Rihanna (book)

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Rihanna
Rihanna (book) cover.png
Author
Original titleRihanna: The Last Girl on Earth
LanguageEnglish
Publisher Rizzoli Publications
Publication date
October 15, 2010
Publication place
  • United States
  • United Kingdom
Media type
Pages144
ISBN 978-0-8478-3510-2

Rihanna (originally titled and alternatively known as Rihanna: The Last Girl on Earth [1] ) is a coffee table photo-book by Barbadian singer Rihanna and British artist Simon Henwood. Henwood envisioned the project as the depiction of a "journey", as it includes professional and candid photos by him, that show the singer's fourth studio album, Rated R 's (2009) promotional campaign, alongside pictures from other live appearances. The publication features a preface written by French designer Alexandre Vauthier.

Contents

It was first issued in the United States as a hardcover edition including a CD, on October 15, 2010; also being released in paperback formats and a deluxe hardcover edition including a crystal monogrammed clamshell and a signed image print. To promote the book, Rihanna appeared at a Barnes & Noble store where she signed copies of it. Editors commented on the book positively, favoring Rihanna's looks and Henwood's photography.

Background and concept

The book includes photographs taken during Rihanna's second world tour, Last Girl on Earth. Rihanna in Last Girl on Earth Tour 16-04-3.jpg
The book includes photographs taken during Rihanna's second world tour, Last Girl on Earth.

In November 2009, Rihanna released her fourth studio album Rated R through Def Jam Recordings, [2] to critical and commercial success. [3] [4] Following was a year-long world tour, titled Last Girl on Earth. [5] In January 2010, details about a Rihanna photo book were revealed, including its initial title—Rihanna: The Last Girl On Earth—and a tentative date, on June 29 of that year. [6]

During an interview with website MuuMuse, the book's photographer and British artist Simon Henwood, who also served as the creative director during the promotional campaign for Rated R, spoke on the concept and purpose of the publication. He revealed that the book was created in order to show the events of that promotional era, and while he did not envision the project as a "diary", he described it as a "picture book of everything that happens when you're building [something] like this, so things people had not seen of her." [7] Having spent a long period of time with Rihanna on diverse locations, such as "fashion shows, on set, hotel rooms" amongst others, Henwood told MuuMuse that it depicted the "journey from the initial design of the logo and concept of the album to the singer embarking on the Last Girl on Earth Tour. [7]

As a result, Rihanna includes photos of the singer taken during the Paris Fashion Week; during the Rated R photoshoot done by Ellen von Unwerth in Berlin; candid pictures and pictures of her American Music Awards live performance. The last photos of the publication were taken by Henwood during the European leg of the Last Girl on Earth Tour in April 2010. [8] Aside from the pictures, the book also includes a preface written by French designer Alexandre Vauthier, in which he praises the singer and describes their encounter. [9]

The date was then rescheduled from June 2010 to September of that year. Rihanna said to MTV:

I think it was really special to have behind-the-scenes photos, you know, pictures that the fans haven't seen before, all together of a very specific moment of my life, an album of my life. They just get to see all the things that they hadn't seen that were going on behind the scenes; really cool stuff, not typical. They're really fun photos. And even for me, when I look at them, they say so much. Photos really tell a thousand words. [10]

Release and reception

A 144-page book, Rihanna was released on October 15, 2010 in the United States under Rizzoli Publications, on hardcover format, including a CD with a song from Rated R ; [11] four days later, the paperback format was issued in the United States, [12] Germany, [13] and France. [14] Both editions were released in the United Kingdom on October 20, 2010, under the original title Rihanna: The Last Girl on Earth. [1] Four days later, the paperback format was issued in the United States. On October 26, 2010, a deluxe edition of the photo-book was released, including the hardcover edition "encased in a Swarovski crystal monogrammed clamshell" alongside a print with an image from "Rude Boy"'s music video shoot, signed by Rihanna. [15] Imported versions of the book were sold in Portugal starting February 2012. [16]

Rihanna appeared at the Fifth Avenue store of Barnes & Noble, in which she signed copies of the photo-book, dressed in a "floral-print" dress. [17] Editors who commented on the book were positive about it. At E!, Marc Malkin praised Henwood's professional photography, which he deemed "absolutely gorgeous". [9] At Rap-Up , editors favored Rihanna's looks, writing that in the pictures, she was "at the height of her beauty and ferocity". [8] Rebecca Thomas of MTV had a similar opinion, stating: "The 22-year-old stunner [Rihanna] shines in front of the camera and perhaps never more so than in the images that capture [her]". [10]

Release history

RegionDateFormatPublisher
United States [11] October 15, 2010 Hardcover Rizzoli Publications
United States [12] October 19, 2010 Paperback
Germany [13]
France [14]
United Kingdom [1] October 20, 2010
  • Hardcover
  • paperback
United States [15] October 26, 2010Hardcover
Portugal [16] February 2012Paperback

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rihanna</span> Barbadian singer (born 1988)

Robyn Rihanna Fenty is a Barbadian singer, businesswoman and actress. She was cited as the best-selling female recording artist of the 21st century by Guinness World Records and is one of the best-selling recording artists of all time, with sales estimated at 250 million units worldwide. Rihanna is the highest-certified female artist of all time on the RIAA's Top Artists ranking; she has the most U.S. diamond certified singles for any female artist (7). She has achieved 14 number-one singles, 32 top-ten singles in the US, and 31 top-ten entries in the UK. Her accolades include nine Grammy Awards, 13 American Music Awards, 12 Billboard Music Awards, six Guinness World Records, the NAACP's President's Award, and an Academy Award nomination. As of 2024, she is the wealthiest female musical artist with an estimated net worth of $1.4 billion.

<i>Good Girl Gone Bad</i> 2007 studio album by Rihanna

Good Girl Gone Bad is the third studio album by Barbadian singer Rihanna. It was released on May 31, 2007, by Def Jam Recordings and SRP Records. Rihanna worked with various producers on the album, including Tricky Stewart, The-Dream, Neo da Matrix, Timbaland, Carl Sturken, Evan Rogers and Stargate. Inspired by Brandy's fourth studio album Afrodisiac (2004), Good Girl Gone Bad is a pop, dance-pop and R&B record with 1980s music influences. Described as a turning point in Rihanna's career, it represents a departure from the Caribbean sound of her previous releases, Music of the Sun (2005) and A Girl like Me (2006). Apart from the sound, she also endorsed a new image for the release going from an innocent young woman to an edgier, more mature look.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take a Bow (Rihanna song)</span> 2008 single by Rihanna

"Take a Bow" is a song recorded by Barbadian singer Rihanna for Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded (2008), the re-release of her third studio album Good Girl Gone Bad (2007). The song was written and produced by Tor Erik Hermansen, Mikkel Eriksen, and Shaffer Smith under their stage names StarGate and Ne-Yo. "Take a Bow" was released as the first single on April 15, 2008, from the re-release and the fifth single overall from the two releases. It is an R&B song that contains elements of dance-pop. Critical reception of "Take a Bow" was mixed, with some critics praising the song's lyrics and powerful balladry, while others criticized StarGate's production as unoriginal.

<i>Rated R</i> (Rihanna album) 2009 studio album by Rihanna

Rated R is the fourth studio album by Barbadian singer Rihanna. It was released on November 20, 2009, by Def Jam Recordings and SRP Records. Recording sessions for the album began in March 2009 and took place at recording studios throughout United States and Europe. Rihanna was the executive producer of the album alongside Antonio "L.A." Reid and The Carter Administration. It features additional production by various record producers, including Chase & Status, Stargate, The-Dream, Ne-Yo, and Brian Kennedy. The record features several vocalists and instrumentalists, including Young Jeezy, will.i.am, Justin Timberlake and Slash, who played the guitars in "Rockstar 101".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hard (song)</span> 2009 single by Rihanna

"Hard" is a song by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna from her fourth studio album, Rated R (2009). The song features a guest verse from American rapper Young Jeezy, credited only as "Jeezy" on the album. The artists co-wrote the song with its producers, The-Dream and Tricky Stewart. "Hard" was sent to radio by Def Jam Recordings on November 10, 2009, as the second United States single from Rated R. It is a hip hop song and features military horns, hissing synthesizers, sharp beats and piano chords.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Last Girl on Earth</span> 2010–11 concert tour by Rihanna

Last Girl on Earth was the third concert tour by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna. The tour visited Europe, North America and Australia to support her fourth studio album, Rated R (2009).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wait Your Turn</span> 2009 single by Rihanna

"Wait Your Turn" is a song recorded by Barbadian singer Rihanna for her fourth studio album, Rated R (2009). It was written by Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Saul Milton, Will Kennard, James Fauntleroy II, Takura Tendayi, and Rihanna herself. Stargate and Chase & Status produced the song. "Wait Your Turn" was released on November 13, 2009, as the second international and third overall single from Rated R.

Simon Henwood is a British artist, author, film director, and music video director. Henwood first gained attention as a children's writer and later on for his paintings inspired by adolescence, as well as combining "darkness and hip together". He is best known for directing Kanye West's "Love Lockdown" and being the creative force behind Rihanna's Rated R album campaign. Henwood was in a relationship with Irish singer-songwriter Róisín Murphy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rude Boy (Rihanna song)</span> 2010 single by Rihanna

"Rude Boy" is a song by Barbadian singer Rihanna, taken from her fourth studio album, Rated R (2009). It was released as the album's fourth overall and third international single on February 5, 2010, through Def Jam. Rihanna co-wrote the song with Ester Dean, Makeba Riddick, and producers Rob Swire and Stargate. "Rude Boy" is a clubby midtempo reggae, dancehall and R&B song which incorporates elements of raggamuffin. The song received mixed to positive reviews from critics; some have called it the highlight of the album, but others criticized Rihanna's "monotone" and "icy" vocal performance. However, opinion of the song has improved over time, and several critics have retrospectively ranked it as one of the strongest releases in her discography.

"Raining Men" is a song by Barbadian singer Rihanna from her fifth studio album, Loud (2010). Written by Melvin Hough II, Rivelino Wouter, Timothy Thomas, Theron Thomas and Onika Maraj, and produced by Mel & Mus, the song was sent to urban radio on December 7, 2010, as the album's third single in the United States, and was re-sent to urban radio on January 25, 2011. A hip hop song, it features rap vocals by Nicki Minaj and instrumentation consisting of sirens, bass, and hip hop drums. The song's lyrics revolve around how there is an endless supply of men available in the world. The song garnered a mixed response from music critics; some praised the chemistry between Rihanna and Minaj, while others commented that it bore strong resemblances to Beyoncé's song "Diva" with regard to its composition, and were critical of the notion.

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<i>Loud</i> (Rihanna album) 2010 studio album by Rihanna

Loud is the fifth studio album by Barbadian singer Rihanna. It was released on November 12, 2010, by Def Jam Recordings and SRP Records. The album was recorded between February and August 2010, during the singer's Last Girl on Earth tour (2010-2011) and the filming of her first feature film Battleship (2012). Rihanna and L.A. Reid were the executive producers of Loud and worked with various record producers, including Stargate, Sandy Vee, The Runners, Tricky Stewart and Alex da Kid. The album features several guest vocalists, including rappers Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Eminem, who is featured on the sequel to "Love the Way You Lie", titled "Love the Way You Lie ".

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"Cold Case Love" is a song recorded by Barbadian singer Rihanna for her fourth studio album, Rated R (2009). It was written and produced by The Y's. Following Chris Brown's assault on Rihanna, she started working on the sound of her new album. Timberlake, who co-wrote "Cold Case Love", labeled the sound of Rihanna's new project as a step forward for the singer. In February 2010, Rihanna admitted that the song's lyrics are about her complicated relationship with Brown.

<i>Only Human</i> (Cheryl album) 2014 studio album by Cheryl

Only Human is the fourth studio album by English singer Cheryl. It was released on 7 November 2014, through Polydor Records. Following a slew of media invasion, Cheryl took a one-year hiatus from music. Following her hiatus, Cheryl confirmed that Girls Aloud would reunite and release a greatest hits compilation. After its release, the group embarked on their last tour and announced their permanent split. In July 2013 Cheryl began recording Only Human; the recording was later completed in August 2014.

References

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  5. "Live — Rihanna". Rihannanow.com (official website). Archived from the original on February 8, 2011. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  6. Stern, Bradley (January 2010). "New Details Surface on Rihanna's Upcoming Photo Book with Simon Henwood". MuuMuse. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  7. 1 2 Stern, Bradley (October 2010). "Rated R and Beyond: Interview with Creative Director Simon Henwood". MuuMuse. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  8. 1 2 "Preview Rihanna's Photography Book". Rap-Up . Rap-Up, LLC. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
  9. 1 2 Malkin, Marc (October 15, 2010). "Inside Rihanna's Big Beautiful World". E! . Retrieved February 15, 2014.
  10. 1 2 Thomas, Rebecca (October 27, 2010). "Rihanna Says Photos In Her New Book 'Say So Much'". MTV. Viacom Media Networks. Archived from the original on February 10, 2011. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
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  12. 1 2 Rihanna. Rizzoli. October 19, 2010. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  13. 1 2 Rihanna (in German). October 19, 2010. ASIN   0847835103.
  14. 1 2 Rihanna (in French). October 19, 2010. ASIN   0847835103.
  15. 1 2 Henwood, Simon (October 26, 2010). Rihanna Deluxe: Deluxe Edition. ISBN   978-0847836321.
  16. 1 2 "Rihanna - The Last Girl on Earth" (in Portuguese). Fnac . Retrieved February 15, 2014.
  17. "Rihanna's Big Apple Book Signing". Rap-Up. Rap-Up, LLC. October 27, 2010. Retrieved February 15, 2014.