Yes, I Saw Ciara’s Video
I was going to avoid mentioning this video because I didn’t want an onslaught of Ciara’s cousins flooding my inbox with declarations that I’m an evil demon sent by Beyonce to soil the reputation of Atlanta’s favorite splitter.
That and I honestly didn’t care enough after watching it. But, since people are asking me if I’ve seen the video I might as well get it over with and chime in.
I don’t hate the video, but I can’t say that I’m in love with it either.
More importantly, I’m not at all convinced that this video will help Ciara return to the stature she earned following the success of her debut album.
Yes, she has a great body. I acknowledge that people are collectively celebrating that body and championing her spreading wide eagle for four minutes straight. Unfortunately, I highly doubt most of those people will spend 1.29 on iTunes to make this song soar to the top of the Hot 100.
And that’s what matters.
I do like the fact that Ciara is trying to go back to the look and sound that made her successful; however she still seems hard pressed to give men a hard on. She wants to be a sex kitten and fashionista — you know, something totally different from what we’ve been seeing.
She can ride a mechanical bull, she pop her muscle butt to the ground like no other yet this a girl whose charm was rooted in not being like everyone else. She seemed like a regular girl and if there was a sexiness to her it was certainly understated. There’s nothing understated about this video.
Some people evolve naturally while others force it. For those that fit the latter description they tend to come across as transparent and desperate. The song is alright, the video isn’t bad, but how far will humping the ground get you these days?
I think my writing homie best summed up my reaction when she told me, “I don’t know, humping the floor, it’s like…get up.”
Or at the very least, try not to hump the ground the exact way you did so seven years ago.
Before I didn’t care if I came across as harsh, but this time I’m trying to choose my words wisely. I don’t think Ciara should continue singing blue balls anthems like her debut single for her entire career.
At the same, though, she seems lost. We already have an artist known for her style and sex appeal…and Rihanna has catchier songs.
Which is why even if you don’t want to join in on the debate on to hump or not to hump, I think most of us who were fans of Ciara when she started can agree that “Ride” is no where near as catchy as her past hits like “Goodies,” “1,2 Step” & “Get Up.”
People will talk about this video for a week or so. The same way they did with “Love, Sex, & Magic.”
You remember how well that did for her, don’t you? A hook can sell music a lot better than sex. That’s why I don’t think any other singer out there is quaking in fear over this.
In fact, if I were Beyonce watching the “Ride” video I’d be like “You know what, let me get an extra order of red beans & rice.”
So in sum, I like the song but watching people do kegel exercises doesn’t really excite me the way it used to. Not sure this will produce the hit she needs.
Edit: Let me just say that certain people may find themselves twirking on the ground to this in their room after one strong glass (you know I mean red plastic cup) of Seagram’s Sweet Tea Vodka. However, that doesn’t mean this song will be a hit. This song makes you want to smash, not go crazy in the club. That difference is important for a dance artist. OK, carry on.
miriam
April 23, 2010 at 5:16 pm
I COMPLETELY AGREE!! Why is so tryna force her sexiness down our throats? Yes she is the best famel dancer since Janet, but how about some actual dancing instead of molesting the floor? Why does she dance so nasty? No one will be mimicking this. Little girls won’t try and immulate these moves. There won’t be youtube videos. She’s so lost. Ciara get it together. You’re not sexy and that’s fine. Accept it.
CJ
April 23, 2010 at 5:31 pm
smh. what is there to say? Maybe if she were a nicer person, karma would treat her better…perhaps she should look into stripping?
What’s REALLY sad is, this song has the same theme as “Rude Boy” and as nasty as that is, it’s stuck in my head and depending on who’s in the car with me, I turn it up when I hear it on the radio (don’t judge me). Put another W under Rhianna’s name.
Wait….how does Ciara’s new song go again?
ByouT
April 23, 2010 at 5:44 pm
I’m dying at “watching people do kegel exercises doesn’t really excite me the way it used to.” Brilliantly stated as usual. I can’t front though, she’s doing some pretty serious dance moves…aside from them being overtly sexual they do require some level of skill…maybe she should hang up the mic and become a cage dancer, it suits her better than singing ever will. But hey, *shrugs* you need more than two cents to make change.
Jani
April 23, 2010 at 6:27 pm
Wow, it’s funny how I forgot all about “Love, Sex & Magic” considering all the “controversy” that surrounded that video. Honestly, I feel like this is the same video, but since she’s wearing ATL fitted caps and Luda’s on the song, she thinks she’s back to how she was before.
Je'Kendria
April 23, 2010 at 10:21 pm
I agree as well. Growth and maturity is essential in having longevity in the music business and she equates that with doing the same thing she did years ago…but with more clothes off. The video might have been a little better if she had choreographed background dancers or something that makes it look she actually had a budget or something. A part of me is still rooting for her though, even though she would probably be lucrative if she was a choreographer.
J2201987
April 23, 2010 at 10:32 pm
I like the beat and CiCi can dance. That’s about it though.
I remember people relating Ciara to Aaliyah, which wasn’t that much of a stretch (a good dancer, a light voice, really good music AT THAT TIME). It really though she would have capitalized on that itself and went further, also adding/contributing her own style (I’m sick of the word “swagger” BTW). But somewhere she did get lost, in trying to be bigger than Beyonce (which is blasphemous in itself), not to mention the fact that quality of music has declined with each release.
RatedDamn
April 24, 2010 at 12:24 am
I didn’t see how this video was different from anything else she’s already done. If anything, it’s just slightly a bit more provocative.
There’s nothing about the song that makes me feel commercial praise is needed. We’ll always continue to hold her to that caliber she had when she first came out, but that was seven years ago.
The problem with her today, is that she follows a concept formula to keep her relevant. We never see artist like her (vocally) who try to branch out into other area’s of appeal or at least give experimentation a try.
It sucks to continually have to reinvent yourself to bring appeal to your audience, but it works. She just needs to continue to build her own voice, because she definitely has her own identity, she doesn’t know how to use it.
sickwitit
April 24, 2010 at 11:19 am
completely agree on the understated sexy part, ciara you are not a sex kitten, and thats fine
Hmmmm
April 25, 2010 at 3:26 pm
Thanks for posting this. I didn’t make it beyond 10 seconds of this TRASH TRASH TRASH.
Third Eye
April 25, 2010 at 7:49 pm
She’s too desperate. Her focus doesn’t even seem to be making music. It seems to me like she just wants to be a celebrity. A famous sex symbol who wears designer duds. That’s her goal. She has no real direction and she’s trying to do whatever she can to make people pay attention. It’s not interesting. Maybe it’s time for her to go to college or invest in herself. Finding herself and growing, then returning to music…or not.
But she won’t she’ll continue to be desperate until she finds herself in nobodygivesaflyingfuck-ville with a reality show on BET or VH1. Or a wig line. Or sextape/nude flicks “leaking”. :shrugs:
Alterego
April 25, 2010 at 8:25 pm
Cici does have talent…but she needs to focus on bringing the hits…she lost herself with the tryin to be provocative and sexy shtick and it don’t sell because it’s unconvincing and hilarious to say the least. She’s good looking, has a sexy body but she just don’t got sex appeal (yes there’s a difference). The part with the mechanical bull made me LOL…stay in your lane CiCi
QQ
April 25, 2010 at 9:15 pm
as a woman and a Music snob these were my only true thoughts:
a) you couldn’t pay me to play an Ciara songs in my car other than “like a boy” and “work”
b) I’m sore from the gym… I shudder to think how many fucking squats and lunges that was, both in practice and final cut of the video
c) I should keep going to the Gym, she could be inspirational in that regard
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Robert
April 26, 2010 at 8:41 pm
Hmmm, I know CiCi is trying to grow and all that jazz….but um, that shit is stunted. Let’s start over. Just go back….alllll the way back to some booty bumping, popular, “crunk & b” as she used to call it. You were always good at those CiCi. Let’s start with what you know and evolve naturally. (Though, I’m not gon’ front that I might be trying a dance move or two, just for kicks)
Trev
April 27, 2010 at 1:56 am
this makes me want to run to kota’s house and jump on the stripper pole in her basement god i love her house
Kjen
April 29, 2010 at 1:11 pm
I’ve just come to accept that Ciara, like Beyonce, believes that long weaves are a key component of sex appeal.
ANONYMOUS
May 12, 2010 at 12:41 pm
“In fact, if I were Beyonce watching the “Ride” video I’d be like “You know what, let me get an extra order of red beans & rice.”
HILARIOUS!
KC
May 22, 2010 at 8:01 pm
I like the video, ciara can dance her butt off but at the same time i do get wat people are trying to say. But still Ciara is raw and she can dance i bet it was a lot of girls tryin to copy her dance moves…. SO to u guys it may seem like shes trying to hard or what ever but to others they like it so no need to compare her to beyonce or rhianna, SHES CIARA and she good at being CIARA.