UMBRELLA - RIHANNA
Rihanna’s move to the center with 2004 smash “S.O.S.” was a shrewd move in advancing her authority as a mainstream hitmaker. With R&B/new wave groove “Umbrella,” she is again poised to soak the pop and urban charts. With a chorus that recalls Ashlee Simpson’s “L.O.V.E.,” a synthy chord that snakes over high-hat drums and lyric of teenage adoration, Rihanna dares listeners to keep the hook out of their heads. This first single from upcoming third album “Good Girl Gone Bad” is just the beginning of summertime domination from the 19-year-old Cover Girl, whose “Umbrella” will be pervasive along beaches and a prime companion to convertible road trips. An accompanying mix featuring a disruptive rap from Jay-Z does nothing but demonstrate how dated his ubiquitous presence has become; trust in the original. Billboard
