Pop Perspective: Rihanna’s “Bitch Better Have My Money” Reviewed By Idolator Editors

Mike Wass | July 2, 2015 12:33 pm
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At Idolator, the editors share a passion for high-quality pop. Occasionally, our tastes align. Other times, not so much! So, in the spirit of debate, we’ve developed a recurring feature called Pop Perspective. Basically, all of us dissect a particularly noteworthy pop event, and give it a rating out of 10.

That way you’re getting a full spectrum of views and we can all vent. (It’s cheaper than therapy!) The latest pop event to be dragged under the Idolator microscope is Rihanna’s controversial “Bitch Better Have My Money” video. Is the NSFW extravaganza an important artistic statement or a gratuitous and offensive piece of shit? Read our thoughts below.

Bianca Gracie — 8.5/10

I’ve made it pretty clear that I’ve been disappointed with Rihanna’s R8 era since the beginning, but as a longtime Navy member (shocker, I know) I’m happy to say the singer has reeled me back in — for now. The Bad Gal has reached infinite badass levels thanks to her murderous “Bitch Better Have My Money” video.

From the cult film references (Carrie, Natural Born Killers, Thelma & Louise, Pulp Fiction etc.) to the guest stars (Eric Roberts and Hannibal’s Mads Mikkelsen) the clip is a true cinematic stunner. Rihanna always pulls through with awesome videos (2010’s “Man Down” or 2011’s “We Found Love,” for example), yet this time around the shock value is at an all-time high. The “BBHMM” video is raw, unfiltered, bloody, torturous, gangsta and just downright unapologetic. Also, how genius is that RiRi’s tune is a reference to a former accountant who almost made her go bankrupt?

And for all of you whining and overreacting about how “violent” or anti-feminist Rihanna is with this video, you obviously haven’t grown out of the stage where you pissed your pants watching horror B-movies at every pre-teen sleepover.

Carl Williott — 7/10

Everything about the “BBHMM” cycle has been slightly off, but the video takes things to a spectacularly peculiar place. A place that I’m calling Peak Rihanna. Days after becoming the highest-selling digital artist in the world, she has delivered her most demented artistic vision, her most rabid ethering, and it was sparked by… a $10 million settlement with her wack-ass accountant! That is Peak Rihanna.

And rather than deal in shade or passive aggressive insults — the preferred methods for her pop star peers — Rih just goes for blood, in plain sight, via a blockbuster visual that’s Kanye West’s “Flashing Lights” crossed with Spring Breakers and Weekend At Bernie’s, like it’s the most expected thing ever. That’s Peak Rihanna.

Peak Rihanna is grim, funny, off-putting, self-indulgent and kinda rad. If only it were paired with a better song.

Mike Wass — 0/10

My mother always said, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, keep your mouth shut.” But I’m going to make a rare exception. It’s one thing to try to revive a flop era by making a harmless soft-porn video (see Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda” and Jennifer Lopez’s “Booty”), but glamorizing violence against women — not to mention torture and sexual assault — for the sake of VEVO views is a new low for the music industry.

AVERAGE SCORE: 5.2/10

What do you think of Rihanna’s video? Let us know below, or by hitting us up on Facebook and Twitter!