Rihanna – Disturbia

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  General Comment:This dance/pop track about being in a state of mental anguish was co-written by Rihanna's boyfriend at the time Chris Brown, who also contributed backing vocals. The other co-writers were Andre Merritt and Robert Allen who together with Brown comprise his songwriting team, the Graffiti Artists. The trio also penned Brown's hit "Forever."
  
  
  This was produced by Brian Kennedy who has also worked with Ciara ("My Love"), Jesse McCartney ("Runnin'") and Menudo ("Inside Out").
  
  
  The video for this song was directed by acclaimed fashion photographer David LaChapelle. Among the other videos he has directed include "Dirrty," "I'm With You" and "The Voice Within" all by Christina Aguilera.
  
  
  This entered the Hot 100 at #18, the first single by the Barbadian singer to debut in the top half of the chart.
  
  
  This dance-pop song was Rihanna's fourth #1 hit on the Hot 100. It also topped the singles charts in a number of other countries, including Belgium, New Zealand and Turkey.
  
  
  L.A. Reid - the head of Rihanna's record company Def Jam, told MTV News that with this song, the Barbadian singer was taking control of her career. He explained that when Def Jam repackaged Rihanna's Good Girl Gone Bad, the second single from the repackage was this song. Reid added: "It was the first time that Rihanna actually came to me and said, 'Here's the song I want to put out.' She played me the song. That was her taking control, even on her last album. She understands what hits are, and she knows what she wants to say. She's at that place where she can do it."

  Flagged musicrocks13on November 12, 2012   Link

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  My Interpretation:To me, this song just screams EATING DISORDER. Almost every line makes sense in that context. Having been through an ED myself, I relate quite strongly to some of these lyrics. I'd say it's most likely about someone suffering from anorexia nervosa (or ednos... or a bulimic with a very low BMI).
  
  No more gas in the red
  Can't even get it started
  
  When you're severely underweight, your body is very damaged. You experience a dramatic loss of energy; you are constantly tired. When you stop eating, your body is deprived of its "fuel" and can't funciton correctly - quite like a car running out of gas.
  "In the red" is obviously about 'negative' data. I'm not sure what kind of data it is because anorexics obsess over their body weight, calory intake, clothes size, BMI... Their heads are literally filled with numbers. People who are affected by such a disease also tend to think in black-and-white terms (or red-and-green, for that matter), i.e. weight loss = good, weight gain = bad. Whether this person has eaten "too many" calories or gained 0,001 pound hardly matters; the important thing about this line is the way in which numbers affect an anorexic's life, mood, and self-esteem.
  
  Nothing heard, nothing said
  Can't even speak about it
  
  Eating Disorders are still a taboo topic in our society; most people suffering from one would rather cut their own tongues out than talk about it; instead they do everything in their power to keep others from finding out about their disease. It's a part of the illness to want to protect it.
  Those around the disordered person also tend to ignore the problem with all their might. An ED is not the kind of thing you want to acknowledge in your environment, especially in a loved one. Plus, they are often scared of how the person would react if they brought it up, scared of saying the wrong thing, scared that they might be wrong... So they look away and ignore all the signs and sounds.
  
  All my life on my head
  Don't want to think about it
  
  One of the most frightening parts about Eating Disorders is that they alter the victim's train of thought. It usually takes a very long time before the person realizes that they have a problem; and even then, thinking about your disorder is something you'd rather avoid doing.
  
  Feels like I'm going insane
  Yeah
  
  This is self-explanatory, I think. Eating Disorders are mental illnesses. They sabotage your self-image, happiness, success, and social abilities. All you think about is food, and fasting, and numbers, and the way your body looks as opposed to how it should look. You can't even eat a cookie without wanting to rip out your stomach right after. Once a victim realizes what's going on, these things are frustrating to no end and will often cause even more despair and self-hate.
  
  It's a thief in the night
  To come and grab you
  It can creep up inside you
  And consume you
  
  Eating Disorders don't just happen in a day or two. Most importantly, you don't SEE them happen; they just grow and grow in the dark corners of your mind, taking over your thoughts bit by bit until suddenly, you realize something's wrong - but at that point, you're already in too deep.
  
  A disease of the mind
  It can control you
  
  Again, self-explanatory, I believe.
  
  It's too close for comfort
  
  When approached by a friend or family member - or even a doctor - a person with an ED will more often than not refuse their help. Even if they realize that they are sick and are aware of the ways in which the disorder is interfering with their life, the disorder has often become so entwined with the person's own personality that it's incredibly hard to tell what is "Me" and what is "It". ED's are developed specifically because the person needs a way to cope with their emotions, and as the illness progresses, most other coping mechanisms are abandoned. This is only one of the reasons why a lot of ED victims believe that even though the illness is harming them, its up-sides outnumber the downsides and that they could not live without it anymore.
  
  Put on your pretty lies
  
  ED makes you lie. Easy as that. You'll lie about how much and what you've eaten, about your exercise, about not feeling well, about not liking your favorite foods; You'll make up excuse after excuse, and the biggest lie of all: You will invest every last bit of energy into convincing everyone around that you're just fine, that you don't have a problem and don't need help.
  
  We're in the city of wonder
  Ain't gonna play nice
  Watch out, you might just go under
  
  This might be a reference to show-biz. Science proves that people involved in glamorous careers such as actresses, singers, models etc. are much more likely to develop an ED.
  
  Better think twice
  Your train of thought will be altered
  So if you must falter be wise
  
  As I’ve already explained, an Eating Disorder changes the way you think. It reorganizes your priorities, it makes you believe in a false logic, it makes you see yourself in the worst possible way.
  
  Your mind is in Disturbia
  It's like the darkness is the light
  
  Again with the firm belief that the ED is your friend, that it is helping, that food is the enemy (and so is anyone who tries to take the disorder away from you). You keep running further and further into the wrong direction. Even when the illness makes you miserable, ruins your social life etc., you’ll still believe that if you lose even more weight, it’ll all get better eventually. The ED keeps failing you, failing to provide all the things it promised (beauty, happiness, popularity, self-love …), but despite everything your faith in it just grows stronger and stronger. It’s very hard to explain and even harder to understand if you’ve never felt it.
  
  Disturbia
  Am I scaring you tonight
  
  Most people with an ED try to keep it a secret at all costs and feel extremely guilty about betraying those who love them; some develop a deep satisfaction at the thought of making those who hurt them realize just how bad it really was.
  
  Disturbia
  Ain't used to what you like
  
  I’ll admit it, I don’t know what this is supposed to mean. It could be a somewhat patronizing statement made towards all “healthy” people who express disgust with the disordered person’s behaviors; as in, “I used to think like you once, but as soon as you’ve tasted this, I promise you’ll realize it’s much better than to be fat.”
  
  Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
  Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
  
  This could, theoretically, be a beating heart. That’s what I hear, anyway – a heart that’s still beating, measuring life, but it is in danger and you never know how long it will keep beating.
  
  Faded pictures on the wall
  It's like they talkin' to me
  
  A reference to thinspiration – pictures of very thin people that some anorexics/etc. look at in order to “stay strong” and “focused on their goals”.
  
  Disconnecting phone calls
  Your phone don't even ring
  
  Eating disorders – especially anorexia – tend to lead a person into social isolation. There is no more room in your head to think about other people; the illness takes it all up. The same thing happens to your time, and energy.
  
  I gotta get out
  Or figure this shit out
  It's too close for comfort
  
  I believe that here, the person is beginning to realize just how shitty life with an ED really is. They know they need to get help, get better, get out, but they can’t because – as I’ve already mentioned – they believe that they are dependent on their disorder, and that life without it will be even harder.
  
  Release me from this curse I'm in
  I've been trying to maintain
  But I'm struggling
  
  This is clearly an attempt at self-administered recovery. The person is trying to maintain their weight, but it’s hard because the disorder is still very much there in the back of their head, telling them to starve again.
  
  If you can't, go, go, go
  
  This “If you can’t” refers to the earlier plea of “Release me from this curse I’m in”. An anorexic will be very eager to condemn all attempts at recovery as soon as possible; if they’ve been on a new routine for a week and they’re not getting better, they will often believe that they have failed and go back to their old ways if you let them (likely with a sense of relief).
  
  I think I'm going to oh, oh, oh
  
  And finally, here they are, extremely triggered and about to lose control. The song ends on that note; It is unclear whether the person is successful in their recovery or not.
  
  Overall, I find this song extremely relatable. I think it feels that way to anyone with an ED – at least, anyone who has admitted to themselves that they are sick (whether they want to recover or not).

  Flag Raumorielon July 12, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:Like most songs, it means something different to each listener, but for me it speaks to an inner mental fight she's waging. Lines like, "A disease of the mind, it can control you, I feel like a monster" make me think that she's battling inner dark thoughts and is in a place where she's afraid and disturbed by those thoughts (thus "Disturbia"). Many of us can identify with the dark thoughts of depression, suicide, and having a dark passenger we fight on an ongoing basis. It's often worse at night, consistent with her description.
  
  Like she says, she's going crazy now and feels like she's going insane. Those are exactly the thoughts of someone who is battling some form of mental illness. The fear of doing giving in to that darkness scares her because if she gives in to it, it will take over and she'll lose herself.
  
  Fo those of us battling our own disturbia, it is strangely consoling to hear someone articulate that fight we wage every day trying to keep the darkness out of our life. My two cents...
  
  
  

  Flagged MJarcheron November 28, 2011   Link

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  Song Meaning:I always interpreted this song to be about Vegas; perhaps a road trip there, a vivid description of how DIFFERENT the strip is from reality, and a warning to be careful.

  Flag haringmon June 22, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:I think any song will have many meanings it all depends on the person who is listening to it. For me this song has to do with depression or other mental issues. I think this because of the lyrics :
  "It's a thief in the night
  To come and grab you
  It can creep up inside you
  And consume you
  A disease of the mind
  It can control you
  It's too close for comfort". I am a sufferer of depression and it did feel like i went to bed one night fine and woke up and it had taken over me, and it feels like it controls me at times.
  I love Rihanna especially Take A Bow!!
  

  Flag genevieve86on January 05, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:ok so to me this song screams submisive lol maybe its just me cause i'm in the bdsm lifestyle but if you look at the film clip and the words together its like screaming at the top of your lungs.
  mix the restraints and the collars and the cage and all the people in the back ground being pushed around or her being pushed or lifted and stuff with the words it all says it to me will evaluate the song lines below
  
  Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum (What's wrong with me?)
  Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum (Why do I feel like this?)
  Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum (I'm going crazy now)
  Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
  - so this bit is the exact same way i felt when i first got into the scene
  
  No more gas in the rig - she is tired thats easy its a common saying
  Can't even get it started
  Nothing heard, nothing said - this could be a lot of things but often subs are told not to talk and are like objects in the room like a table in their master’s presents they are there but they are not to listen to anything that is said.
  
  Can't even speak about it - again gag order / few people in the lifestyle feel they can be open about it cause of what others would think hell knows I’m not open about it lol
  All my life on my head - most in the lifestyle have always felt it in some way
  Don't want to think about it - if it is something you are still fighting its not like you’re going to want to think about it
  Feels like I'm going insane - easy said again subs can feel like this a lot and it’s the processes and lack of control that fixes the feelings
  Yeah
  
  It's a thief in the night -
  To come and grab you - a fantasy for a lot of people and something a lot of doms do to show control
  It can creep up inside you -
  And consume you -
  A disease of the mind -
  It can control you -all of this is talking about how being dominated makes you feel being a sub it is all you think about and all you want and out of nowhere he/she can make you do something it makes you feel a certain way and that feeling does creep up in side you and consume everything you are and want to be it controls everything about you/ also having a dom they can control everything about you
  It's too close for comfort -this suggests again that she is fighting it and is scared of what she wants
  
  Throw on your break lights
  We're in the city of wonder - to me these 2 lines are saying that she is experiencing something new and doesn’t want to stop seeing and learning new things . this is not about bdsm exactly just stating that its something new
  Ain't gonna play nice - this however is – lol don’t want to ‘play nice’ that’s the whole point
  Watch out, you might just go under - to me if just a warning to others saying what ever the song is about is addictive
  Better think twice
  Your train of thought will be altered - again something doms do they control so much that you start thinking the way they want you to think
  So if you must faulter be wise - there is always repucutions if you make a mistake
  Your mind is in disturbia -I think this is talking about the state of mind we call sub space which to people who are new people can find disturbing
  It's like the darkness is the light - bdsm is dark to most but we still fit into the normal world darkness within light
  Disturbia
  Am I scaring you tonight - when I first told my now hubby about what I was and wanted to be it was the first thing I said to him
  Your mind is in disturbia
  Ain't used to what you like - again someone new to the life wouldn’t know what they like and this would be supprising to them
  Disturbia
  Disturbia …… getting bored of it now lol
  
  Release me from this curse - could be the curse of what she likes or of a slave
  I'm trying to remain tame
  But I'm struggling -remain tame – lol its like saying I want to be a good girl but she struggles with the need to please and be told she is good and the fun of misbehaving
  You can't go, go, go
  I think I'm going to oh, oh, oh - orgasm lol
  
  … end of song
  
  So my conclusion is that she is new into bdsm as a sub and she likes it but she is also fighting it. It is what she wants but at the same time it makes her feel like a monster because it is not something society deems normal and ok/good
  

  Flag charlieowlon November 15, 2010   Link

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    Hey,
    eventhough I don't fully agree with your word-to-word interpretation (posted mine earlier), I also think this is her comming out song.
    
    Don't forget to check out her new song S&M!

    Flag damokleson March 16, 2011  
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  Song Meaning:This song has always made me think about some type of addiction. Weather its drugs or some mental addiction like anorexia. How its controlling her (It's a thief in the night To come and grab you It can creep up inside you And consume you A disease of the mind It can control you It's too close for comfort)She wants to stop and she knows its not right, everything has changed and she wants to get out of that habit. (I gotta get out Or figure this shit out It's too close for comfort)

  Flag DevyAnnon July 07, 2010   Link

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• -2
  General Comment:its about devil worship. "bum bum be dumb. bum bum, be dumb bum." is an old chant people used to tell people to allow the devil's spirit into your mind. be dumb is like saying relax your mind so i can come in. The song is about her becoming a Freemason and the fear she feels when she is in disturbia (when the devil's spirit is fully immersed inside her and she looses true connection with the outside word.) this shit is creepy foreal

  Flag cheally123on June 27, 2010   Link

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    Are you high??

    Flag DontStopBelievinon August 30, 2010  

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    What the heck does Freemasonry have to do with the Devil???

    Flag Castle742on December 12, 2010  
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  General Comment:...This is sometimes how it feels to be bipolar 1. At least from my personal experience. Even with mood stabilizing meds, the breakthrough gives this emotional state of mind. It is a very unsettling.. aggitated, insane, paranoid, distorted, and are very confusing emotions to experience. Reality becomes something extremely distant and almost unobtainable. And yes, it would be interesting to hear the insight of the artist.

  Flag xXxXdisturbiaXxXxon June 07, 2010   Link

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    When I first heard it, that is exactly what I thought. I also struggle with bipolar disorder and when you are out of control, this is what it feels like. Only people who have bipolar disorder can understand what its like and I related to the song in that way as well.
    
    I'd like to know if Rihanna wrote the song or if someone else wrote it and what their intention was myself. I truly think that a person that goes through this wrote it because I can't see how anyone could be so in depth with what happens to you could write it. I mean that other person who wrote about government and conspiracy theory could be correct, but I take it more literal. But then again, I'm biased.

    Flag imaniluvsuon April 07, 2011  
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  General Comment:I think this song has to do with empowerment of the mind. Most of us are stuck in what's called phsychological time. In short, our mind is controlling us rather than us/spirit controlling the mind. We are stuck in thinking about past thoughts or constantly thinking of future scenarios. Our mind often time runs away with us causing us to stress out. This sometimes can lead to severe stress and sometimes disease. I teach mind body & spirit. I was about to add this song to my website as an example of psychological time when I found this website. In a nutshell the present moment/ "the now" is the only thing that's real. It's where life happens. I think "disturbia" is the state in which we over think and have no peace of mind. Check out my website at mbs101.com. I have some other songs on my links page. Much peace and love!

  Flag Leombson May 20, 2010   Link

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