Today, From The Vault journeys back to a time when Rihanna was only beginning to embrace her “bad gyal” persona. This week’s pick is her joint single with Maroon 5 ‘If I Never See Your Face Again.’
Originally sung solely by M5’s frontman Adam Levine and included on the band’s second LP ‘It Won’t Be Soon Before Long,’ ‘Face’ received quite the facelift when chart Queen RiRi was added to the mix.
The collaborative remix was dually serviced as a single from the re-release of Levine and co’s album as well as from Ms. Fenty’s ‘Good Girl Gone Bad.’
Produced by Tricky Stewart and Mike Elizondo, it was first intended as a duet with Janet Jackson which couldn’t materialize because of label issues.
A moderate hit for its headlining acts, it cracked the US Top 40 during Summer 2008 and climbed to number 28 in the UK; still, it managed to peak at #11 and #12 in Australia and Canada respectively.
RiRi’s frequent collaborator Anthony Mandler directed the song’s visual which focused heavily on editorial shots of sexy Rihanna, dapper Adam, and their titillating (yet understated) teasing.
***********
Some, at the time, christened this collaboration random, yet it still “worked.”
Evidence, ladies and gents, of how Team Rih have successfully managed to broaden her brand and secure her place as the resident crossover crusader.
We wish more artists would follow that route and mix and match up for diversity. The results, as highlighted here, can be bliss.
