REVIEW OF MUSIC VIDEO FOR SONG “MAN DOWN”

INTRO
...Redhead sights her prey and her breath ceases. Redhed emerges slowly from the shadows. You can see from the look in her eye that she's got badness on her mind. She raises Peggy Sue.. 'Corks the hammer with her thumb and the trigger shrinks. She sees cross-hairs.
One shot.
Lamia blows a rich cloud of smoke inside of Redhed's mind. Redhead cringes. And grimaces. She watches him fall. Satisfied. As planned, Godfathter-movie-style, she drops the gun and kicks it to her left side.
As planned, she runs.
All in under 11 seconds. People scurry for safety.

Cut!

OVERVIEW
Yet another Anthony Mandler video of a Rihanna song. This one was filmed in Jamaica.
You know, regardless of what anybody may think; Anthony Mandler is just as much of an artist as Riri is. That's the truth. And the song writers did magic too. An epic project, this. Controversial, but ace nonetheless. The video was shot in Jamaica and it tells the story of a young and friendly woman who shoots and kills her previous-day-assailant (with a scar on his face) at a train station the morning after he rapes her brains out. Well, not really, but you get the picture...
I can envision the fictional headlines of the, er, Daily Bugle being carried by the newspaper vendor boy with the long dreadlocks who is honking his bicycle horn; all on an ice cold morning on Lagos Island in Nigeria.
“Caribbean queen shoots thug in Central Station”

THE GOOD
Premeditated evil is bad. Evil, even. But if this controversial project does any good it's to deter the next would-be criminal from doing a similar crime. I ain't no criminal, but after watching this video, I decided for the umpteenth time that I will NEVER rape a woman. The most dangerous animal in the world is a woman on a mission. Because we men just never see it coming. Good acting, Riri. You've sure taught ME a lesson. I hope that goes for the rest of the men of the world too.
The music is very good too.

THE BAD
Did she even have a license for Peggy Sue?
What in the world is a girl so sweet and pretty doing with a pistol by the way?
How old is the teasing-girl in this music video anyway? 23?
I think Riri should grow up and be more responsible! Life's sacred! The girl in the video should've gone to the Police with her case -- not shoot him in the back like that!
What is the relationship between Redhead and those dangerous-looking gangsters she was so friendly with in the video? Rihanna's becoming way too creative for her own good, y'all! LOL!

THE UGLY
Well, firstly, they/shoulda named the song Rom-po-po-pom not “Man Down”!
They all probably sippin' too much of that VITA LOCO anyway! Rename the song, Riri!!

THE SAD
The story of the music video is sad and scary and controversial for all full blooded males. And another thing about this story is that fact that she actually was (flame writer-reviewer here?) partly responsible for getting the young man all worked-up. She teased the him as they danced, and then when he wanted to go further (I'm sure he was stupid enough to want to “take” her right there on the dance floor in that club), she stops him by pushing his chest. After a while, she leaves the club. So he follows her and rapes her. It's a sad story. He stole her most prized possession. And she steals his life. I'm sure that he felt his action was justified because she teased him.
I'm sure he also had no idea that such a sweet “neighborhood darling” could have a pistol in a drawer at home – let alone shoot him in Central Station.

He just wanted the honey between her legs. And because he was bigger and stronger -- he stole it. He raped her. And he was gonna get that honey regardless of whether she wanted to willingly give it to him or not. But then on the other side of the argument; it was actually she who stirred a hornet's nest. I don't know who's side to take in this tragic piece by Rihanna. I would have actually clapped for this piece if it had been done by a less-famous artist.
He took her happiness away, that fool. He made her heart fertile for Lamia. Hell hath no fury. This song kind of reminds me of that great sad song by The Braids titled “Bohemian Rhapsody”. Like Wow.

ABOUT HER CREW
And another thing I noticed is that Redhead had quite a number of thug friends in the video. They were comfortable around her, these thugs. They probably gave her Peggy Sue months – back for free. I wonder which one of them she's "seeing" among these thugs. They can't just let her be like that -- that doesn't happen. She's either family; or she's dating one or two of them. That's thug life for ya. Right?
And why is she so attracted to thugs? Did this happen to some girl somewhere in the world before? Does this have anything to do with Brown?
And she had her own crew who showed her plenty of thug/Gangsta love. They trusted her. Glock-love. They must be her kin. Hmm... (Or was she teasing them too?)
Or...on the other hand...Did she even see it? Did she see what one of them was holding?
Thug niggers out here ride on bicycles! LOL!

ABOUT SCARFACE
Why did it have to go all so wrong?
Why did a man have to become an animal?
Why didn't the girl know she was beautiful enough to turn him into one?
If he had known that she was going to kill him for it, he wouldn't have done it. And to think that she got him whilst he was trying to escape town. Now that she's killed him; she's the one that has to skip town in a hurry (And she says this part in the lyrics of the song.) He was running. He knew there'd be heat -- so he ran the morn after. He didn't know she'd move that fast. The video clearly depicts the possible aftermath of rape. Worst case scenario – she kills him. Lamia.
I am a man. I hate the fact that some careless thug got shot in the story. I appreciate the music and understand the warning -- but I still stand in the assembly that frowns upon such depictions of shocking vendetta. Remember that movie “I spit on your grave”?
My point exactly! :0(
You can tell from their arrangement that he's the don of the pack. They didn't hesitate in pointing out the direction the teasing girl went..they also probably knew he was going to rape her if she resisted. Surely this leader of theirs had a track record they were familiar with -- the scar tells this.
(And his fake net singlet!)
Rape. She went to the club to have fun. To tease. Maybe he didn't feel like being teased today. Maybe he just wasn't patient enough today? So many girls have been through this horrible ordeal. So sad. Well, what do you expect -- really -- when you have such a sweet diamond placed right in the midst of such “ruffness”? Of course some brother's gonna wanna get some “ruff-loving”. Not that I approve of his actions, though.
But the truth about this controversial video by our darling Rihanna is that that teasing female had it coming -- it was only a matter of when.
And her killing him, as justifiable/justified and action as it may seen to some,, only tightened a noose around her own pretty neck – figuratively speaking(?). That's the truth. "Tell the judge please give me minimal".
:0) Hey! Maybe they'll let me do the remix or something!
"She was just having fun and mingling" versus "She was teasing me. I lost control."
Yes, she was attracted to him! :0( But notice how she continually pushed him back when he was rubbing up against her a little too hard?
“He pinned her to the wall and covered her mouth. “

ABOUT HER LOOK
Riri has changed. This I notice as I watch her do her thing in this music video. She's always changing!
Remember that song she did with Maroon5? That was a good song with a near excellent video. I really liked it. And the girl is so fine! Have you seen the earrings the girl wore for the shooting of this video? They look like hoola hoops! (don't you just love Barbados already?)
Another question that I have for Anthony is “Why did they show the killing part, but they didn't show the fucking part?”
Don't you think that that is a double-standard too?
Did you see those endearing silly smiles? This video is hilarious, abeg!I can't stop laughing at her facial expressions in this music video. I wonder whether this was Mandler's intention!
(Yeah, and who was the Continuity Manager on this project? Why? Well, I noticed that while Redhead was sipping Vita Loco, her gold ring was on her left pinky and the other ring a quarter way down her wedding-ring-finger of her left hand... then later, rather mysteriously, it moves to almost halfway down... WHAT??!)

ABOUT THE MAN THAT HANDED HER A COCONUT
Dear Redhead, please quit accepting free juicy Jamaican coconuts from natty dreads who live in your neighborhood simply because they have a crush on you! They're trying to earn a living here, girl! Ain't you ever watched that music video Man Down, girl? :0( You shoulda learned something from it, girl!

ABOUT HER THUGNESS/SMOKING
She tightened her finger around the trigger even before she raised Peggy. You know...they never showed her to downtown to get that. Homegirl had it already.
Riri – or rather, Redhead – smoked here abeg. She' a thug too. A thug with a *****. This is a very interesting concept. Remember Ma Baker in that Boney M. song? There's a poignant story here. No, not Bonnie and Clyde, you *****! That's Jay and Beekay! I'm talking Good Girl Gone Bad here!
Study the graffiti.
Anyway, that puff of smoke is too darn thick to be that of ordinary Benson and Hedges -- or Captain Black! :0) Yup that's some 'homegrown' alright! Bud, baby! Smoking is bad for you, Rihanna. Tobacco smokers are liable to die young. Weed smokers are liable to “lose it” and shoot an unthinking rapist between the shoulder blades like that neighborhood-darling-gone-Lamia chick did in this video! They are also, dear Riri, liable to get really creative and tear up the charts like that. They also tend to get very controversial and have the Parents Television Council up their behinds for music videos like this one, Riri. Good girl's gone Loud. And a little crazy. Paranoid, more like – like Riri and Kanye. (Without Jay Z, of course – otherwise then it'll be something else, wouldn't it? Run the city.)
Anyway, even as bad as smoking is, I kind of think the way her alter-ego, Lamia, smoked 'that' is sexy. Lamia's the name of that “spirit”, FYI. (I got the name from a novel I read as a kid many many years ago.)
I like the way that she smoked that right after she shot that. But is this appropriate for our darling impressionable children, Riri? I gotta be concerned. I'm a parent too. I haven't a choice but to care.
I love the way she sings it, though. That ol' West-Indian accent. Barbados. As I sit and write this in my quiet room, I can hear the faint melody of this song and picture the lovely people in the club dancing the night away. Smoke in the air. The rhythms of the Island in their dance-loving hearts. A breath of fresh air, people. Paradise.

SUMMARY
Plenty kudos to the music video's director, Anthony Mandler. This music video is not swanky, it's raw. And uncouth. Smoke, reggae and coconuts, this one. One thing I can assure you is that you are not going to laugh after watching this. On the contrary. You'll be sad, and it'll really make you think; “Why did it have to go all so wrong?”

But was she REALLY a better person! The young man probably would have opted for a better lot in life if he had been afforded the opportunity of choice. Life is funny and confusing and complex sometimes.
Was she sipping' too much of that Carribean-coconut-bush-tea? (I hear they mama's start giving them that **** from when they're 3 months old!)
Did you see how those thugs were looking at him when he returned from assaulting her (with his torn singlet)?
The world around me seems to support the girl. I watch they eyes as they watch the video: They're looking at her breasts. The males are overwhelmed by her sexuality, and the females can relate with the situation depicted by the character she plays -- and so they like her, and dislike him strongly for defiling her. Me? I think both character share the blame for the assault and for the aftermath.
Why is the nature of woman to tease so? A very controversial music for a very controversial song.
I have mixed feelings about this one. Whether I like it? Well, yeah... I do. How does Riri do it? Hit after hit after hit! And that money just continues to roll in. :0) Wow! That must be a really really interesting life. I wish I were rich and famous like Riri. LOL! (Remember that Abba song?)
Dear readers, it took a lot out of me to keep from writing a review of this song and its great music video the day I heard it. It took a lot from me not to do that. It's a fantastic music video and it really moved me. I'm passionate about Rihanna. And I think she's a near perfect singer. A very smart dancer. A brilliant choreographer (remember "Ride"? With the cars and the napkins those chicks were throwing up and catching and everything?
That was something, huh? )

LYRICS
I didn't mean to end his life
I know it wasn't right
I can't even sleep at night
Can't get it off my mind
I need to get out of sight
Before I end up behind bars

What started out as a simple altercation
Turned into a real sticky situation
Me just thinking on the time that I'm facing
Makes me wanna cry

'Cause I didn't mean to hurt him
Could've been somebody's son
And I took his heart when
I pulled out that gun

Rum pa pa pum
Rum pa pa pum
Rum pa pa pum
Man down
Rum pa pa pum
Rum pa pa pum
Rum pa pa pum
Man down

mama, mama, mama
I just shot a man down
In central station
In front of a big old crowd
Oh why, oh why
Oh, mama, mama, mama
I just shot a man down
In central station

It's a 22, I call her Peggy Sue
When she fits right down in my shoes
What you expect me to do
If you're playing me for a fool
I will lose my cool
And reach for my fire arm

I didn't mean to lay him down
But it's too late to turn back now
Don't know what I was thinking
Now he's no longer living
So I'm 'bout to leave town

'Cause I didn't mean to hurt him
Could've been somebody's son
And I took his heart when
I pulled out that gun
Rum pa pa pum
Rum pa pa pum
Rum pa pa pum
Man down
Rum pa pa pum
Rum pa pa pum
Rum pa pa pum
Man down

mama, mama, mama
I just shot a man down
In central station
In front of a big old crowd
Oh why, oh why
Oh, mama, mama, mama
I just shot a man down
In central station

Look, I never thought I'd do it
Never thought I'd do it
Never thought I'd do it, oh gosh
What ever happened to me
Ever happened to me, ever happened to me
Why did I pull the trigger
Pull the trigger, pull the trigger, boom
And end a nigga, end a niggas life so soon
When me pull the trigger, pull the trigger, pull it 'pon you
Somebody tell me what I'm gonna, what I'm gonna do

Rum pa pa pum
Rum pa pa pum
Rum pa pa pum
Me say wah man down (A weh me say)
Rum pa pa pum
Rum pa pa pum
Rum pa pa pum
When me went downtown

'Cause now I am a criminal, criminal, criminal
Oh lord have mercy now I am a criminal
Man down
Tell the judge please give me minimal
Run out of town,
None of them can see me now, see me now

Oh, mama, mama, mama
I just shot a man down
In central station
In front of a big old crowd
Oh why, oh why
Oh, mama, mama, mama
I just shot a man down
In central station.

:0) Hey, I heard the writers name. The first two words of the song...

Artist: Rihanna Robyn Fenty
Director: Anthony Mandler
Project Manager: Anthony Mandler
Music Makers:
Writers: Shontelle Layne, Shama “Sak Pase” Joseph, Theron Thomas and Timothy Thomas
Recording: Cary Clark
Production: Shama “Sak Pase” Joseph
Vocal production: Kuk Harrel
Vocal recording: Kuk Harrell, Josh Gudwin (I didn't say Josh Glaze!), and Marcos Tovar
Assistant vocal recording: Bobby Campbell
Mixing: Manny Marroquin
Assistant Mixers: Christian Plata and Erik Madrid
Record Label/Company: The Island Def Jam
Recorded at Westlake Recording Studios, Los Angeles
Recorded at The Village Recording Studios, Los Angeles

Year: 2011 (May)
Genre: Reggae
Length of song: 4:27
Reviewer: Bob-Carl
Rating: 93%

Starring: Rihanna as 'the neighborhood darling' aka Redhead
Rihanna as Lamia
? as Scarface
? as Peggy Suzanne