For the first performance of ‘California King Bed’, Rihanna decided to go for a totally new look. She asked her personal hairstylist Ursula Stephen to give her a pixie crop, and debuted her latest style at the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas on April 3. Ursula explained what had made RiRi want to go much shorter to InStyle magazine. She said: ‘We haven’t done a bob in a while, but the idea to go short was Rihanna’s.
‘She texted me a couple days prior to the ACM Awards and said she wanted to do something short. She missed her face, and I did too!’
Ursula set about cutting and styling RiRi’s hair just the way she wanted it, and observed: ‘We’re not committed to anything but having fun!’
‘California King Bed’ was to be the sixth single released from ‘Loud’ in the USA, and was the fourth single elsewhere. RiRi shot the video in March on a stage in West Hollywood, Los Angeles. She only had a day to shoot it because she was so busy. The video has a romantic feel and setting. The majority of the video sees RiRi in an outside bedroom by the beach. She is seen lying on some ornamental grass, on the bed, caressing her love interest, sitting on a chair, playing with the drapes around the room and standing against a stone wall.
The video was directed by Anthony Mandler and it is similar in style to the ‘Only Girl (In the World)’ video. Anthony told MTV: ‘I think it’s something that is so unique about Rihanna whatever she’s doing, whatever character she’s playing, whatever side of herself she’s showing, she’s in it 1,000 per cent… And I think the song and the theme of this song, she wanted to obviously show a softer side, a lighter side, one that’s caught in maybe a tumultuous relationship… There’s so much variety with her and it’s been such a journey with her.”
He also directed the video for ‘Man Down’, and confessed: ‘We’ve done sixteen videos together… and what we’re coming with next is certainly gonna flip peoples’ minds with ‘Man Down’. We shot the video last month in Jamaica and it’s my favourite song she’s ever recorded, so I was really excited to get involved.
‘And it’s just one of those songs that demands a strong narrative and visual, and let’s just say she let me go all the way. So I think you can expect something that’s dramatic and shocking and intense and emotional and uplifting and enlightening… Without saying too much, if you’re looking for a narrative you’re not going to be disappointed, just know that it’s going to be exciting.’
RiRi wanted to shoot both videos close together because many fans love ‘Man Down’ and ‘California King Bed’ equally. She tweeted: ‘JAMAICA was the BEST!!!!! #RihannaNavy its a big month for u guys! TWO #MAJAH videos droppin’ #whosLOUD. They’re both very different! One is #GAWJUS and the other is a MOVIE. RIHquest Man Down and California King Bed on your favourite radio station.’
On 12 April, the finalists for the 2011 Billboard Awards were announced, with Rihanna leading the pack with 18 nominations. RiRi was up for Top Artist, Top Social Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Digital Songs Artist, Top Radio Songs Artist, Top Streaming Artist, Top Digital Media Artist, Top Female Artist, Top R&B Artist, Top Dance Artist, Top R&B Song (for ‘What’s my Name?’ featuring Drake) and Top R&B Album (for Loud). For ‘Love The Way You Lie’ with Eminem she was up for six awards: Top Hot 100 Song, Top Digital Song, Top Radio Song, Top Streaming Song (audio), Top Streaming Song (video) and Top Rap Song.
She was also going to be opening the show on 22 May, and told Ryan Seacrest she was to sing ‘S & M’. She was also planning a big surprise for her fans – a duet with Britney Spears!
On the night itself, RiRi decided to wear a white men’s Max Azria suit with the front of the shirt completely undone on the red carpet. She didn’t stop smiling all night as she picked up the awards for Top Female Artist, Top Radio Songs Artist and Top Rap Song for ‘I Love The Way You Lie’. Her performance of ‘S & M’ had the audience captivated, and she wore a white bodysuit with a chain running from her wrists. Her dancers stayed underneath the platform for the majority of the performance with their hands and arms reaching upwards to try and touch her. Britney appeared, wearing a black body suit complete with bunny mask, and they each danced with a pole before having a pillow fight with a few of RiRi’s dancers.