Rihanna's Video Attribution Is Somehow M.I.A.

By PopEater Staff Posted Feb 11th 2010 01:01PM

Rihanna has always been an artist who started her own trends and styles, no matter what anyone else around her does or says. So, it was doubly startling when we watched her new video for 'Rude Boy' that almost every aspect of it -- the coloring, the concept, the tribal design -- was already entirely done by M.I.A. (you know, the 'Paper Planes' gal). Through the years, M.I.A's signature has been bold colors, triangular patterns and wild patterns on green screen in her videos. For comparison purposes, check out side-by-side videos and M.I.A.'s very similar album covers after the jump.

Rihanna's 'Rude Boy'

M.I.A.'s 'Galang'

M.I.A's 'Boyz'

Sure, both Rihanna and M.I.A have different ethnic backgrounds that influence their taste in color and design (Rihanna is from Barbados while M.I.A. is British via Sri Lanka). And while we'd never declare that Rihanna or anyone copied directly from someone, this instance is eerily similar. Even M.I.A.'s old album covers share similarities with Rihanna's new video:

Tags: Rihanna

Comments

(14)

Thursday 11 February

By Jeff

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God this is so unimportant. On one hand, it does seem like they are similar and maybe there was a little copy cat involved, but on the other hand should MIA have a monopoly on bright, colorful triangles? No.

By Nate

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It's nice to know that I'm not the only one who thinks Rihanna is unattractive. Not only that, her music is forgetable and her voice is annoying. Is she really popular or is she another one of those celebrities that the media has decided to shove down our throats for some unexplained reason?

By Drea

I like this video - She is original still but copying is the best flattery...

By Addison

Actually BOTH girls video style is a copy of Neneh Cherry. The whole look originated in her Buffalo Stance video in 1989 and was carried on in Technotronic's - Pump Up the Jam. So in short both unoriginal copycats can suck it.

Saturday 06 March

By *Grace*

While Buffalo Stance and Pump up The Jam are similiar videos. M.I.A came up with these tribal designs and bright African style colors and she was original and now Rihanna is so African now. So...the pop up like videos may not be original but M.I.A style is.

Conclusion: Rihanna is looking for a new style and because M.I.A is a less profiled artist, Rihanna can rip her off and get away with it.

By claudia

Well, Rihanna isnt going to win no Miss America contest but she isn't ugly either. I feel that her money and career has a lot to do with how she looks now just like all the others that are in the spot light. It's a ton of makeup and beauty products. But when washing all that off, she would look just average on the chart. I like some of her songs but that one that she screaming on with Jay-Z that sounds like a woolf howling, it actually gives me headaches. But umbrella and even a couple of her latest hits on nice.

By Niki

LOOOOOVE that freakin song!!

By tintrip3

Why does it even matter about the colors on her video? Now has an article on why is it that lady gaga and others wears those leotards like beyonce, or even that M I A is copying an American music artform.

By JamaicanGyal

Uhm ACTUALLY !
Their videos are both inspired by the Carribean culture. They both pay tribute Jamaican artists, dances, and music videos of the 90's .

Rihanna being from the Carribean, she is doing nothing more than going back to her roots . && MIA just simply admires the culture .

Rihannas voice is annoying, but she is pretty and has a unique style .

Actually, irreguardless of the video, MIA is biting off an american music form. I've actually listened to her music a lot longer than slumdog mil. fame. She's a rapper.

By Tricia

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M.I.A. is so much better than Rihanna music-wise. Nobody can do weird tribal neon colors like M.I.A. But I agree with Addison, Neneh Cherry did stuff like this a long time ago.

By Its.Meeeeeh

Rihanna is unorginal and she claims she's a trend setter... pshhhhh PUH-LEASE. Go sit down.

Tuesday 27 April

By Nikki

I'm so glad someone else noticed the Neneh Cherry "likeness". When I saw M.I.A featured on the cover of Rolling Stone last year, I was thinking how she was channeling the late 80s and noted her similarity to Neneh. The video is so late 80s.

Sunday 02 May

By Whatever is.

Rihanna is not very original. I can't stand when people claim she is iconic. I agree w/ *Grace* that big name artists love to swagger jack low profile artists because they can get away with it. When it was not cool to be an exact replica of Beyonce, she decided to steal Fefe Dobson's entire identity (wardrobe included),chopped her hair off into Kelis' do from like 2000, and she copied Grace Jone's entire look for her Rated R art, now she's trying to be M.I.A. She has this whole rock chick look, but sings the same songs that Britney Spears might sing. I don't care what anyone says... if all these fashion antics were the REAL RIHANNA... why didn't she look like this when she first came out??? Instead of looking like a photocopy of Beyonce? I'd have a little more respect for her if she had done that. Trendsetter? I think not.

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