Absolutely love Needed Me and This Is What You Came For. I'm actually shocked how low the latter is.

Come, Mr. DJ, won't you turn the music up?

24. Pon De Replay | 7.711 Highest Scores: 10: (PAJ), Lowest Scores: 5.5: (Bjork)


At #24 is the one that started it all, Pon De Replay, released in May 2005 as the debut single from Rihanna's debut studio albim Music Of The Sun. It was written and produced by Vada Nobles, Alisha "M'Jestie" Brooks, Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers. Prior to signing a six album deal with Def Jam Recordings, this song was one of 3 songs which was recorded for her demo tape to be sent to record labels. Jay Z was the first to respond to the demo tape, who had recently been appointed as president & CEO of the label, where Rihanna audtioned for him. Intially Jay Z felt the song was too big for such a new artist. but thankfully Rihanna got to keep it & the rest was history. Upon release the song received positive reviews & became a commerical success for her by topping the charts in New Zealand, peaking at #2 in both the UK & USA, whilst achieving top five positions in eight other countries including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, and Switzerland. Making this the first of what would be many successful hits for her.

Losing this also means that we lose our first Rihanna era, which just happens to be her debut album, which only had 2 singles & considering the other one dropped out at #50, this has maanaged to hold up rather well with a rather decent average. Well everybody has to start somewhere & this was a great way to introduce the world to Rihanna's signature charm. Ironically the song that launched one of the most successful female artists of all-time was almost entirely about the beat & what a catchy beat it is that stays true to her Bajan roots & fused with the dancehall fusion melody, & thumping basslines. Sure it sounds a bit dated by today's standards, but you can't deny its catchiness & for a lesser artist this could have been a one-hit wonder type song, but thankfully for Rihanna that didn't happen & 16 years later she's still going strong.

Pon De Replay has really grown in my affections since its release Years ago :wub:

I go back to it sometimes and enjoy it, but it's not a Rihanna essential for me. Good debut single though!

 

Sometimes it's crazy looking back to that time and nobody imagining what she would go on to become.

Happy Pon De Replay got as high as it did.

 

Great debut, still good song.

That Rihanna reign just won't let up

23. Hard (ft Jeezy) | 7.769 Highest Scores: 11: (Mack), 10: (jakewild, PAJ, George.keh, blacksquare), Lowest Scores: 3: (Cameron, Adelita)


#23 is Hard, released in November 2009 as the 2nd single from her 4th studio album Rated R & features a guest verse from American rapper Young Jeezy (who is now credited as Jeezy). Both artists co-wrote the song with its producers, The-Dream and Tricky Stewart. Intinally it was confirmed that "Wait Your Turn" would be the 2nd single, however "Hard" got chosen instead. In an interview with MTV, Rihanna explained that she recorded the song was played for her while she was in Paris & decided to record it becausei t was different from her normal creative output. Upon release the song became Rihanna's 13th top 10 hit on the US Billboard charts, with a #8 peak. Elsehwere it wasn't given an International release, but it did manage to chart in several countries after its music video was released, such as Canada, New Zealand, Slovakia, Sweden, Ireland & UK. Although in the UK it did eventually get released as the 4th & final single there in August 2010, but couldn't outmatch it's original #42 peak.

Who doesn't love a bit of cocky Rihanna, & this was an early taste of just how grand the singer's bravado can be. Although she hadn't quite perfected that aspect of herself at this time, but she still proves at how resillient of an artist she is as she belts over the menacing mix of militant horns, hissing synths & sharp beats with such swagger & cpnviction, coupled with the guest verse by Jeezy gives this track that extra edge & alongside that killer basslines & stellar production, makes for a all-round fantastic track. At the time I do feel that this was sadly overlooked (especially in the UK), but this was a gratifying moment in her discography that has not only aged very well, yet we were experiencing Rihanna fully emerge as the artist she is today.

Hard is fantastic, such a great song. I love the whole Rated R era.

I'm tired of being played like a violin

22. Love On The Brain | 7.826 Highest Scores: 11: (Tafty, elgornio), 10: (Nina West, Jord, jakewild, PAJ, Tawdry Hepburn, George.keh. Nick F1, Cremey, blacksquare), Lowest Scores: 1: (Mike Sugafan, JSG)


Bet that this will come as a surprise to many in at #22 i- Love On The Brain, released in September 2016 as the 4th & final single from her 8th studio album Anti. The song is a doo-wop and soul ballad inspired by 1950s and 1960s music. It was written by Joseph Angel and produced by Fred Ball, with additional writing by Rihanna. The track was also the first song commissioned for the album & its inspiration came from Prince & Al Green, as one of the writers stated that they wanted to have juxtaposition of an old school soul feel with modern lyrics. The track was also first announced in 2015 & was to be debuted at the 2015 Brit Awards, however Rihanna allegedly pulled out. Upon release the track was highly acclaimed by music critics & was a huge success on the US Billboard charts by reaching a #5 peak, which would give Rihanna her 30th top 10 hit there, and therefore tying her with Madonna & The Beatles. Elsewhere it managed to top the charts in Poland, as well as the top 20 in France and New Zealand, and top 40 in Austria, Canada, and Germany. But would miss the top 100 in the UK, due to lack of promo there.

During the first half of the rate this was a dead cert for a top 10 placement, hell it was even the best perfomring "Anti" single at one point, but things took a rather unpredictable turn as a few lower & middling rates started to come in, which saw this plummet, despite getting 2 11's & several 10's. But at least it still managed a decent average. Rihanna has never been shy to experiment with various genres, but did anyone predict that she'd go down the retro doo-wop route (I certainly didn't see this coming), which she mastered beautifully with this classic torch song that shows of her mature vocal range, as she flows effortlessly between a controlled falsetto & deep full bodied tones, then completely letting herself go & allowing the music to take control of every inch of her emotions. All of which are without any studio vocal trickery & to date its probably one of Rihanna's best vocal performances of her entire career, even with its flaws & slight imperfections that only adds to its overall charm. This is an artist stripped to her most human form & its simply magnificent.

Edited August 29, 20213 yr by Nina West

bizarre that Love on the Brain never got a proper push in the UK

 

how did Hard end up so high? kinda undeserved...

Gonna make this easy, the next to drop will be a non-album feature. There's only 3 of them left, but which will it be?

Unemployment line, credit card declined

21. All Of The Lights (ft Kanye West) | 7.903 Highest Scores: 11: (HausofWillow, blacksquare), 10: (jakewild, Cremey), Lowest Scores: 5.5/5: (Cameron, vibe)


Just missing the top 20 by a mere 0.5, at #21 is All of the Lights, a song by American rapper Kanye West & released in January 2011 as the 4th & final single from his 5th studio album My Twisted Dark Fantasy & features additional vocals from several other recording artists, including Drake, John Legend, The-Dream, Alicia Keys, Fergie, Kid Cudi, Elton John, Ryan Leslie, Charlie Wilson, Tony Williams, La Roux, Alvin Fields, Ken Lewis, and most notably Rihanna, who was the only one featured on the credits. The song was produced by Kanye himself and co-produced by Bhasker. The early working title for the track was "Ghetto University" & was said to have taken 2 years to finish. Rihanna recorded her vocals for it in 2010 , after Kanye played the entire album to her & stated that 'All of the Lights' was her favourite track. Upon release the song recieved critical acclaim by music critics & became an international success by reaching top 20 oeaks in Ireland, New Zealand, UK & USA. It went onto win Grammy Awards for Best Rap Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and was nominated for Song of the Year at the 54th Grammy Awards.

This finishing so high is quite a surprising, considering how maligned Kanye West often is on this forum, but this is a rather decent track with epic production, over the top horns & fantastic yet dramaticinstrumentals, that's testament to his ego & talent that features an all-star line-up, but only Rihanna is ranked as the featured vocalist, thanks to her smoldering performance of the track’s anthemic chorus. With so many guest stars this could have been very messy, but Kanye's time & effort on its production, makes this a very polished grandoise affiar. Just a great track all-round & surely one of Kanye's best, but personally I wouldn't have had it this high, that's just my personal opinon though.

Edited August 29, 20213 yr by Nina West

Here is a re-cap of the results - 21-30

21. All of the Lights (ft Kanye West) - 7.903
22. Love on the Brain - 7.823
23. Hard (ft Jeezy) - 7.769
24. Pon De Replay - 7.711
25. This Is What You Came For (ft Calvin Harris) - 7.673
26. Needed Me - 7.557
27. Love The Way You Lie (ft Eminem) - 7.5
28. Shut Up and Drive - 7.461
29. Run This Town (ft Jay Z & Kanye West) - 7.288
30. Who's That Chick (ft David Guetta)



Here's what's left to feature in the top 20 (in chronological order) =

SOS
Unfaithful
Umbrella (ft Jay Z)
Don't Stop The Music
Disturbia
Rehab
Russian Roulette
Rude Boy
Only Girl (In The World)
What's My Name (ft Drake)
S&M
Man Down
Take Care (ft Drake)
We Found Love (ft Calvin Harris)
Where Have You Been
Diamonds
Stay (ft Mikky Ekko)
Work (ft Drake)
Kiss It Better
Wild Thoughts (ft DJ Khaled & Bryson Tiller)

Edited August 29, 20213 yr by Nina West

Surprised to see Rehab this high??? It’s a fab song but seems a little bizarre

Work in the Top 20? :huh:

I like All Of The Lights but she has better collaborations.

Where Have You Been has always been a little overrated for me.

I'm incredibly dismayed that 'Work' is still here when the mesmerising 'Love On The Brain' has left. I swear if it beats 'Kiss It Better' I will flip.

Work is brilliant

I do have a soft spot for All Of The Lights.

 

God I wish she's release some new music.

‘Work’ to stay in as long as possible x