I had only heard "Love the Way You Lie" in passing. Someone in my office plays the radio at her cubical and I heard Rihanna's sad melody at least 3-4 times a day for months. And it ate me up inside each time.

Because my father beat my mother. Badly. She still has physical scars. Just once. But their relationship prior to this outburst was emotionally manipulative at best. So for me, hearing this song: Pisses me off. Because as a child in this scenario: it sucks. It's not complicated for me. He was in the wrong. And Rihanna's melody seemed, to me, to be a justification of violence: that somehow women are drawn to the violence. Which icked me.

After reading your thoughts I watched the music video. There's a pathos in the artistry of the music video that wasn't accessible for me in just the music alone. My life was context for the words before, instead of the song creating it's own context. I'm still surprised that this song hasn't gotten more mixed reviews, like mine.

And honestly, the song still breaks my heart and disgusts me. The video: beautiful context and I appreciate it, your thoughts were illuminating.

But sitting in my cubical with only the words and melody: not the right context. Not for me, anyway.