Rihanna - California King Bed

It's taken three singles from "Loud" for Rihanna to finally achieve a song that really gives us something special. So far her last three songs have had success yet they lack anything new aside from typical Rihanna sound, but "California King Bed" truly goes out with something different. It brings us back to "Take a Bow" another slower, pretty song from Rihanna.

"California King Bed" starts with a tender sound, almost a lulling whisper. Already that's something that we don't see from Rihanna too much, but the greatest thing about the song is that it builds gradually throughout the song. By the first chorus Rihanna has already picked up the pace into something a little more intense, which then continues to longing lament and always growing into an explosive ending.

This song is not a dance track, but it still has a way to get stuck in your mind. No longer is Rihanna singing about getting on the floor or sex, but just a relationship that's hit struggles. It's really much more true and heartfelt than most of her other work. It combines beautiful sounds with Rihanna's signature blaring sound, but it works incredibly well to make a pleading love song. Experimenting with a new sound can be a little risky but we've already seen that Rihanna can slow things down with "Take a Bow" and I don't see any reason why this song shouldn't have any less success.

The lyrics are sweet and loving, but there is small flaw to be found here. The repition of the word "California," seems a little out of place and unnecessary. I don't know what a California King Bed is, but I can accept that; however when you add in California King, California Wishing, California Dreaming, it gets a little weird. I'm not sure what the idea behind this was as California really has no connection to a dying relationship. This song will be at its peak during the summer which does have a common theme of California, but this is far from a summer anthem.

Over all I'm really glad that Rihanna finally got it right and gave us somthing a little different. "California King Bed" is incredibly beautiful and has a lot more emotion than a generic dance song. I don't think it has a shot at song of the summer though since people want something a little more upbeat and dancy. Still I think it will be a big hit.