Rihanna talks music, fashion and plagiarism

International pop star Rihanna -- visiting Korea to promote her latest album "Rated R" -- attended a press conference and answered questions about her album, including a recent plagiarism controversy surrounding a Korean girl band.

Speaking at the press conference, held Thursday afternoon at Seoul's Grand Intercontinental Hotel, Rihanna offered her own interpretation of the new album.

"This album is very narrative in its expression, you feel like you are watching a movie," the 21-year-old singer was quoted as saying. "And it contains a lot of stories about me."

When asked how she felt about a certain Korean girl group being accused of plagiarizing one of her songs, Rihanna answered, "I haven't heard anything about that, so I have nothing to say."

She seemed pleased, however, that Korea's top figure skater Kim Yuna used the song "Don't Stop The Music" in her gala program routine, saying "it is an honor for a global star like Kim Yuna to use my song."

A much-lauded fashionista, Rihanna advised that when it comes to her personal style, it is good to "emphasize your own color" whatever the fashion trend may be.

When asked about being called "the next Beyonce", she smiled and commented that she is "very flattered and grateful" to be compared to the American pop diva, whom she has looked up to since she was a child.

Rihanna, whose real name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, was discovered by a music industry executive in Barbados and later moved to the U.S. to pursue a music career, making her debut at the age of seventeen.

She released her first album "Music of the Sun" in 2005 and became a global superstar with the success of her third studio album "Good Girl Gone Bad". She has sold over 12 million albums worldwide to date and topped the Billboard chart with five singles -- most notably with "Umbrella" which stayed at No. 1 for seven consecutive weeks.

She made headlines last year however, after she was assaulted by her then-boyfriend Chris Brown, also a popular singer. Both singers, who split up shortly after, have since released new albums and resumed their music careers.

"Rated R," released in November 2009, has already produced three hits -- title track "Russian Roulette", "Wait Your Turn" and "Rude Boy".

Rihanna -- scheduled to kick off her world tour in April -- has hinted that she might be coming to Korea to give a concert in October.

She will be leaving Korea on Friday after wrapping up the album promotion tour.

Reporter : Ko Kyoung-seok kave@asiae.co.kr
Editor : Lynn Kim lynn2878@asiae.co.kr