Is Rihanna's New Song A Dance Anthem?

This is huge: On Thursday, Rihanna's Home soundtrack song, "Dancing in the Dark," premiered online and it sounds absolutely glorious. "Dancing in the Dark" is the first solo track Rihanna fans have heard from their idol since 2013, so this is a pretty major moment — and it's only going to get better from here! With the 27-year-old pop star scheduled to perform at the upcoming iHeartRadio Music Awards on March 29 and the March Madness Music Festival on April 4, even more new music could be coming our way soon. What a great time to be a part of the Rihanna Navy.

On “Dancing in the Dark” (which, believe it or not, really does sound perfect for an animated kids' movie), Rih urges listeners to let loose, forget their troubles, and, well, dance in the dark. Hmm... where have I heard that before?

The notion of "dancing in the dark" has been explored numerous times in popular music, but probably most recently by Lady Gaga in her 2009 The Fame Monster track, "Dance in the Dark." I wonder: What do these similarly titled songs from two of pop music's biggest names have in common? How are they different? And which one reigns supreme as the ultimate nighttime dance anthem? Those are excellent questions! Let's find out, shall we?

Vibe

Right from the start, you'll notice that Rihanna's "Dancing in the Dark" has a similar vibe to her 2012 Talk That Talk single, "You Da One," which is to say that it's a delightful, sunshine-drenched slice of summertime.

To the contrary, Gaga's "Dance in the Dark" kicks off with a blaring heavy metal guitar and a strange stuttering vocal sample, giving the track a distinctly spooky vibe. It comes on a little too strong, if you ask me.

Advantage: Rihanna

Lyrics

Rihanna's "Dancing in the Dark" lyrics are very simplistic. The song's about dancing. That's pretty much it.

On the flip side, Gaga's "Dance in the Dark" lyrics are fairly complex. The singer told The Los Angeles Times in a December 2009 interview that the song tells the story of a woman who's so ashamed of her own body, she only truly feels free when no one can see her:

These lyrics are a way for me to talk about how I believe women and some men feel innately insecure about themselves all the time. ... What I’m saying is, "I get it. I feel you, I feel the same way, and it’s OK."

Wow.

Advantage: Lady Gaga

Chorus

Rihanna's "Dancing in the Dark" chorus is a little cheesy, yes, but it's also incredibly infectious.

Gaga's "Dance in the Dark" chorus, on the other hand, isn't quite as catchy — but it's still fun to sing-along with.

Advantage: Rihanna

Uniqueness

As much as I love Rihanna's "Dancing in the Dark," it doesn't really bring anything new to the table musically speaking.

That being said, you'd be hard pressed to find another pop song that sounds like Gaga's "Dance in the Dark."

Advantage: Lady Gaga

Overall Dance-ability

The score is 2-2. Which song is going to make you bust the most moves with the lights off? This is a tough one...

Winner: Lady Gaga

Yes, Gaga's "Dance in the Dark" edged out Rihanna's "Dancing in the Dark" in the end — but in reality, they're both great songs to groove to.

The Home soundtrack hits iTunes on March 23.

Images: Giphy (6)