Have you guys heard “Live Your Life” by T.I. and Rihanna? It’s selling really well on iTunes, but it’s still pretty new. If you don’t know it, you can indulge right here…
My friends, this may be the jam of the year.
The reason? The brain-melting power of the hook. Seriously… after “Disturbia” and “Take a Bow” and “Don’t Stop the Music,” I figured Rihanna had dropped all the gold she could drop in 2008, but now she’s thrown a scepter on top of the pile.
As my friend Joe points out, there’s not a damn thing wrong with an “ayyy! ohh!” refrain, because it forces us to sing along. And it’s nice to hear a little Barbados edge in Rihanna’s voice. It gives her actual personality as a vocalist. (She also co-wrote this song, so maybe she’s developing an identity.)
From a sing-along standpoint, it’s also nice that the chorus is built on short phrases like “live your life,” which are easy to shout in your car. And we musn’t ignore the sweet-ass beat, which is relaxed without being lazy, and uncluttered without being skeletal.
Also? T.I. is a great rapper. He always sounds likes he’s having a good time… like he’s too chill to scream at us or overdo his Southern accent (like so many rappers do, Soulja Boy.) His flow implies a cocky smile, so listening to him is like listening to your funny friend riff on things that he thinks are crazy.
Of course, if their lyrics were more cohesive, it might be even more fun to hear what T.I. and Ri-Ri have to say. On one hand, we’re supposed to be living our lives, not “worrying about the life we ain’t got” and not letting riches make us “piss poor morally” if we happen to get them. On the other hand, Rihanna keeps assuring us we’ll have shiny cars one day, while T.I. reminds us he can boost everyone’s album sales.
Aren’t the boasting and materialism out of place in a song that’s ostensibly about leaving the rat race? Shouldn’t we be concerned about the mixed messages of… uh… the mixed… message…
Ayyy! Ohh!!
Ayy! Ohh!!
Whoa. Sorry guys. I forgot what I was saying. Once the chorus starts, I’m not worried ’bout a thing!






3 responses so far ↓
1 kingoftunes // Oct 7, 2008 at 3:47 am
Argh…this song makes me want to drive daggers through my skull! Gee, do you think I feel strongly about it?!?!? Just wanted to point out, in case you weren’t aware, that the hook is based on O-Zone’s “Dragostea Din Tei” aka the Numa Numa song, best known for that YouTube video of some poor teenaged kid merrily singing along. Now that song is awesome!! It’s definitely worth a download.
2 Mark Blankenship // Oct 7, 2008 at 10:32 am
I didn’t know that. I’ll have to check it out!
And I know you download all Hot 100 #1 singles… so for your sake, I hope this one peaks at #2!
3 Mike M // Jan 19, 2009 at 10:23 pm
I agree about the mixed messages.. He tells them “Just live your life”… Oh… but.. ummm.. yeah chase that paper.. and desire the fancy house and fancy cars.. Oh .. Just live your life.. don’t be a hater.. Just love the money and live in a gated community… Shut yourself off from humanity and desire things that will do anything but let your live your life… Because you’ll be in debt to eternity and no way out for living your live.. ayyy ohhh… LOL..
The song does sound cool.. but the lyrics I detest..
Leave a Comment