I really like several older Rihanna hits but this is truly standard form; Photocopied hit, like so many these days - and to me very dated.

More and more current productions sound like No Limit, Vengaboys and other dance hits from 15 years ago - in every way; rhythm sound, chords, melodies, hooks - or have I simply got old?

It does sound like a throwback from commercial 90's dance and it also sounds like its been made by someone who wants to make dance music but doesnt really have the know how, correct equipment or talent. If you listen to the kickdrum and bassline on this Rihanna track its immediately clear that this is an amatuerish at best production. For starters they have used the wrong equipment and the compression methods used to make it slam are all wrong. Making and producing good dance music is an art in itself.

David Guetta is a great example of a dreadful dance producer he is truly hopeless . The prodigy know what they are doing on the other hand just listen to Start the dance to see how it should be done.

It is so essential to use the right equipment and instruments to make dance music, the vast majority of commercial producers get it very very very very very very wrong .

Thank you Evo; even this jaded old 66 year old knows you make sense!

I'm pretty sure Calvin Harris did this at least as reported by Music Week, which would explain what You've described Evo.

Calvin Harris is a very amatuerish producer and musician. Just listen to the high hat patterns I doubt he even knows what groove quantisation is (so so important in dance)! To me this Rihanna track and alot of other current 90's pop dance throwback tracks sound like they have been made with fruity loops on a laptop, the sounds are all weak and thin due to an overuse of VST's ,there is no dirt and it just sounds cheap.

There is some terrific dance music out there that is really superb but unfortunatley it doesnt get the recognition it deserves.

Evo man whereas I sympathise with your view, I think today's dance music is shite but I won't say it is amateurish
because as a house music fan who has been one since it emerged in the late 80s, amateurish labels are things snobs throw
at to poo poo music they are jealous of so let's get rid of that nonsense.

The problem with today's dance music is that it is not made by musicians but by DJs/producers who have no musical brain.
They think they have to process everything and they squash the life out of everything. Of course they are ripping off
90s Euro dance as well. Personally I just ignore it as a genre and listen to more eclectic music that is made with NO rules.

That's another of your problems EVO who made you judge and jury? The only rule in music is "there are no rules".

Make what YOU like and if the world ignores it that's their problem.