Rihanna fans, rejoice! The Caribbean Queen is set to release a new song titled “Friend of Mine” on Friday, May 16. However, before you get too excited, it’s worth noting that this track will be featured on the soundtrack for the upcoming Smurfs movie.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m all for Rihanna taking her time and releasing music on her own terms. But I can’t help but feel a twinge of disappointment that such a highly anticipated song is being tied to a children’s film. It’s not that I have anything against the Smurfs (who doesn’t love those little blue creatures?), but it’s hard not to draw comparisons to Seth Rogen’s character in The Studio, desperately trying to make a live-action Kool-Aid movie.
That being said, I’m still looking forward to hearing “Friend of Mine” and getting down to some new Rihanna tunes. After all, who can resist a catchy pop song, even if it was originally intended for a movie aimed at entertaining toddlers on a lazy Sunday afternoon?
It does make me wonder, though, why so much good pop music seems to be confined to children’s films these days. Sure, there are exceptions, but it seems like more and more artists are turning to soundtracks for animated movies to showcase their latest hits.
In fact, there are plenty of examples of hit pop songs that were originally recorded for kids’ movies. From classics like “Let It Go” from Frozen to more recent hits like “Can’t Stop the Feeling” from Trolls, these tracks have proven to be just as popular with adults as they are with children.
So, while I may have some reservations about “Friend of Mine” being featured on the Smurfs soundtrack, I’m still excited to hear what Rihanna has in store for us. Who knows, maybe this song will be the next big hit to come out of a children’s movie. After all, stranger things have happened in the world of pop music!
