Popular American singer Rihanna made her comeback to music on Friday, October 28, when her single Lift Me Up was released across the world. The song is also the lead single in Marvel’s upcoming movie Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which is set to release on November 11.

Lift Me Up is also a tribute to the life and legacy of actor Chadwick Boseman, who portrays the role of King T’Challa aka Black Panther in the Marvel movie series. The song was written by Rihanna, Tems, Ludwig Goransson and film director Ryan Coogler.

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It is Rihanna’s first song in almost seven years. The last album Rihanna released was Anti, which came out on January 28, 2016. Lift Me Up, a tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman, had its premiere in Los Angeles on Wednesday night, October 26, and was released two days later, on Midnight, October 28.

Apart from the lead single, an instrumental edition of Lift Me Up was also released subsequently on Friday midnight. Rihanna’s voice in the song is supported by a piano as well as other basic string instruments and celebrates the life and work of Chadwick Boseman, who died on August 28, 2020.

“Lift me up, hold me down, keep me close, safe and sound,” the opening verse of the song plays. “Burning in a hopeless dream, hold me when you go to sleep,” the next verse goes on.

“After speaking with Ryan and hearing his direction for the film and the song, I wanted to write something that portrays a warm embrace from all the people that I’ve lost in my life. I tried to imagine what it would feel like if I could sing to them now and express how much I miss them,” a statement by Tems, one of the co-writers of the song read.

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“Rihanna has been an inspiration to me so hearing her convey this song is a great honour,” it added.

Lift Me Up is produced by Westbury Road label, owned by Rihanna herself. The label has partnered with Roc Nation for the production of the song, as well as with Def Jam Recordings and Hollywood Records.