Man, f*** your pride, just take it on back, boy

8. Kiss It Better | 8.692 Highest Scores: 11: (George.keh), 10: (jakewild, Tawdry Hepburn, Tafty, Nick F1, Adelita, Cremey, blacksquare, JackTheeStallion, kath), Lowest Scores: 4.5: (Cameron)


At #8 is the last of the Anti singles - Kiss It Better, released in March 2016 alongside "Needed Me" as the album's 2nd/3rd single. It was written and produced by Jeff Bhasker and Glass John, with additional writing by Teddy Sinclair and Rihanna. In December 2014 the track was registered through the Harry Fox Agency, an agency who handles publishing rights for music formats & on that same day, Australian FM radio station 2Day FM and other websites reported that the song was allegedly going to be released as the lead single of her then upcoming album, but nothing came of it & then in 2015 Glass John one of the song's co-writers, expressed his dissatisfaction about the song's delay & eventually leaked a minute long demo form online. Upon release the single recieved critical acclaim from music critics, but was only a moderate success on the charts worldwide by reaching top 50 peaks in UK & Australia, as well as charting in the lower regions in USA, Canads, Ireland & France. The following year it recieved a Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Song at the 59th ceremony. In January 2021, the song gained notoriety again on radio and TikTok with the release of rapper Fat Joe's single, "Sunshine (The Light)" featuring DJ Khaled and amorphous. The song heavily samples the first verse of "Kiss It Better" as its chorus, using Rihanna's vocals.

This probably stands as one of Rihanna's most underrated singles of her career (by the general public's standards) as despite being the album''s most pop ready hit, it didn't quite take off & I'm not sure why, even to this day. One of the best tracks on the album for sure where Rihanna's smoky vocalls combines emotionial turmoil & sensuality into this soulful little number. Then there's the sharp synths, shimmering melodies & of course that mezmerising electric guitar riff that drives the song beautifully (thanks to Nuno Bettencourt) & also recalls some the best rock/pop ballads of the 80's. A stellar track that deserved so much more than it got.

Personally I find Where Have You Been overrated, but can see why it’s loved by so many.

I never really got into Anti, perhaps I should give it a listen through. I do like this song the more I heart it though.

A beauty of a song that has really stood the test of time and aged like a fine wine since its release, I'm glad to see it be so widely appreciated despite its criminally undeserving chart performance at the time (and even get a new lease of life recently being sampled in another song, I believe)

 

:wub:

KIB is top 10 (at the very least) RiRi! WHAT a song.

Kiss It Better :wub: what a track. I'm so happy to see this one top 10.

Agree with the consensus a quality song which should have been another top 10 (or at least top 20) hit.

Like I'm the only one that's in command

7. Only Girl (In The World) | 8.711 Highest Scores: 11: (Nick F1, JSG), 10: (Nina West, Jord, ready for it, jakewild, Mack, George.keh, Chapman, Riser, kath), Lowest Scores: 5.5: (Elgornio)


Bet this will come as a SHOCK to many at #7 is Only Girl (In The World), released in September 2010 as the lead single from Rihanna's 5th studio album Loud.
The song was written by Crystal Johnson with the song's producers, Stargate and Sandy Vee. Rihanna contacted the production duo Stargate before the album's production and asked them to create lively, uptempo music & move away from the dark themes of her previous album. The track was the first song created for the project & Rihanna decided to include it on there before she recorded the vocals. In a webchat with fans she stated that she wanted to take the next step as an artist & didn't want to go backwards and remake material that she's done before. Upon release the song recieved postive reviews & became an instant smash hit by topping the charts in 15 countries worldwide including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, UK & USA where in the latter It was the first time in the chart's history that an album's lead single reached number one after its second single. The track would also win the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2011.

Thought this would have been a sure-fire top 5 ranking, but of course things took a rather unpredictable turn towards the end (like always) that caused this slip dpwn to a still rather respectable #7 position. This is a rather exuberant track that not only contnued her winning streak, but came as a refreshing change of pace after the dark & brooding 'Rated R' era & also finds her in a better & more happier place. It's great hearing Rihanna so vibrant again with the track's pounding beats & catchy EDM beats that not only accompanies her slick vocals effectively but creates a thumping euphoric chorus that soars over the stunning production. This is a fantastic & well constructed track that not only earned its instant success & iconic status, but we got to witness Rihanna blossoming as the reigning queen of pop.

#6 Will be coming later this evening & here's what's left =

 

Umbrella

Don't Stop The Music

Disturbia

What's My Name

We Found Love

Diamonds

 

Any Guesses? Stay tuned to find out

Overplay tainted that for me a bit.

 

We Found Love & Diamonds are both average so any of the other 4 to win. Surprised Don't Stop The Music is still here, feels like one of her more forgotten hits.

At the time I thought it was a bit generic, but it has since evolved into a fully-fledged classic. :wub:

 

I hope 'Diamonds' drops out as quickly as possible, the others are great.

A disease of the mind, it can control you (Aha!)

6. Disturbia | 8.788 Highest Scores: 11: (ready for it, Tawdry Hepburn, Adelita), 10: (Nina West, Jord, PAJ, Mike Sugafan, JSG, HausofWillow, JackTheeStallion), Lowest Scores: 4: (Nick F1)


At the #6 spot is Disturbia, released in July 2008 as the 7th overall single from the re-release of Rihanna's 3rd studio album Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded. It was written by Andre Merritt, Chris Brown, Brian Kennedy and Rob. A!, with the production of the song helmed by Kennedy. The track was originally considered to be part of the re-release of Chris Brown's 2nd studio album 'Exclusive'. However, after finishing the song, he took preference to another song, "Forever", & felt that 'Disturbia' would be better suited for a female singer and instead forwarded it to Rihanna. When the album was repackaged Rihanna approached L.A. Reid, the boss of Def Jam, suggesting to release this as a single & follow-up to 'Take A Bow', which was the first time that she was taking control & knew a potential hit when she heard one. Upon release the song recieved generally positive reviews from music critics & became a commercial success by topping the charts in Belgium, New Zealand & USA. Elsewhere it managed top 10 peaks in more than 20 countries worldwide including Australia, Canada, Germany, Switzerland & the UK. The song earned Rihanna an award for Best International Song at the 2009 NRJ Music Awards and a nomination for Best Dance Recording at the 2009 Grammy Awards.

This is still remains to this very day one of Rihanna's most popular & best loved numbers & its not hard to see why its a dark twisted, yet fun piece of electropop filled with sinister beats, crazy vocal effects & a catchy chorus with effective earworm hooks that will grab you instantly. This was Rihanna on white hot form at the time & ruling the airwaves with an almighty grip. Hell even that "Bum-bum-be-dum-bum-bum" hook is incredibly infectious & of course Rihanna's icy & detached vocals goes well with the rhythm of the track. Considering what Chris Brown did to Rihanna after this release, can leave a bad taste in your mouth, infact just Chris Brown being himself is enough to put anyone off his music, but we shouldn't let that take anything away from the greatness of this song.

Only Girl In The World was massively overplayed fit me, so much so I got tired of it.

 

Love Disturbia though, so happy it made it this high.

Before the top 5 gets revealed, here's a re-cap of the results - 6-10:

06. Disturbia - 8.788
07. Only Girl (In The World) - 8.711
08. Kiss It Better - 8.692
09. Where Have You Been - 8.576
10. Take Care (ft Drake) - 8.538




Here's what's to feature in the all-important top 5:

Umbrella (ft Jay Z)
Don't Stop The Music
What's My Name (ft Drake)
We Found Love (ft Calvin Harris)
Diamonds


What are your thoughts & predictions?

My predicted top 5:

5. Don't Stop The Music

4. Diamonds

3. Umbrella (ft Jay Z)

2. What's My Name (ft Drake)

1. We Found Love (ft Calvin Harris)

 

What I’d like:

5. We Found Love (ft Calvin Harris)

4. What's My Name (ft Drake)

3. Diamonds

2. Don't Stop The Music

1. Umbrella (ft Jay Z)

Her best song! :wub:

 

What a phenomenal video too.

Edited September 9, 20213 yr by Tawdry Hepburn

Don't you feel the passion ready to explode?

5. Don't Stop The Music | 8.884 Highest Scoes: 11: (ready for it, Nick F1, Riser, kath), 10: (Nina West, Jord, jakewild, PAJ, JSG), Lowest Scores: 5: (Mike Sugafan)


At #5 is Don't Stop The Music, released in September 2007 as the 4th single from Rihanna's 3rd studio album Good Girl Gone Bad. The song was written by Tawanna Dabney and its producers StarGate. Michael Jackson also received a songwriting credit for the sampling of the line "Mama-say, mama-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa" from his 1983 hit single 'Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'. Both Rihanna & Michael Jackson were sued by Cameroonian musician Manu Dibango, who asserted that the hook originated in his 1972 song "Soul Makossa", for using the hook without his permission. The judge ruled that Dibango's claim was inadmissible. Upon release the song recieved ppsitive reviews from music critics (most notably most praise went towards the sample) & became a massive commercial success by topping the charts in 9 countries, including Australia, France, Germany, and Switzerland. As well as top 10 peaks in 18 other countries including the UK & USA where it reached #4 & #3 respectively. The song received a number of accolades, including a Grammy Award nomination for Best Dance Recording. In 2010 English singer Jamie Cullum covered the track on his 2009 album The Pursuit & released it as the 2nd single in Europe.

Rihanna does club anthems incredibly well & this is no exception with it's building electro house beats, enticing rhythms, throbbing synths & catchy hooks. Then by the time that stellar sample weaves its way into the melody, it takes things to a whole other level of greatness. This song was instantly iconic upon its release & thanks to that euphoric chorus, it still gets tons of airplay to this day. Hell this even managed to outshine the album's previous 2 singles, which in-turn got overshadowed by the mammoth lead 'Umbrella', however this managed to stand out on its own. A sensational number & one of Rihanna's biggest party songs of her career & even after 14 years it still sounds great.

When I first started going out gay clubbing properly in 2008, that was THE song which was everywhere. Good memories.

I’ve gone through a love, hate, love pattern with this song.

The #4 song will be posted this evening would anyone like to take a guess as to what it will be?

 

 

The remaining songs = "Umbrella", "What's My Name", "We Found Love" & "Diamonds"