Rihanna and Pharrell make “Lemon” into Lemonade
The truth will set you free. But first, it’ll piss you off.
These are the controversial opening words to N*E*R*D’s comeback single, “Lemon” off their new album No_One Ever Really Dies. Anyone who knows the band knows that anything Pharrell Williams, Shay Haley and Chad Hugo touch turns into an instant hit. Take that and add Rihanna into the mix and it’s a record made in heaven.
After a seven-year hiatus, the American-funk rock band, N*E*R*D, released a new single on Nov. 1 featuring Rihanna and took the music world by storm. Alongside the track, the trio put out a music video that embodies the essence of rhythm, ambience, mystery, and twerking.
The entirety of the song keeps its listener bopping their head along to the raunchy beat as Pharrell frequently chants, “Bouncin’ around, bouncin’ around, bouncing’.” Though the song itself is a clear display of N*E*R*D’s classic catchy tunes and repetitive lyrics, the music video completely steals the shine from the single alone.
The video opens with the ever-stunning Rihanna sat atop what seems to be a motel bed, shaving the head of the mysterious protagonist of the piece. Both share the similar melancholy expression as the dim lights and bland furniture are completely opposite to the songs upbeat nature.
The clock in the distance of the room reads 11:20PM just as Rihanna finishes landscaping our mystery guests head. As she comes to a stop, the beat transitions into a more hip-hop rhythm and showcases the newly bald female in the center of an abandoned indoor marketplace. As the lyrics resurrect, the camera pans to a close-up of the unidentified woman dancing against a plain backdrop. It seems as though after shaving her head, the anonymous protagonist has gained an astonishing amount of confidence as she dances flawlessly to every “bar” Rihanna is rapping.
Usage of muted neon lights and negative space throughout the entirety of the video are clearly a tribute to much of N*E*R*D’s earlier music videos such as “Everyone Nose (All the Girls Standing in the Line for the Bathroom)” (2008) and “She Wants to Move” (2007). The setting of “Lemon” resembles that of an eerie funhouse or haunted house and leaves the viewer wondering exactly who this person is and why they’re in this location. The entire atmosphere was craftily structured to mix the sense of clandestine unawareness with playful, sexy dance movements — an almost seductive combination. The camera moves at hypnotic angles that switch from clear, crisp modern technology to that of what seems to be a 1990s camcorder, adding a sense of imperialist nostalgic to the already dreamlike video. This upbeat energy is consistent throughout the rest of the single.
Though seemingly another amazing instalment in N*E*R*D’s legacy, there are political undertones to the song that may steer listeners and viewers away from “Lemon”. The second verse rapped by Pharrell is practically and underlying agenda taking jabs at the current political climate with lyrics like:
Hate! You keep askin’ me where I’m from
Hate! About the borders and, “Did I run?”
Hate! Keep askin’ how I feel ‘bout guns
Hate! There’s a light and dark army, which side you choose? Oh
Hate! If not now then when?
Hate! And if not me then who?
Hate! Don’t drink the Kool-Aid, my friends
Hate! I tried to tell y’all about this dude.
By using idioms to reference Jim Jones’ “Jonestown Massacre” in 1978, talking about gun reform, and border control Pharrell urges his reader to gain a deeper understanding of the occurrences in everyday life. To top it all off, the very last image in the video is the mysterious heroine shoving a Black Power fist in the air — a classy tribute to the injustice that has been taking place against blacks in America.
The entire video was a refreshing change of pace that left viewers in awe of the revival of long-missed band N*E*R*D. It was especially exciting to hear Rihanna rap as she has never done so in any of her songs. This obscure video could be the face of a new generation of N*E*R*D and Rih fans. The combination of hypnotic music, visual stimulation, and an outstanding cast proves that the band never misses a beat.
