The problem with communism is not that it promotes a level playing to start with, at least theoretically not a terrible idea, but it insists upon maintaining that level playing field regardless of ability through a life.
Let me, if I may, compare myself to Elvis Costello: a man I have ragged on forever:
1. He knows more about music than I ever will.
2. He has done more about music than I ever will.
3. He is richer than I am.
4. He is more popular than I am.
5. He is taller than I am.
The only two places I beat him is a) my girl Cyn is cuter than his wife and b) I write better prose. otherwise? I am not in his league.
My point? We are not equals. he is better at most things than I am.
My other point is, people are good at what they are good at despite the best of intentions.
This leads me to three albums by Rihanna and let’s grade em:
1. Good Girl Gone Bad Grade A-
2. Rated R Grade: C-
3. Loud Grade: A-
The first and the third are manufactured pop music, the middle one a serious attempt to come to terms to being the victim of physical abuse by her boyfriend at the time, Chris Brown.
The problem? Rihanna doesn’t have the ability to turn personal observation and personal pain into pop songs. The result was Rated R, a terrible album. “Russian Roulette” might be a brave attempt to hit dark beats and hushed emotions to reach a greater truth, but it sounds like crap. “Cheers (Drink To That)” is just another drink and dance song, Rihanna didn’t even write it, but it works perfectly. It is nearly as good as “Raise Your Glass”.
Will it last? Not really. Neither will Rated R which is already forgotten. But I can only write prose and Rihanna can only make perfectly manufactured pop.
Let’s hope she keeps doing it.