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After practically three years off the discharge radar, Rihanna is lastly again—however not in the best way followers had hoped. As an alternative of signaling the long-awaited arrival of R9, the pop famous person’s new single “Good friend of Mine” arrives by the use of the upcoming Smurfs film soundtrack. That’s proper—RiRi’s return comes wrapped in blue, delivering a candy, sun-soaked observe that’s extra Smurf Village than stadium tour.
The track formally dropped on Might 16, simply two days after it first teased within the Smurfs trailer, the place Rihanna’s character Smurfette (sure, she’s voicing her too) sings and dances by means of a candy-colored village. However Ri didn’t cease at simply lending her voice, as she’s additionally credited as a producer on the animated function, which hits theaters July 18. The soundtrack lineup is stacked, with contributions from Tyla, Cardi B, DJ Khaled, and DESI TRILL rounding out the pop-heavy playlist.
The most recent single will not be the edgy, album-teasing banger followers have been hoping for, however “Good friend of Mine” nonetheless brings a breezy, Afrobeats-tinged attraction. With heat synths and delicate percussion, Rihanna’s vocals float over a sunlit groove that feels extra like a bedtime bop from Smurf Village than a festival-ready hit. Nonetheless, it’s Rihanna—so individuals are tuning in, streaming, and spiraling.
And spiral they did. Social media, as anticipated, went full Ri-lapse. “She mentioned we’d get new music and gave us a theme track for youths. Queen habits,” one fan quipped. One other snapped, “Get in that studio, I’ve had it.” Nonetheless, beneath all of the memes and mock-meltdowns, there’s a real pleasure and pleasure, as a result of a Rihanna launch is uncommon air, and the Navy is aware of it.
“Good friend of Mine” follows 2022’s “Raise Me Up,” her hovering ballad for Black Panther: Wakanda Eternally, which snagged her a first-ever Oscar nod. However her final full-length album, ANTI, dates all the best way again to 2016, and the anticipate R9 has develop into the stuff of popular culture legend. In her February cowl story for Harper’s Bazaar, Rihanna hinted that the wheels are lastly turning on her long-awaited album. “I feel music is my freedom,” she mentioned. “I do know it’s not going to be something that anyone expects. And it’s not going to be industrial or radio digestible. It’s going to be the place my artistry deserves to be proper now. I really feel like I’ve lastly cracked it, lady!”
So whereas R9 stays a thriller wrapped in navy blue hope, “Good friend of Mine” is proof that the mic isn’t accumulating mud simply but. Till then, we’ll take what we get and fortunately dance it out with the Smurfs.
Watch the total “Good friend of Mine” music video under.
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