Our Last View of the Sunset

"**Our Last View of the Sunset**" is a single released by Barbadian label executive and singer Rihanna. Distributed by Roc Nation, it was released on April 25, 2023, as the lead single from Rihanna's upcoming thirteenth studio album. The single marks Rihanna's first official solo release since her 2021 ANNIHILATE single "This Is Where Upon the Stars End". The song marks Rihanna's first sole writing credits in her career. The song was produced by herself and Sean "Yves Tumor" Bowie.

## Background

Initial drafting for the song began in December 2022, during the recording sessions for Rihanna's collaborative album *Earth, Water, Fire & Air* with Troye Sivan, The Weeknd, & P!nk. Rihanna would go on to produce the song with Sean "Yves Tumor" Bowie during the production sessions for the album.

> “At my own studio, I enlisted Sean to help me wrap all of my emotions into a couple of songs and that's when OLVOTS was born. Over the last couple of years, I've heavily doubted myself when making a song or releasing a song, and it was getting progressively worse... With this song and this upcoming album, I really want to fight my demons, and well it just started but it feels amazing! With this song, I just needed to prove to myself, more than anything, that I can in fact make a great song. I feel like I often say "this is my best song or record yet" but this time I actually believe it. I poured myself into this song and I’m extremely proud of it in a way I haven’t felt about a release in a long time.”
>
> Rihanna, *Billboard Magazine*

Rihanna then previewed the song to a select few industry insiders, indicating falsely to them, that it was slated for a late 2023 or early 2024 release, indicating her priority 2023 was the re-issuing of her debut studio album. However, she had the official Billboard Tooter account on April 20th tease a video with her presence, with the word "OLVOTS" in display and slated for further confirmation on April 25th.

    Many industry artists were perplexed by this reveal, thinking "OLVOTS" was the official title and that it was perhaps a surprise album release, neither of which were true.

### Video

The video for "Our Last View of the Sunset" was filmed in January 2023. In her comeback to the industry, Rihanna, with the help of visionary Gabriel Moses, weaves together imagery of fire, riots, and natural disasters; representative of the turmoil and devastation present in the modern world. Amidst the montages of chaos, Rihanna is present in two different dramatically choreographed scenes with backup dancers, one set in a lush garden, evocative of the biblical Eden, and another in a luxurious golden palace. As the song progresses, the scenes of pandemonium become more intense as the montage of chaos continues, flashed between interperative visuals of fire, such as a man on fire riding a horse, envoking impending doom. Towards the end of the video, the garden scene becomes engulfed in flames. Rihanna and her dancers continue to dance on throughout. The final shot shows Rihanna standing amidst the ruins of the burnt garden, her gaze fixed on the setting sun.

## Composition and Lyrics

Our Last View of the Sunset" is an alternative pop song with heavy rock influences. The song opens with intricate guitar plucking and bachata-style percussion and rhythm, heavily inspired but not sampling Rihanna's sole song on EWFA. Rihanna's harsh, jaded vocals weave in and out of the psychedelic instrumental, luring listeners into a unique world of her own. The chorus builds itself up further and further before cementing Rihanna as a master of idiosyncratic, chaotic alt-pop as the post-chorus introduces a chaotic guitar riff. The single practically boils over with maximalist presentation as the doubles down on itself during the second verse and throughout the rest of the song.

Lyrically, the song discusses a doomed relationship and trying to find the joys in it even though it's destined to fail. While melancholy, and outright angered in tone, the song provides an overall optimistic perspective in knowing that those feelings aren't permanent and like the sun, they'll eventually set.