Rihanna changes Lanes With New Music, "FourFiveSeconds"

Was anyone else expecting a guitar-led, acoustic-ey return from Rihanna? I sure wasn't! And let's be honest, neither were you!

Rihanna Ruins 2015 Already With "Vogue" Cover

I am aware enough to know I'm perhaps the only person on this site looking forward to Rihanna's new project, R8. However, just because I enjoy the Diva's schtick it does not mean I am blind to her limitations. Case in point, this newly surfaced, TERRIBLE cover of Madonna's Vogue.

Divas Rule YouTube's Most Peeped Music Videos of 2014

The top ten most viewed YouTube music videos of 2014 has been released by the internet giant. On the list there are a few surprises -namely Enrique Iglesias and Sia- but it'll come as no real shock that all the visuals were for pretty big chart hits.

The real good news though, 8 out of the 10 entries are female singers! Divas getting money!

Rihanna Stuns At The 2014 concert for Valor

 It feels like an age since I last saw Rihanna perform live. I know she's been touring and has been constantly on stage somewhere in the world, but I've never felt the desire to check out those fan-made videos. As such, I really enjoyed watching her at the The concert for Valor.

[Forbes' Rich List 2014] Diva's Making Money!

This post is about something which is of no real concern to us plebs. Like really, what does it matter that these divas have gotten even more filthy rich over the period June 2013 to June 2014? Still, human nature is such that we are all as nosy as a Proboscis monkey/anteater cross, so let me just go right on ahead and post Forbes' tally of top earning female musicians.

For those wondering how they calculated the figures for said list, check out their site [here]. Even so, I'd take these figures with a pinch of these-don't-affect-my-life-in-any-way-so-who-really-cares. Though, if any of you lovely Divas are reading this, how bout buying me a diamond necklace. You clearly can afford it and I obviously deserve it....

Regarder la liste, peeps :

Rihanna And Eminem Perform "The Monster" @ MTV 2014 Awards

The pairing of Rihanna and Eminem has become one almost guaranteed to produce a hit record, so expect loads more to come from the duo. Their latest collaboration, The Monster, didn't do much for me, but it clearly did for others having battled to the top of Billboard and gone triple platinum.

Even though it was 2013 when the song hit the top of the charts, it took till this year's MTV Movie Awards for the Diva and rapper to deliver its first live performance. But you wouldn't have guessed that from watching this, as there were no blips or bumps present. (Though the fan video I found could hide a multitude of sins.)

It may have been their first rendition of the song, but I'm guessing they'll be a fair few more to come  as the pair embark on their combined tour in August. Stay tuned to YouTube around that time to see more. I shall be washing my hair.....

[I'll embed a clearer video when I find!]

Shakira and Rihanna Get Suggestive (YAWN!) in video for "Can't Remember to Forget You"

Anyone else feeling like that they've seen a little too much of our Divas' behinds of late? I know I am!!

I blame Beyonce for this realisation. Anyone who has "watched" her new album couldn't have failed to notice how much her bottom features. Strangely, I didn't have an issue with that while watching, and thoroughly enjoying, the promos. However, all of a sudden I feel like showing one's booty has become the new side/under boob. It feels like everyone is at it! Maybe Bey's Grammy performance on the weekend was what tipped me over the edge, headfirst, into the crack of despair.

(Anyone wanting a flavour of what I'm talking about -in terms of Bey's behind featuring so prominently on the album- press the button below.)

[Review] Shakira Featuring Rihanna - "Can’t Remember To Forget You"

The first big Diva related release of the year is here: Shakira and Rihanna's team-up, Can’t Remember To Forget You.

[Countdown] P!nk Has Highest Grossing Tour of Any Female In 2013

Taken from Billboard's run down of the 25 highest grossing tours of 2013, P!nk coming on top certainly wasn't what I was expecting after listening to the more rabid stanbases talking trash all year about their fav's ticket sales. The diva also had the highest position of any female (number 7) on Billboard's tally of the top 10 Year-End most popular songs across all genres with Just Give Me A Reason. Just two of the reasons, I suspect, the pop-rocker was deservedly named Billboard's Woman of the Year! Finally, girl be getting some recognition!

But it was a good year for Divas in general, with Rihanna, Taylor Swift and Beyonce all making the top ten highest grossing tours of the year- though it seemed some had to work harder, over more dates, to gross the amount they did. Interestingly, out of all the Divas, Taylor Swift was the only one who sold out all her dates, with Beyonce, conversely, failing to sell out 19 of the 59 shows.

Still, Divas be getting money!

[Music Video] Rihanna delivers Just What You Were Expecting With "Pour It Up" Visuals

Released over half a year after the song itself peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Charts, Rihanna finally débuts the visuals for the scuzzy stripper anthem, Pour it up.

I've played this song to death since Unapologetic's 2012 release, and as so, have often imagined how the visuals would be. With lyrics like "Strippers goin' up and down that pole, and I still got my money", "All I see is signs, all I see is dollar signs", it was hardly going to birth a thoughtful and nuanced promo. Needless to say, the video is just as depressingly dirty and seedy as it could have been.

The visuals were obviously done to shock and gain column inches, but I think the real reason for the star finally getting herself together and filming the video- which fans have been calling for since January- was more to do with this moment than anything else [see gifs]. What better way to educate- or shade- Miley Cyrus than by showing her how she would make a ratchet video with some serious twerking featured..

[Discuss] Should Rihanna Act More Like A Role Model and Less Like "Pop's Poisonous Princess"?

Rihanna has one again been cussed out in the media, this time for being a "toxic role model for her army of young fans". Citing the Umbrella singer's use of drugs, the rekindling of her relationship with abuser Chris brown, and her dress sense, columnist Liz Jones took to her platform at the Daily Fail Mail to spread her (childless) opinions on why Rihanna is corrupting a generation of kids.

Now, I'm not one to listen to Liz Jones at the best of times- I think she writes to troll- but this article was something else, even by her standards! When a supposedly educated individual can write the sentence, "She (Rihanna) promotes... the sort of fashion sense on stage that surely invites rape at worst, disrespect at least", you have to question if this individual is a sandwich short of a picnic. Since when did rape become the fault of the victim?

But what about some parity. Surely if women should be acting as role models for young girls, then their male counterparts should have the same consideration for the boys of today? Well, according to Liz, they needn't worry about it because, "young women are far more impressionable than young men". Really? That's not how I remember it! So being well behaved and "good" should only be practised by the female entertainers of this world? Sexist much? If these two statements alone don't make you question the sanity of this woman, I recommend you subscribe to her posts because you've found a (rare) friend in Liz!

[Versus] Who Sang "Stay" (Live) Better: Demi Lovato Or Rihanna?

Demi Lovato is one of the new generation of Divas- along with Ariana Grande- whose vocal profile gets a heck of a lot of hits daily. Not only that, but I know there are a number of regular readers, or "Lovatics", who also enjoy the X-Factor USA judge's musical output and voice. This being so, I thought I'd play to the crowd and post her rendition of Rihanna's Stay, which was filmed at the B96 Pepsi Summer Smash in Chicago.

Needless to say, Demi has no problem handling the Mikky Ekko assisted duet. For the most part she refrains from going crazy with the pipes, sticking pretty faithfully to the song's melody. But let's get real, no one wants to hear a cover sang exactly as the original was- there's kinda no point- and Demi knows it, "Lovatomising" the song at its climax by taking it up an octave. Vocally impressive, but does it match or even best Rihanna's original?

[New Music Video] Rihanna Gets Arty With "Stay" Visuals

The video for Rihanna's Stay has dropped, and once again the Diva surprises.

If I told you that the visuals consisted solely of Rihanna ruminating in a bath tub, I think you wouldn't be too surprised. Most would think it was only a matter of time before she got it all out on film. But as trashy as the concept sounds, the reality is her actual nakedness is the last thing you focus on; it's the emotional nudity that captures, and holds, the attention.

[Watch] Rihanna Sings "Stay" and Performs In Bob Marley Tribute @ 2013 Grammy Awards

Rihanna already showed that she could tackle new single Stay solo when she took it to SNL last year [Here]. But yesterday's Grammys saw the beauty shine some light on the album's duetting partner, Mikky Ekko, by bringing him along to perform at the industry's biggest award ceremony.

It was a somewhat muted showing- when compared to others on the night-  with basic staging and simple lighting, but it was pitched perfectly, and sung beautifully. It was definitely an improvement on last year's
We Found Love/Princess Of China medley [Here], anyway!.

[Watch] Sia Sings Rihanna's "Diamonds"

Sia Furler treated fans at the Norwegian-American Achievement Award ceremony (wow, there's awards for everything!) to a stripped down version of her world-wide smash hit Diamonds.

Okay, strictly speaking its Rihanna's hit, but since it was penned by the Australian it's only fair she shares in some of that success. Besides, listening to Sia's rendition it confirms that it wasn't just the lyrics that she was responsible for; with much (all?) of the vocal styling on the Rihanna version being down to her too.

[Watch] Rihanna Sings Diamonds @ X-Factor (UK)

Unlike her awkward performance of the world-wide smash Diamonds for Saturday Night Live, today the X-Factor (UK) was treated to a stronger rendition of the single by Rihanna. Not only were Ms Fenty's vocals more confident than the SNL showing, but the simple staging and the beefed up backing were also much improved.

[Watch] Rihanna Brings "Unapologetic" to Saturday Night Live

Rihanna is back on the album promo trail- yes, she has another album out about a year after the last- and touched down on the set of Saturday Night Live to showcase two tracks from the November 19th released Unapologetic.

First up was new single Diamonds, which was accompanied by some weird animated background that initially had me worried was a ploy by directors to distract us from the potentially damaging vocal that was to come. But it wasn't that bad. Honestly.

I've been really interested in hearing Rihanna sing Diamonds live ever since the song debuted in September. With the sustained belting being quite extensive throughout, I did wonder if the Barbadian beauty was going to be able to maintain the stamina - let alone hit the notes- when it eventually came to performing live.

Top Ten Biggest Selling Diva Singles (Ever) Of The UK

The OfficialCharts.com have released their list of the top ten biggest selling female singles of the United Kingdom. Having compiled the official UK Charts for just under 60 years, no one else is better placed to give us a reliable run down, figures included, of the impressive accolade.

Take a look at the list below:

Watch Rihanna @ BBC Radio 1's Hackney Weekend Festival

Say what you like about Rihanna, but she always sings live and she always gives a hundred and ten percent during her performances. It's an attitude a lot of people could learn from. Case in point her extensive, closing, set at Radio 1's Hackney Weekend Festival.

Coldplay & Rihanna "Princess Of China" [New Video]

Coldplay and Rihanna finally release the green-screen heavy video for single Princess Of China [which I reviewed here, what seems like an eternity ago]. The teaser released a while back hinted that something a little special, and dare I "iconic" was in the making, but the actual video doesn't quite fulfil that promise. Well not to me anyway.