A decade ago, a red-headed Rihanna released her fifth studio album – the hit-filled ‘Loud.’
Its fiery first single ‘Only Girl (In The World)’ is today’s From The Vault pick.
Helmed by Norwegian production team Stargate and songwriter Cri$tyle, the song was a return to Dance-Pop for RiRi, after the darker and grittier sounds found on her previous album ‘Rated R.’
Lyrically, the song unpacks the desire to occupy every single thought of a love interest.
On the chart front, ‘Girl’ was a monumental global hit, reaching the top spot in many countries like the US, the UK, Canada and Australia to name a few.
Uniquely, the song topped the Hot 100 two weeks after follow-up single ‘What’s My Name?’ hit #1. This served as the first time in Billboard history that an album’s first single reached pole position after the second.
Rih’s then-frequent collaborator Anthony Mandler directed the track’s colorful visual. Throughout, the star is seen singing alone in vast unoccupied landscapes, surrounded by large balloons, laying on a bed of flowers, or on a swing descending from the skies.
Like the style of the song, the video served as a reset thematically after the moody visual identity of the diva’s previous project – which came on the heels of dark headlines (see: “the” assault).
********
As Rihanna continues to be in her bag in earnest with her endeavours outside of music, we’d be lying if we said we weren’t excited to see where she goes next as a Pop star.
With music (both sonics and industry) being quite different than when she last ruled the charts, it will be interesting to observe the sound and strategy she and her team will unleash.
And while answers to those questions are pending, it still looks like that Rihanna reign won’t be letting up any time soon.
![New Song: Nicki Minaj - 'FTCU (Sleeze Mix)' [featuring Sexyy Red, Chris Brown, & Travis Scott]](https://thatgrapejuice.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/nicki-minaj-thatgrapejuice-2024-ftcu-remix-sleeze-sexyy-red-chris-brown-travis-scott-464x260.jpg "New Song: Nicki Minaj - 'FTCU (Sleeze Mix)' [featuring Sexyy Red, Chris Brown, & Travis Scott].")
A hit
Too bad she didnt write it
Lol she still gets paid for it, so doesn’t matter 🤷🏽♀️
I miss the pop Rihanna. Good girl gone bad & loud era are her best.
It’s so funny seeing positive posts about Rihanna on TGJ because I remember how Sam used to come for her so hard lol. I remember he had a post calling this particular song “Only Goat (On The Farm). How times change lol.
I remember when he use to refer her as a model
Damn y’all been around too long lol 💀 find another hobby
Loved this song & era of pop. The last good era! Even though back then people still hated, you can’t deny the girls were 10 times more entertaining than what’s out today!
Funny…you guys used to drag her for pumping out hit single after hit single. You definitely did a switch after she focused on other things.
This era was Rihanna’s niche! She had that in the bag! I love her pop sh*t! She is 1 of few artists that can pretty much sing any genre of music and it be a hit!…I hope her next Opus is just as good!
This is my peak Rihanna era.
I fell off around Unapologetic but I will always have love for Riri.