Rihanna’s “We Found Love” Video: Review Revue

Robbie Daw | October 20, 2011 9:39 am

Is Rihanna‘s “We Found Love” video a yellow diamond in the light? The visual, which supports her Calvin Harris-produced first offering from upcoming album Talk That Talk (out November 21), certainly has tongues wagging over the copious amount of drugs inhaled by the singer and her young Irish boyfriend in the vid (played by model/boxer Dudley O’Shaughnessy), who has more than a slight resemblance to RiRi’s ex Chris Brown. Head below to see what the Internet at large had to say about the controversial clip. :: The Prophet Blog says, “When photos of a topless Rihanna running around naked in an Irish field on the set of her ‘We Found Love’ video surfaced earlier this month, it gave the impression that the visual for the Calvin Harris club cut was going to be nothing more than a sexed up, raved up ‘Only Girl (In the World)’. But honey, this ain’t no ‘Only Girl’, and by comparison, Rihanna’s antics make Britney’s recent ‘Criminal’ crime-spree look like afternoon tea with Nan and Grandpa.”

:: New York‘s Vulture points out the naughty bits: “Herewith, a short list of the activities that parents and concerned agrarians may find objectionable: smoking, drinking, dancing on fast-food tables, dancing at raves, heavy petting, stealing groceries, drunk wheelies, and bathing while fully clothed. Candy-colored drugs (and the aforementioned ribbon vomit) abound.”

:: Chart Rigger touches on the romance: “Rihanna’s latest foray into softcore porn, her ‘We Found Love’ music video, finds the Barbadian broad hooking up with a pretty Irish boy. The pair embark on a roller coaster romp, inhaling drugs and having lots of sex along the way… I still say this is one of the classiest jams of the year.”

:: Pink Is The New Blog is also smitten: “The video is grittier than the song sounds, I think, but it’s a powerful visual story. I love the song, I love the video … I am just really loving Rihanna these days.”

:: Pop Trash Addicts, however, rained on RiRi’s parade: “The concept isn’t terrible but they needed someone less manufactured to pull it off. Marina, Neon Hitch or even Robyn could have made this work. Instead, we’re left with another ‘Man Down’ ie. a desperate attempt to generate controversy to promote a shit song.”

:: Entertainment Weekly‘s Music Mix wondered how Ri-sponsible the singer is being: “But does it paint a too-glamorous portrait of crazy, stupid love for her young fans? Or is it RiRi’s prerogative to push the boundaries of dilated pupils, couch sex, and how many cigarettes two people can conceivably smoke simultaneously? (Apparently, the answer is nine).”

:: USA Today points out the resemblance of the singer’s co-star to her famous ex: “Aside from the farmer scene, there’s another scene showing Rihanna and British boxer/model Dudley O’ Shaughnessy arguing in a car. It immediately brings to mind Chris Brown.”

:: HitFix also latches on to the similarities: “…the two have a nasty fight in a car, alluding to the assault on Grammy night in 2009. Like Eminem’s ‘Love the Way You Lie,’ this clip, too, illustrates the cyclical and hurtful nature of love and possession.”

:: Grantland comes right out and asks what many may be thinking: “Why did Rihanna feel like now was the best time to make her most direct allusion to the incident?”

:: Finally, VH1 seems to answer the question: “If people are going to circumscribe Rihanna’s work with the specter of Chris Brown anyway, why not play it up for attention?”

What do you think of the “We Found Love” video? Let us know below!