No need for Umbrella in Bangor field

THERE hasn’t been this kind of excitement in the North about a singer since a certain Irish Eurovision winner over 40 years ago gave the distinct impression that butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth.

But even the promise of a badly needed nod for the Áras is unlikely to convince Dana to get down to her bikini in a field like one pop diva did yesterday.

In a move that shocked locals and, presumably, the odd sheep, Rihanna turned up to shoot her latest video in — of all places — a field in Bangor, Co Down.

The 23-year-old from Barbados — who achieved global superstardom with her 2007 album Good Girl Gone Bad — was bumping and grinding to a backing track from her new single, We Found Love.

Donning an extremely long safety-pinned shirt, bandana bikini and jeans, a spokesperson from MTV said the singer took regular breaks to smoke and look “contemplative in a cornfield”.

And with all the glamour, all the media excitement, well, all kinds of everything really, it is worth wondering what the North’s dethroned queen of music, Dana, would have thought of it.

Coincidentally, Rihanna, whose hit singles include Rude Boy, S&M and the Grammy-winning Umbrella, is due to perform in Belfast for three nights this week, followed by a sell-out concert at the O2 in Dublin on Monday.

No presidential candidate could have organised such a better-timed media frenzy if they tried.