- 4 weeks ago
Rihanna’s catalog is packed with era-defining hits, emotional ballads and unstoppable club anthems that helped shape modern pop music. From breakthrough dancehall to chart-topping collaborations and fearless breakup jams, we’re revisiting the songs that made her one of the most influential artists of her generation. Which Rihanna track still hits hardest for you? Let us know in the comments below!
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00:00It's your way you wanna go if you know where to be
00:03Better ride that's smaller than a limousine
00:06Welcome to Ms. Mojo
00:08And today we're counting down our picks for the greatest, most defining tracks from Rihanna's history-making music career
00:16Oh, tell me what you're willing to do
00:19Kiss it, kiss it, baby
00:23Number 20, Where Have You Been?
00:26I've been everywhere, man, looking for you, babe
00:29Looking for you, babe
00:31Released as the fourth single from Talk That Talk, Where Have You Been arrived near the height of Rihanna's dance
00:38-pop era
00:38And quickly became one of the album's standout tracks
00:42Created by an impressive team that included Calvin Harris, Esther Dean, and Circuit
00:47The song combines pounding EDM production with lyrics about searching for a partner who actually lives up to the hype
00:53Where have you been?
01:00Rihanna's vocal performance grows increasingly urgent as the song builds, helping sell the frustration at its core
01:07The massive chorus, paired with one of the strongest dance routines of her career, helped turn it into a global
01:14hit
01:14There was hardly any dance floor back in 2012 that didn't have this song playing on it
01:27Number 19, Needed Me
01:29One of the defining songs from Auntie, Needed Me showed a different side of Rihanna that many listeners had heard
01:42before
01:42Built around sparse production from DJ Mustard and a dark, bass-heavy atmosphere
01:47The song finds her dismissing a former lover who mistook a casual relationship for something deeper
02:01Rihanna's restrained delivery is a huge part of what makes the track work
02:05Rather than leaning into big vocal moments, she lets the lyrics carry the attitude
02:10The result was one of the longest charting hits of her career, and a fan favorite from Auntie
02:15As breakup songs go, this one leaves very little room for negotiation
02:19You need me
02:24Number 18, Better Have My Money
02:27Bitch, better have my money
02:33Not every great Rihanna song needs to top the charts, and Better Have My Money is proof of that
02:38Released as a standalone single in 2015, the track became a rallying cry for fans thanks to its booming production,
02:46unforgettable hook, and unapologetic attitude
02:55Co-written by Rihanna and a host of other songwriters, the song embraces hip-hop influences more aggressively than many
03:03of her pop hits
03:04Rihanna attacks every line with confidence, turning a simple demand into a full-blown statement of power
03:18The song may have divided some listeners, but it wears its brash, heavy-handedness on its sleeve
03:24And that's precisely what makes it so irresistible
03:34Number 17, S&M
03:44This song is loud and in your face, which pretty much epitomizes Rihanna's diva status
03:50It's also a fun dance-pop song that borrows part of its sound from Dipesh Mode's Master and Servant
03:56The song may be bad, but I'm perfectly good at it
04:00It's in the air, I don't care, I love the smell of it
04:04Though Rihanna exalts sadomasochist things like sex in the air and being tied up in the loud single
04:11The lyrics are meant as a double meaning for her love-hate relationship with the paparazzi as well
04:16I like it, like it
04:17I, I, I, I
04:19I, I, I, I
04:22Despite raising some controversy for its sexual content, S&M went triple platinum
04:28And even spawned a remix featuring Britney Spears
04:39Number 16, Ponda Replay
04:48Every superstar has a beginning
04:50And for Rihanna, this was it
04:52Released in 2005 as the lead single from her debut album, Music of the Sun
04:57This song introduced audiences to the Barbadian singer's Caribbean roots
05:01Through its dancehall-inspired production and infectious club-ready energy
05:13From being one of her first demo songs ever recorded
05:16It became a worldwide hit and helped secure Rihanna's place as one of pop's most promising new artists
05:21Even at just 17, she sounded remarkably confident
05:25Moving effortlessly between rhythmic chants and melodic passages
05:37Looking back, it's easy to hear the qualities that would come to define her career
05:41Ponda Replay didn't make Rihanna a superstar overnight
05:44But it certainly got the party started
05:54Number 15, This Is What You Came For
06:05Although officially credited as a featured artist
06:08This Is What You Came For feels every bit as essential to Rihanna's catalog
06:12As many of her own singles
06:13Their second collaboration together traded the explosive EDM rush of their first song
06:18Which we'll get to much later
06:20For a sleeker, more restrained sound that blended house, tropical influences, and pop
06:33Rihanna's vocal performance is deliberately understated
06:36Floating over the production rather than overpowering it
06:39That approach gives the song an effortless cool that helped make it one of 2016's biggest hits
06:44The revelation that Taylor Swift actually wrote the song under a pseudonym generated plenty of headlines
06:49But Rihanna's performance remains the most interesting thing about it
07:00Number 14, Rude Boy
07:10Following the enormous success of Good Girl Gone Bad
07:13Expectations for Rihanna's fourth album, Rated R, were sky high
07:17While several early singles performed well
07:20It was Rude Boy that truly became the album's breakout smash
07:31Produced by Stargate and co-written by a team that included Esther Dean, Girl Wonder, and Rihanna herself
07:37The track blends dancehall rhythms with pop accessibility
07:40Rihanna sounds playful, confident, and completely in command throughout
07:45As she turns every line in the track into a challenge directed at an admirer
07:57The song spent five consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100
08:01And remains one of her most recognizable hits
08:04I like the way you touch me there
08:06I like the way you pull my head
08:09Baby, if I don't feel
08:11Number 13, 4-5 Seconds
08:13I think I've had enough
08:17I might get a little drunk
08:20On paper, a collaboration between Rihanna, Kanye West, and Paul McCartney
08:25Sounds like three completely different playlists colliding
08:27Somehow, 4-5 Seconds turned that unlikely combination into one of Rihanna's most memorable hits
08:33Now I'm 4-5 seconds from whiling
08:37And we got three more days till Friday
08:42Built around McCartney's acoustic guitar and a stripped-back arrangement
08:45The song gave Rihanna room to showcase a rarer, more emotional vocal performance
08:50Than listeners were used to hearing from her
08:52And I know that you're on tonight
08:56Thinking how could I be so selfish
09:00The lyrics focus on frustration, regret, and reaching a breaking point
09:05Themes all three artists sell convincingly
09:08Released right at the start of 2015
09:10The track became a worldwide hit
09:12Reaching the top 10 in over a dozen countries
09:14And introducing McCartney to a new generation of listeners
09:17See all of my kindness
09:22It's taking for weakness
09:24Number 12, Don't Stop the Music
09:27Please don't stop the music
09:34Sampling the key line
09:35Mama say, mama sa, mama ko sa
09:37From Michael Jackson's
09:38Wannabe startin' somethin'
09:40This hit was the perfect mashup of hip-hop, dance-pop, and techno
09:51The line may have caused both Rihanna and Jackson to be sued by the Cameroonian musician
09:56Claiming to be its originator
09:58But considering each artist's success with its use
10:01It was well worth it
10:11The lyrics describe that feeling of euphoria when your favorite song is playing and you're in the groove
10:16It also hit number one in over 10 countries
10:19And helped Rihanna continue her rise to musical stardom
10:28Number 11, SOS
10:36Before the record-breaking chart runs and countless number ones
10:40There was SOS
10:42Released in 2006, the dance pop track became Rihanna's first Billboard Hot 100 chart topper
10:48And marked an important turning point in her career
10:57Built around a prominent sample of Soft Cell's version of Tainted Love
11:01The song combines infectious production with lyrics about being completely overwhelmed by attraction
11:07Rihanna's youthful vocal performance gives the track a sense of excitement that perfectly matches its club-ready energy
11:20While she would go on to release even bigger hits
11:23SOS was the song that proved she could compete with the biggest names in pop
11:27Every empire needs a first victory
11:29And for Riri, this was it
11:37Number 10, Work
11:46By 2016, Rihanna had already conquered pop, R&B, and EDM
11:51But Work reminded everyone that her Caribbean roots remained central to her artistry
11:55Released as the lead single from Antti
11:57The song pairs her with Drake over a laid-back dancehall-inspired beat produced by Boy Wunda
12:03I believe all of your dreams are the real show
12:05You took my heart, I'm a keys, I'm a fish
12:08Rihanna's vocal delivery became one of the most talked-about aspects of the track
12:12With her use of patois adding authenticity and personality to the performance
12:16What can I say?
12:18Please recognize I'm trying, baby
12:21I think why, why, why, why, why, why
12:23It sent me up there
12:23Beneath its hypnotic groove, the song tells the story of a relationship strained by frustration
12:28And emotional exhaustion
12:30It topped charts around the world
12:32And became one of the defining hits of the decade
12:34Helping to propel dancehall music back into the mainstream
12:38We just need a face to face
12:41You could pick the time and the place
12:44You'll spend some time away
12:46Number 9, Unfaithful
12:48Story of my life
12:50Searching for the right
12:51But it keeps avoiding me
12:54Released as the second single from A Girl Like Me
12:57Unfaithful revealed a level of emotional depth that audiences hadn't fully seen from Rihanna yet
13:02Co-written by Neo and produced by Stargate
13:05The piano-driven ballad tells the story of a woman struggling with the guilt of betraying her partner
13:10I don't wanna do this anymore
13:13I don't wanna be the reason why
13:16Every time I walk
13:18Rather than portraying herself as a victim
13:20Rihanna delivers the song from the perspective of someone confronting the consequences of her own actions
13:25Her vocal performance is sincere and surprisingly mature
13:29Helping elevate the dramatic material
13:31The song became a worldwide success
13:41And remains one of the strongest early examples of Rihanna's ability to connect with listeners through her sheer vulnerability
13:47I don't wanna hurt him anymore
13:50I don't wanna take away his life
13:53Number 8, Disturbia
14:03As one of Rihanna's most distinctive tracks
14:06Disturbia is more adventurous than most pop songs out there
14:09As it features her singing about paranoia and confusion
14:20Co-written by Chris Brown and originally supposed to be recorded by him
14:25The single for Rihanna's Good Girl Gone Bad re-release is a weird mashup of horror and dance music
14:39But somehow it works to create a completely unique sound
14:43After all, it took Riri all the way to number 1 again
14:46It has since become one of Rihanna's favorites to perform in concert
14:58Number 7, What's My Name
15:05Rihanna and Drake always produce magic when they team up
15:09As is demonstrated by their 2012 top 10 hit Take Care
15:12In this 2010 tune that marked their first ever collaboration
15:24The duo teams up to give a his and hers account of meeting a person who understands them both emotionally
15:29and physically
15:37The catchy chorus is a major earworm
15:40But it's one that listeners won't mind having stuck in their heads
15:43Critics have praised What's My Name as an example of Rihanna's better vocal work
15:47And it's hard to disagree
15:48The chart topper also earned the duo a Grammy nod
15:58Number 6, Stay
16:00By the time Rihanna's seventh album, Unapologetic, was released in 2012
16:09She had already put out several successful ballads
16:12Even so, Stay stands apart
16:14Built around a simple piano arrangement and a duet with co-writer Mickey Echo
16:18The song strips away the elaborate production that often surrounded Rihanna's biggest hits
16:23The focus instead falls entirely on the emotion
16:32Rihanna delivers one of the strongest vocal performances of her career
16:36Capturing the uncertainty, longing, and desperation at the center of the song
16:40We're funny, you're the broken one
16:42But I'm the only one who needed saving
16:47Echo's contribution adds another layer of vulnerability
16:50Making for a genuine conversation between two people trying to hold on to a relationship
16:55Sometimes less really is more
16:57And Stay proves it beautifully
16:59It takes me out the way
17:02I want you to stay
17:10Number 5, Only Girl in the World
17:13I want you to love me
17:16Like I'm a high tide
17:19Uh, yeah
17:20Following the darker material of her previous album, Rated R
17:24The lead single, Off Loud, was a breath of fresh air
17:27Want you to make me feel
17:29Like I'm the only girl in the world
17:33Like I'm the only one
17:34Rihanna sings about wanting attention from her lover
17:37Something that many can relate to
17:38And enhances it with a gorgeous, colorful music video
17:42In which she stands alone in picturesque fields
17:44Interestingly enough, Only Girl was the album's first single
17:48But it didn't hit number 1 until after the album's second single
17:52What's My Name had already done so
17:59This may be a feat that had never been done in Hot 100 history before
18:03But it's certainly well deserved
18:05Number 4, Diamonds
18:20Rihanna does ballads quite well
18:22And this song is no exception
18:24Relying heavily on the use of synthesizers to give it an otherworldly sound
18:29Diamonds also features Rihanna's soaring vocals
18:31Which inspire listeners to be true to themselves
18:34The song is lyrically different from Rihanna's other hits
18:45Since it doesn't focus on harmful romantic or sexual relationships
18:55Her new approach worked
18:58The unapologetic single became her 12th number 1 hit
19:01And with over 7.5 million copies sold
19:04It became one of her best selling singles ever
19:06Shining bright like a diamond
19:09Shining bright like a diamond
19:12Shining bright like a diamond
19:13Shining bright like a diamond
19:13Shining bright like a diamond
19:14We're beautiful
19:14Number 3, Love on the Brain
19:16One of the biggest revelations of Auntie was just how much space it gave Rihanna to showcase her voice
19:29And nowhere is that more apparent than on Love on the Brain
19:32Inspired by classic soul and doo-wop influences
19:35The song was written by Fred Ball, Joseph Angel, and Rihanna herself
19:39The production keeps things relatively simple
19:41Allowing the focus to remain on her performance
19:44Must be love on the brain
19:49That's got me feeling this way
19:52Rihanna moves effortlessly between smoky lower notes, powerful belts, and delicate falsetto passages
19:59Delivering one of the most emotionally rich vocals of her career
20:02Must be love on the brain
20:06The song became a fan favorite and critical darling
20:09It has since been certified diamond in the U.S.
20:12Having sold over 10 million copies
20:14And babe, I'm fist-bying with fire
20:18Just to get close to you
20:21Could we burn somebody, babe
20:23Number 2, Umbrella
20:25You have my heart
20:27And we'll never be worlds apart
20:30Maybe in magazines
20:33Rihanna is all about collaborating with her fellow artists
20:36Case in point, Jay-Z and Kanye West on Run This Town
20:39The only thing that's on my mind
20:42Is to go run this town tonight
20:45But it's her one-on-one work with mentor Jay-Z on this good girl gone bad track
20:50That really caused her star to rise
20:51The song was originally written for Britney Spears
20:54But we can't even imagine that version
20:56And don't really need to
21:05Rihanna's unique voice and stressing of the title's syllables
21:08Give the tune an addictive sing-along quality
21:11And helped it top the Hot 100 for seven weeks
21:14Umbrella is also one of the best anthems about friendship and platonic relationships
21:19Which she doesn't often sing about
21:29Before we unveil our top pick
21:31Here are a few honorable mentions
21:33California Kingbed
21:35With its soaring chorus
21:37This song chronicles the heart-wrenching moments before a breakup
21:40In this California Kingbed
21:45With 10,000
21:48Kiss it better
21:49We'd be willing to do anything for this 80s-soaked rock synth perfection of a song
21:54What are you willing to do?
21:58Oh, tell me what you're willing to do
22:02Love the way you lie
22:03Eminem enlists Rihanna for a deeply personal take on toxic relationships
22:08Just gonna stand there and hear me cry
22:13But that's alright
22:15Man down
22:16A dance hall gem that went places most pop songs wouldn't dare
22:28Take a bow
22:29Rihanna serves the coldest musical breakup ever over a flawless R&B groove
22:35That was quite a show
22:38Very entertaining
22:41Number one
22:42We found love
22:50This song has a larger-than-life presence, just like Rihanna herself
22:54With Calvin Harris' production bringing We Found Love to the next level
22:58And an increasing energy
23:00The Talk That Talk single is a breakout of synthesizers, alarm sounds, and a pulsing beat
23:06We found love in a hopeless place
23:09We found love in a hopeless place
23:13Meanwhile, Rihanna's voice has never sounded more angelic
23:17As she sings about finding love in a hopeless place
23:19The electro house and dance pop number even beat out Umbrella as her longest-running number one single
23:25Sitting atop the Hot 100 for 10 weeks
23:28And topping the charts in 25 other nations
23:39Which Rihanna banger is your personal favorite?
23:42Let us know in the comments
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