Rihanna’s performance at the 2023 Superbowl blew us all away again and proved what an excellent musician she is. Apart from being a highly acclaimed billionaire superstar singer, she’s also known for her incredible sense of style, charitable work, and chart-topping songs.
Today we’re going to find out if Rihanna also writes her music and which songs have flowed from her honey-dipped pen.
Does Rihanna Write Her Own Music
Rihanna’s Involvement in the Creative Process
Rihanna has mentioned in numerous interviews that she enjoys the creative process of writing songs. Often she would devise an original idea for a new song or the initial concept for a new song.
These ideas are handed over to her professional creative team to polish the ideas and create the final product.
Even though she doesn’t write all of her own material, her involvement in the creative process from the beginning shows her commitment to her art. Let’s look at some tracks where Rihanna had a hand in the creative process below.
Rihanna’s Co-Written Songs
Rihanna, born Robyn Rihanna Fenty, is one of the undisputed queens of personal branding. Coupled with her serious work ethic and skills in various business ventures apart from her singing career, it has landed her a net worth of over 1.7 billion dollars.
She is one of the wealthiest female musicians today and, after Oprah, the richest female entertainer. But let’s focus on Rihanna as a collaborator and artist in her songs.
Needed Me – 2016
This song is a collaboration between Rihanna, who wrote the song, along with Dijon McFarlane, Whiti Warbrick, Adam Feeney, Derrus Rachel, Charles Hinshaw Jr., and other producers.
Needed Me from her album, Anti, is a powerful anthem dealing with being independent and not requiring another person to complete you. The lyrics are upfront and tell it like it is with the opening I was good on my own / That’s the way it was (2x).
Later on, she tells the guy Didn’t I tell you I was a savage? / Take your white horse and your carriage. Rihanna is clearly stating that she’s not compromising who she is any longer for anyone. Girl power!
Dancing in the Dark – 2015
Dancing in the Dark is taken from the movie Home. She wrote this song with Ester Dran, Maureen McDonald, and the producers from Stargate.
This song offers uplifting lyrics and a message of hope even when alone or feeling lost. The catchy beat helps drive this song forward, and you can’t help but feel like dancing in the dark as well.
Rude Boy – 2009
Rude Boy, from Rihanna’s album Anti, was a collaboration between Rihanna, Makeba Riddick, Ester Dean, Mikkel S. Eriksen from Stargate, and Tork Erik Hermansen.
The song changes the power dynamics sometimes found in relationships where the girl, portrayed by Rihanna, calls the shots instead of the guy. Rihanna plays the femme fatale in the video. Combined with her sassy attitude and confident delivery, this is one of her most iconic hits.
FourFiveSeconds – 2015
FourFiveSeconds was a collaborative performance effort between three legends in the music industry, Rihanna, Kanye West, and Paul McCartney. The three artists wrote the lyrics. The rest of the team consisted of David Longstreth, Enlon Rutberg, Ty Dolla $ign, and Dallas Austin.
In addition, Mike Dean, Noah Goldstein, and Kirby Dockery were involved in producing things.
This song is an anthem to staying true to yourself and not paying attention to what others say about you. This unique and diverse song encourages listeners to be confident in their choices and keep their inner truth as their moral compass.
Each of the three artists brought their unique talents to the song, with Paul McCartney playing his guitar, Kanye West singing in a more lyrical style, and Rihanna’s powerful and raw lyrics. This song is among the best collaborations in the past decade.
Other Songs Written for Rihanna
Rihanna didn’t co-write the songs below, but they show what a talented musician she is and how she can make any song her own.
Umbrella – 2007
An oldie, but a good one! Umbrella was written by Jay-Z, Kuk Harrell, Tricky Stewart, and Terius Nash initially wrote this song for Britney Spears, but her management team rejected this song. However, Mary J Blige passed it along to Rihanna, and this track helped her career to skyrocket.
Rihanna performed this song with Jay-Z, and the lyrics show us what it means to be a good and loyal friend. No matter what life’s weather might be like, a loyal friend will always let you stand under their umbrella—through rain and shine. Rihanna and Jay-Z won a Grammy award for this song.
Don’t Stop the Music – 2007
Don’t Stop the Music was composed by Tor Erik Hermansen, Frankie Storm, and Mikkel Eriksen. The iconic line Mama-say, mama-sa, mama-koosa is credited to Michael Jackson.
We all know that music is one of the best ways to express a wide range of feelings and emotions. But, sometimes, letting loose and dancing the night away is all the therapy we need. This is one of the best party and dance tracks that get people up and dancing all night.
We Found Love featuring Calvin Harris – 2010
Rihanna’s collaboration with Calvin Harris on the song We Found Love. Calvin wrote and produced the song. The lyrics deal with the couple’s all-consuming passionate relationship, which destroys them both in the end, as the narrator explains in the beginning.
We Found Love occupied the top spot on the Billboard 100 for ten weeks and sold over 10.5 million copies in 2015 alone. It was one of the best-selling singles in the music industry’s history.
Conclusion
Despite not writing her songs alone, Rihanna’s collaboration and involvement in the creative process make her one of the best R&B and pop artists of our time.
Apart from the songs she’s co-written, others have been specially written for her. Whether Rihanna was involved in the writing process, she always gives her best.
We look forward to many more hits from Rihanna in the future.