Robyn Rihanna Fenty – 32-year-old US pop music icon with
Barbadian roots – more popular by her stage-name Rihanna, has so far come out
with eight albums. While bewilderment to millions of fans and listeners around
the world has been a recurrent character to her songs that have presented her in
various lights and themes as per requirements of the hits, there certainly have
been a few that have etched a permanent space in the collective consciousness of
her audience.
The primary task of Categorising Rihanna’s music under a
single genre, even though she is loosely referred to as a Pop artist, is a
difficult task. Over the years the singer has traversed several genres, such as
R&B, EDM, and typical, mid to late 2000s Pop music, arguably her forte, as
collaborating with some of the other great artists of the music industry, such
Eminem, Drake, Kalvin Harris and Kendrick Lamar, DJ Khaled among others.
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Below listed are some of Rihanna’s greatest single to grace her
audience, and the genre of Pop music in general, since the very early years.
1.
Diamonds (2012): One of the most recognisable
tracks from ‘RiRi’, Diamonds from the album Unapologetic seems familiar on two
levels. Firstly, it is written, and possibly even composed to some degree, by
renowned Pop musician Sia, whose trademark husky tones and sudden, sharp higher
notes are found in the chorus of the song. The number is a visual treat, with the
beginning of the track portraying Rihanna lyjng in a pool, as a rather big
piece of diamond is crushed, which, in sync with the latter parts of the video,
turns out to be the parallel to a crushed relationship, and towards the end, a path
towards realisation. Great stuff.
2.
Stay ft. Micky Ekko (2012): Yet another single
in this list from Unapologetic, Stay is a completely different mood as compared
to the last single. This song proves in a definite manner that Rihanna can sing,
and can further do it effortlessly in a more classically rhythmed space
featuring shrieking notes and a vibrating, almost-chorus like but not quite
vibe. Micky Ekko joins in towards the middle, completing the track even though
his piano backings have been guiding the notes all along since the very
beginning.
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3.
Work ft. Drake (2016): Originally published as a
standalone song but actually falling under 2017 album Anti, Work is a mix of various
elements, including the largely post-2015 usage of trap beats and snares, and
the introduction of Drake, which has turned the song even more closer to
Rihanna’s newer singles rather than her older, more recognisable numbers.
4.
Pon De Replay (2005): This song is likely where
it all started. Acting as Rihanna’s launch pad into a larger audience, Pon De
Replay, produced in the backdrop of a party-style pop beat with a strong,
infused element of Reggae saw the pop star subtly showing off her Barbadian descent.
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5.
We Found Love ft. Calvin Harris (2011) – Electronic
Dance Music (EDM) assumed a substantial place in global music scene roughly
from 2010/11 to about 2016, after which the trend moved more towards
synthesized, rolling beats.
We Found Love, featuring Calvin Harris – the Scottish
producer who was a huge name at the time – went with the trend in the track
progression as it built-up, hit the vocals and followed with a drop, but also
somehow found its own place. The number delivering a tune of euphoria and pain
that came through the layer of bass, actually proving to be the original tune
that set it apart from several other eardrum-bursting tracks of the same style
that soon followed.
With all said and done, Rihanna’s songs have certainly achieved over the years a relic-like stature, having stood the test of time for close to 16 years.
