Top 10 Rihanna Songs

This song is loud and in your face, which pretty much epitomizes Rihanna’s diva status. It’s also a fun dance-pop song that borrows part of its sound from Depeche Mode’s “Master and Servant.” Though Rihanna exalts sadomasochist things like “sex in the air” and being tied up in the Loud single, the lyrics are meant as a double meaning for her love-hate relationship with the paparazzi as well. Despite raising some controversy for its sexual content, “S&M” went triple platinum and even spawned a remix featuring Britney Spears.

The perfect mixture of dancehall and up-tempo pop, this Rated R single sees Rihanna challenging her rude boy on whether he can handle her or not. Her vocals are monotone, but this gives the song a mocking, yet playful sensibility. “Rude Boy” shows off her talents for being sexually appealing but also not letting any man get the best of her. It became her sixth number one single on the Billboard Hot 100, and stayed at the top for five weeks.

Sampling the key line “mama-say, mama-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa” from Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” this hit was the perfect mash-up of hip-hop, dance-pop and techno. The line may have caused both Rihanna and Jackson to be sued by the Cameroonian musician claiming to be its originator, but considering each artist’s success with its use, it was well worth it. The lyrics describe that feeling of euphoria when your favorite song is playing and you’re in the groove. It also hit number one in over ten countries and helped Rihanna continue her rise to musical stardom.

Rihanna does ballads quite well and this song is no exception. Relying heavily on the use of synthesizers to give it an otherworldly sound, “Diamonds” also features Rihanna’s soaring vocals, which inspire listeners to be true to themselves. The song is lyrically different from Rihanna’s other hits, since it doesn’t focus on harmful romantic or sexual relationships. Her new approach worked; the Unapologetic single became her twelfth number one hit, and with over 7.5 million copies sold, it became one of the best-selling singles ever.

Here we have pre-bad girl Rihanna and one of her early tunes that still stands out. Sampling Soft Cell’s hit “Tainted Love,” “SOS” gave young RiRi a chance to have her first number one hit. The song was originally meant for Christina Milian, but luckily she passed and Rihanna was able to put her signature spin on it. Easy and fun-loving, the dance-pop and R&B single helped Rihanna cement her status as an international star.

As one of Rihanna’s most distinctive tracks, “Disturbia” is more adventurous than most pop songs out there, as it features her singing about paranoia and confusion. Co-written by Chris Brown, and originally supposed to be recorded by him, the single for Rihanna’s Good Girl Gone Bad re-release is a weird mash-up of horror and dance music. But somehow, it works to create a completely unique sound – after all, it took RiRi all the way to number one – again. It has since become one of Rihanna’s favorites to perform in concert.

Rihanna and Drake always kill it with their collaborations, as is demonstrated by their future top 10 hit “Take Care”. In this 2010 tune, the duo teams up to give a his-and-hers account of meeting a person who understands them both emotionally and physically. The catchy chorus is a major earworm, but it’s one that listeners won’t mind having stuck in their heads. Critics have praised “What’s My Name” as an example of Rihanna’s better vocal work and it’s hard to disagree. The chart-topper also earned the duo a Grammy nod.

Following the darker material of her previous album, Rated R, the lead single off Loud was a breath of fresh air. Rihanna sings about wanting attention from her lover, something that many can relate to, and enhances it with a gorgeous, colorful music video in which she stands alone in picturesque fields. Interestingly enough, “Only Girl” was the album’s first single, but it didn’t hit number one until after the album’s second single, “What’s My Name?” had already done so. This may be a feat that had never been done in Hot 100 history before, but it’s certainly well-deserved.

Rihanna is all about collaborating with her fellow artists, case in point Jay-Z and Kanye West on “Run This Town”. But it’s her one-on-one work with mentor Jay-Z on this Good Girl Gone Bad track that really caused her star to rise. The song was originally written for Britney Spears, but we can’t even imagine that version and don’t really need to. Rihanna’s unique voice and stressing of the title’s syllables give the tune an addictive sing-along quality and helped it top the Hot 100 for 7 weeks. “Umbrella” is also one of the best anthems about friendship and platonic relationships, which she doesn’t often sing about.

Before we unveil our number one pick, here are a few honorable mentions:

- “Take a Bow”
Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded (2008)

- “Pon de Replay”
Music of the Sun (2005)

- “Hate That I Love You” feat. Ne-Yo
Good Girl Gone Bad (2007)

- “Cockiness (Love It) Remix” feat. ASAP Rocky
Talk That Talk (2011)

- “Stay” feat. Mikky Ekko
Unapologetic (2012)

- “Man Down”
Loud (2010)

This song has a larger than life presence, just like Rihanna herself. With Calvin Harris’s production bringing “We Found Love” to the next level and an increasing energy, the Talk That Talk single is a breakout of synthesizers, alarm sounds, and a pulsing beat. Meanwhile, Rihanna’s voice has never sounded more angelic as she sings about finding love in a “hopeless place.” The electro house and dance-pop number even beat out “Umbrella” as her longest running number one single, sitting atop the Hot 100 for 10 weeks, and topped the charts in 25 nations!

Do you agree with our list? Which Rihanna song is your favorite? For more can’t miss Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.