Stay (2012)Д«allads are rarely RihannaвЂ™s strongest suit, but Stay вЂ“ written by, and featuring a high-pitched guest vocal from Mikky Ekko вЂ“ is the exception that proves the rule, a lesson in avoiding emotional bombast, that less is more. Shut Up and Drive (2007)ДЄ lyrical relative of the cars/sex metaphor of Grace JonesвЂ™ Pull Up to the Bumper, musically Shut Up and Drive is based on New OrderвЂ™s Blue Monday, honing in not on the stammering drum machine or synths, but Peter HookвЂ™s bass line, recasting it as taut, distorted new wave rock, an idea that works brilliantly. And RihannaвЂ™s in swaggering, powerful mode вЂ“ and, given the line вЂњthat Rihanna reign gonna last for everвЂќ, prescient, too. ItвЂ™s hip-hop-infused вЂ“ Jeezy has a guest verse вЂ“ driven by growling but triumphant-sounding electronic brass. Produced by Tricky Stewart, who was responsible for Umbrella, Hard couldnвЂ™t be further from the singerвЂ™s 2007 megahit. Photograph: Thomas Starke/Getty Images 18. Rihanna performing at The Dome 42 show in Hanover, Germany, in 2007.

Too tongue-in-cheek to be the R&B Venus in Furs, the electro stomp that opened 2010вЂ™s Loud nevertheless reaffirmed that Rihanna had left her initial, rather sweet image behind for something more playfully provocative: вЂњItвЂ™s so good being bad, thereвЂ™s no way IвЂ™m turning back.вЂќ Avoid the remix вЂ“ featuring poor Britney Spears вЂ“ at all costs. вЂњIt finally got the treatment it deserved,вЂќ he noted. But the result really works, digging out an influence at the songвЂ™s core: Tame ImpalaвЂ™s Kevin Parker was initially inspired by TLC. Same OlвЂ™ Mistakes is a pretty audacious idea: rather than covering Tame ImpalaвЂ™s New Person, Same Old Mistakes, Rihanna just sang over the psychedelic original. The woozy, hedonistic swirl of its backing track perfectly captures the hedonistic mood referenced elsewhere: вЂњWrap up your drugs, come make me happy.вЂќ 20. You canвЂ™t fault RihannaвЂ™s self-confidence on this track, tacked on to the end of the deluxe version of Anti: sex with her is вЂњamazingвЂќ, but her love rival is merely вЂњalrightвЂќ. You could say itвЂ™s an example of post- Amy Winehouse retro pop, but itвЂ™s a superior one: an elegant, controlled performance, a lyric that darkly hints at violence.Д«orrowing the echoing guitar sound of the XX quickly became a cliche in mainstream pop вЂ“ вЂњreferenced at least every other session,вЂќ according to Ryan Tedder вЂ“ but Drunk on LoveвЂ™s sample of the trioвЂ™s Intro was inspired, adding a spectral edge to an epic confection of thundering drums and ravey keyboards. Love on the Brain (2016)ДЄn anomaly even in RihannaвЂ™s eclectic back catalogue, Love on the Brain delves into doo-wop and early-60s soul ballads, sampling Sam BrownвЂ™s Stop along the way. If you want an example of the diverse influences that have gone into RihannaвЂ™s singles over the years, look no further: Where Have You Been draws on IвЂ™ve Been Everywhere, a 1959 Australian country song once covered by вЂ“ oh dear вЂ“ Rolf Harris, transforming it into a gleaming, joyous bit of pop-house. ItвЂ™s a gutsy move to riff on an idea already used on the biggest-selling album in pop history, but DonвЂ™t Stop the MusicвЂ™s borrowing of Manu DibangoвЂ™s Soul Makossa вЂ“ via Michael JacksonвЂ™s Wanna Be Starting Something from Thriller вЂ“ worked perfectly: an insistent presence in the background of a powerful dance track. MaccaвЂ™s acoustic guitar drives the appealingly rough-edged and stripped-back FourFiveSeconds along, but itвЂ™s RihannaвЂ™s vocal that makes the song come alive. The unexpected sound of Rihanna collaborating not merely with Kanye West but Paul McCartney. If not quite as spectacular as Man Down, You Da OneвЂ™s attempt to meld dancehall and fluorescent 21st-century pop is still impressive, not least in the way it stirs dubstep into the sonic mix: the bass-heavy drop before the final chorus is genuinely exciting, shifting the mood of the track.

Kiss It Better was nominated for best R&B song at the Grammys, but in truth itвЂ™s a diversion into potent power balladry вЂ“ laden with distorted guitar, itвЂ™s not too much of a stretch to imagine Cher singing it on the deck of a warship вЂ“ albeit one given a hint of left-field weirdness by the primitive drum machine ticking away in the background.

Youtube music rihanna love on the brain