The Meaning Behind The Song: S&M by Rihanna
Rihanna’s hit song, “S&M,” was released in 2010 and quickly became one of her signature tracks. While the song’s title suggests a focus on BDSM, the meaning and message behind the song goes beyond just that. In this article, we will explore the deeper meaning behind “S&M” by Rihanna.
Table of Contents
The Lyrics
The lyrics of “S&M” depict a relationship that’s built on a power dynamic. The lines “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but chains and whips excite me” suggest that the singer is enjoying being hurt in a sexual way. However, the chorus reveals that this S&M dynamic is not just sexual, but also emotional.
The lyrics, “Cause I may be bad, but I’m perfectly good at it, sex in the air, I don’t care, I love the smell of it,” suggest that the singer is unapologetically confident in her sexuality and enjoys exploring it with her partner.
The Video
The music video for “S&M” features Rihanna being restrained in various ways – from being tied up with ropes to being trapped in a giant birdcage. The video is colorful, playful, and over-the-top, but the underlying message is still clear: the singer is in control of her sexuality, and she loves exploring it in different ways.
The video also shows various tabloid headlines with defamatory statements about Rihanna, suggesting that the singer has dealt with a lot of criticism and misogyny throughout her career. By using a song about sexual empowerment to tackle the issue of tabloid culture and public perception, Rihanna is making a bold statement about how women are treated in the music industry.
The Message
At its core, “S&M” is a song about power – both in sexual relationships and in the entertainment industry as a whole. Rihanna, who wrote the song with an oustide songwriter, is using her platform to take control of her own narrative and assert her own power.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Rihanna explained that she wrote “S&M” as a response to the media’s portrayal of her. “People are gonna talk. They’re gonna talk shit about you till the day you fucking die,” she said. “The only way to shut them up is to do what you do. I’d rather not read that fuckery anymore.”
By embracing her sexuality and expressing her own desires, Rihanna is fighting back against a culture that seeks to shame women for doing the same. “S&M” suggests that the power dynamic between those who seek to control and those who refuse to be controlled can be a mutually satisfying experience, rather than one that’s purely exploitative.
The Cultural Impact
“S&M” was a commercial success and quickly became one of Rihanna’s most well-known songs. However, it was also controversial and was banned in several countries due to its explicit content.
Despite this, “S&M” has had a lasting cultural impact, especially in terms of empowering women to embrace their own sexuality. The song has been celebrated by feminists and sex-positive communities, who see it as a way to combat shame and stigma around BDSM and other sexual practices.
In many ways, “S&M” was ahead of its time. In the decade since its release, conversations around sexual consent, kink, and BDSM have become increasingly mainstream. Rihanna’s song was at the forefront of that cultural conversation, and it remains an important part of the pop music canon.
The Bottom Line
“S&M” by Rihanna may be a song about kinky sex, but it’s also much more than that. It’s a song about power, control, and the ways in which we can use sexuality to assert our own agency in a world that’s all too eager to take it away.
By embracing her own desires and taking control of her own narrative, Rihanna has become a symbol of female empowerment in the music industry and beyond. “S&M” may be controversial, but it’s also a powerful message about the ways in which we can reclaim our own power and refuse to be shamed for doing so.
