Rihanna debuts new powerful ballad for the third Star Trek Beyond trailer

29 June 2016 - 10:00 By Sefiso Hlongwane
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
Rihanna.
Rihanna.
Image: ©AFP PHOTO/JUSTIN TALLIS

Two seemingly different fan bases, the Rihanna Navy and Trekkies, came together on Monday in celebration of the third trailer for the upcoming sci-fi epic Star Trek Beyond, which features a taste of a new Rihanna single, Sledgehammer.

The moody piano ballad, which was penned by the controversial hair-sweeped Sia, gives Rihanna lots of room to show off her increasingly virtuosic vocals.

  •  

The song catapults the action in the latest trailer, with the pulverizing nature of the Sledgehammer lyrics pairing well with the destruction of the Star Trek USS Enterprise. "I hit a wall, I thought that I would hurt myself. Oh I was sure, your words would leave me unconscious," Rihanna sings on the heartfelt chorus, which sports a monster hook.

Taking to Instagram, the pop singer revealed that she was honoured to have recorded the theme song for the sci-fi epic, given the fact that she is a fan of the franchise.

"As a Star Trek fan, I am honored to have the theme song for the new @StarTrekMovie!" she wrote, alongside a promotional image of the soundtrack.

The movie also stars Zoe Saldana, Zachary Quinto and the late Anton Yelchin who died in a car accident earlier this month. Star Trek Beyond is scheduled for a US release onJuly 22.

Watch the trailer below:

subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now