Attributing her thoughts as ‘wild’ also perpetuates the notion of impermissible love found in “Maria Maria.” However, this forbiddenness comes not from social unrest, but Rihanna’s unquenchable lust.Īlthough “Wild Thoughts” takes on a more mature, intimate perspective of the themes in “Maria Maria,” the song still honors “Maria Maria’s” spirit of celebrating women. When they make love, she can’t think of anything else. She references the notion in “Maria Maria” that the passion between her and her lover rises above distractions - except this distraction isn’t their environment, but material wealth like diamonds. In these lines, Rihanna continues to counter the passive voice of Maria. When I'm with you, all I get is wild thoughts When I get like this, I can't be around youĭiamonds ain't nothing when I'm rockin' with yaĭiamonds ain't nothing when I'm shinin' with ya Her appeal is still on full display, as the narrator in “Maria Maria” sings, but the woman recognizes this allure and flaunts it, taking control. Know you wanna see me nakey, nakey, nakedįrom the beginning of the song, Rihanna sings about her sex appeal, teasing an onlooking man that he has to want her. From this female perspective, “Wild Thoughts” highlights a woman’s own understanding of her sexuality. In “Wild Thoughts,” Rihanna brings new dimensions to the voice of Maria, superseding the male point of view that made her a passive character. While “Wild Thoughts” also talks about the relationship between a man and woman, the newer song omits any discussion about social class. Younger listeners may recognize the beat and instrumentals of “Maria Maria,” which were heavily sampled for the 2017 song “Wild Thoughts” by DJ Khaled, Rihanna, and Bryson Tiller. This distinction is notable in the song’s music video: Maria easily fits in with the camaraderie of the energetic crowd dancing in the video, but still turns the eye of many watchful men with her radiant beauty. In these lines, he reminds the audience that Maria, past her captivating beauty and presence to the singer, is just a normal person he sees on the streets. These contrasting conceptions of America form a central part of the “West Side Story” which “Maria Maria” calls upon, adding another piece to the love’s complicated social background. The mention of a favela also reflects a common theme of America, seen as a glorified place of fortune and opportunity from the outside, presents difficult challenges to its new immigrants. While dealing with troubles in the neighborhood, the narrator sees Maria and instantly feels his burdens melting away. Thus, their relationship has to be pursued against this backdrop of unrest that threatens their happiness. “Maria Maria” transcends this conflict into modern times, with the warring streets acting as the barrier forbidding the love between Maria and the narrator. But “West Side Story” calls upon another tale - “Romeo and Juliet,” the old story of two opposing families preventing teenagers from pursuing an open love. With the repeated naming of “West Side Story” in the song’s chorus, the narrator gives a nod towards the legendary musical’s story of finding love amidst battling gangs. The looting and shooting illustrate the lower-class environment that he and his lover live in and also emphasizes the clandestine nature of their love. However, he still idealizes her beauty and believes that Maria’s life is like one of “a movie star.” The narrator calls upon the tale of “West Side Story,” suggesting a forbidden love between him and Maria further strained by social class. She’s living the life just like a movie starįramed from the male perspective, “Maria Maria” follows a man’s pursuit of a woman named Maria, whose roots lay in the culturally vibrant Spanish Harlem in New York City. Although the song’s older release puts it just out of reach of Zoomers and younger audiences, the song’s resurgence on a recent pop hit demonstrates the lasting beauty of both the song and its message. Produced by Wyclef Jean and Jerry Duplessis, the song from 1999 features vocals from The Product G&B, an R&B duo composed of David McRae and Marvin Moore-Hough, in a R&B and Latin influenced sound. On the shelves of legendary Latin rock band Santana’s discography, “Maria Maria” is a standout for its earned accolades, endearing beat, and message about the ineffable beauty of loving a woman.
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