Rihanna’s “California King Bed” Potential Massive Hit

Yesterday (May 9th) Rihanna released the latest video from her 5th album, Loud. The video is for one of the only ballads to be released from ths very Dance heavy album. (Excluding “Love The Way You Lie Part II” featuring Eminem, which recieved some buzz play associated with the promotion behind Eminem’s Recovery) The song is “California King Bed” an Adult Contemporary style ballad produced by Orlando based productiong group, The Runners. The interesting part about that  is, The Runners have become best known for producing rhythmic Hip Hop for such southern Rap stars like Rick Ross, Young Jeezy, T.I., U.G.K. and many other. “California King Bed”  is the first of its kind for the production group. Even though the group has worked with R&B singers like Day 26 and Chris Brown in the past, this is the first time they have produced a song that is stripped down leaning more towards the Soft Rock genre, and then have it released as a single.

Do to the fact that song stands out so much from the rest of Rihanna’s music, it has also quickly become one of her best reviewed. Stacey Anderson of Spin commented on the song:

” ‘California King Bed’ is a wrenching ballad about the waking death of a relationship, the stage of limbo before the final crash; it’s so well-delivered, in fact, that it’s hard to hear.” Ryan Dombell from Pitchfork Media said, 

“‘California King Bed’ is a ‘I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing’-type power ballad genetically engineered to soundtrack a bi-coastal Kate Hudson rom-com.” Andy Gill of The Independent viewed the song as a big break-up power-ballad and that it features Rihanna’s best vocal performance. Like Fergie’s ballad “Big Girls Don’t Cry” came from her Urban influenced Rhythmic album The Dutchess, but went on to become one of the biggest hits with wide universal appeal for 2007 and  2008, Rihanna’s “California King Bed” has potential to become one of her biggest hits.

The song has already become a hit in other countries like Australia and New Zealand. It is scheduled to be officially released in the US on May 31st, as the 6th single from Loud, following “Man Down”, which was also recently released on May 3rd.  Even though this is one of the last singles to be released from Loud, this is without a doubt one of the best! Take a look at the music video that was directed by Anthony Mander that premiered yesterday!

Rihanna

“California King Bed”

From Loud

SRP/Def Jam Records/IDJMG

Related Media

Fergie

“Big Girls Don’t Cry”

From The Dutchess

Will I Am Music Group/A&M/Interscope Records

Aerosmith

“I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing”

From Music From And Inspired By The Motion Picture Amageddon

Touchstone Pictures/Hollywood/Columbia Records

Rihanna

“Man Down”

From Loud

SRP/Def Jam Records/IDJMG