, her vocals sound „restrained“ and „controlled“. Throughout the song, Rihanna sounds „suspenseful“ and „sultry“ as she sings the lyrics „I got secrets that I wanna show you“.[5]
Critical reception
BearbeitenAs part of their review of Loud, multiple music critics commented on the song, with the majority praising the song's musical structure as well as Rihanna's vocal performance. Apart from writing about the song's composition, Daw called the ballad „smoldering“ and compared the last minute of the song to Sade Adu’s „No Ordinary Love“ for the song's sensual content, but noted that Adu's song is not as lyrically graphic as Skin.[6] Jon Pareles of The New York Times commented that Rihanna's sensuality in the song is evoked though her use of sexually suggestive moaning and heavy breathing, adding to the „slow, torrid buildup“.[8] Colin Gentry of 4Music noted that Rihanna appears to be transitioning from singing songs about partying and dancing in clubs to singing about her sexual fantasies and desires, writing „Rihanna swaggers through the album as a woman on the prowl, taking her conquests from the clubs to the bedroom. Demanding to know 'why are you standing over there with your clothes on?' on sultry track Skin, the Barbadian clearly means business.“[9] Ryan Dombell of Pitchfork Media concurred with Stern with regard to Skin being the singer's most mature song to date, writing „‚Skin‘ is her sexiest song yet, a haunted, near-dubstep stunner that wouldn't sound totally out of place on Massive Attack’s Mezzanine.“[7] Ryan Burleson of Consequence of Sound commented that Rihanna's combines different emotions in the song to increase the level of provocativeness, writing „For its part, the Soundz-produced 'Skin' combines these emotions into a five-minute space-hop excursion into the boudoir, driving deep into the id with an austere, though undeniably potent amount of minor chords and bass.“[10] David Driver of Sputnikmusic criticized the song as well as the non-single track Complicated, labelling them as „go-nowhere filler tracks“.[11] The song was also used in Rihanna's advertisement campaign for Armani Jeans.[12]
Live performances
BearbeitenThough the song has never been performed live as part of a televised performance, the song is featured on the set list of the Loud Tour.[13] Before performing Skin, Rihanna appeared on stage with a set similar to that of her performance S&M remix with Britney Spears at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards,[14] wearing a black tuxedo and pink tie to perform a cover of Prince’s „Darling Nikki“, before transitioning into S&M.[13] Whilst transitioning into S&M, Rihanna removed her tuxedo to reveal a white PVC body suit.[13] After performing S&M, Rihanna performed Skin laying on raised platform, which at the end of the performance, the singer says „this is the part of the show when we like to have a little fun – who wants to come up here and get freaky with me?“ and takes a man out of the audience and pins them down on the platform, where she provocatively and sexually gyrates and grinds the man, as they are lowered under the stage as the song's instrumental ends and the lights go out.[13]
Bernard Perusse of The Gazette commented on the trio of sexually infused performances, writing that „Rihanna [walks] that always confusing line between sexual empowerment and objectification, gave the crowd an eyeful“.[15] Perusse continued to write about what the singer's intentions were for the concept of the performances, writing „The main concept seemed to be bumping, grinding, groping, straddling, black underwear and self-touching“ but criticized parents who attended with children knowing that the singer is known for performing sexually suggestive dance routines.[15] However, Rihanna caused controversy when instead of performing a lap-dance at the end of Skin with a man, the singer decided to perform the act with a woman instead.[16][17]
Credits and personnel
Bearbeiten- Robyn ‚Rihanna‘ Fenty – Vocals
- Kenneth Coby and Ursula Yancy – Songwriting
- Soundz – Producer
- Makeba Riddick – Vocal production
- Kuk Harrel – Additional vocal production
- Rob Katz and Bobby Campbell – Assistant Engineering
- Mixed by Jayden Joshua at Larrabee Sound Studios, Los Angeles, California – Mixing
- Jesus Garnica – Assistant mixing
- Chad ‚C Note‘ Roper at Westlake Recording Studios, Loas Angeles, California – Music recording
- Recorded by Kuk Harrel, Josh Gudwin and Marcus Tovar at Studio, Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada – Vocal recording
Credits and personnel adapted from the liner notes of Loud.[3]
Einzelnachweise
Bearbeiten- ↑ Jocelyn Vena: Rihanna Working On New Album, Producer Confirms. MTV, Viacom, 3. März 2010, abgerufen am 25. Juni 2011.
- ↑ Gil Kaufman: Rihanna Reveals Title of New Album. MTV, Viacom, 16. September 2010, abgerufen am 25. Juni 2011.
- ↑ a b c Vorlage:Cite music release notes
- ↑ a b c In: Musicnotes.com. Peer International Music Publishing, 2010, abgerufen am 6. Oktober 2011.
- ↑ a b Emily Mackay: Rihanna, 'Loud' – Album First Listen In: NME, IPC Media, 3. November 2010. Abgerufen am 3. Oktober 2011
- ↑ a b c Robbie Daw: Rihanna’s New ‘Loud’ Track “Skin” Will Make You Blush. Idolator, Buzz Media, 9. November 2010, abgerufen am 6. Oktober 2011.
- ↑ a b Ryan Dombell: Rihanna – Loud. Pitchfork Media, Ryan Ryan Schreiber, 24. November 2010, abgerufen am 3. Oktober 2011.
- ↑ Jon Pareles: Critics’ Choice: New CDs In: The New York Times, Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Jr., 15. November 2010. Abgerufen am 3. Oktober 2011
- ↑ Colin Gentry: News: Rihanna – Loud Review. 4Music, 12. November 2010, abgerufen am 4. Oktober 2011.
- ↑ Ryan Burleson: Album Review: Rihanna – Loud. Consequence of Sound, 22. November 2010, abgerufen am 4. Oktober 2011.
- ↑ David Driver: Rihanna – Loud. Sputnikmusic, Jeremy Ferwerda, 16. März 2011, abgerufen am 3. Oktober 2011.
- ↑ Rihanna Flirts with Danger in Armani Jeans Short Film [Video]. In: Rap-Up. Devin Lazerine, 6. Oktober 2011, abgerufen am 6. Oktober 2011.
- ↑ a b c d Jane Stevenson: Rihanna is loud, sexy and larger than life In: Toronto Sun, Mike Power, 7. Juni 2011. Abgerufen am 6. Oktober 2011
- ↑ Monica Herrera: Britney Spears, Rihanna Kick Off Billboard Music Awards In: Billboard, Prometheus Global Media, 22. Mai 2011. Abgerufen am 30. Mai 2011
- ↑ a b Bernard Perusse: Rihanna shows Bell Centre concert-goers that brash confidence is her main gift In: The Gazette, Postmedia Network, 11. Juni 2011. Abgerufen am 6. Oktober 2011
- ↑ Rihanna Gives Female Fan Sexy Lap Dance On Tour! MTV, Viacom, 6. Juni 2011, abgerufen am 4. Oktober 2011.
- ↑ Rihanna performs lap dance on female fan at Miami show In: Herald Sun, The Herald and Weekly Times, 7. Juni 2011. Abgerufen am 6. Oktober 2011