the 101 Most Popular
countdown of
Rihanna songs
of the Moment
Published February 20, 2024
Harpsichord’s official song chart that attempts to guestimate which songs released by Rihanna are her most popular globally. Factors in: Reported charting data and/or progression from Spotify, Apple Music, and iTunes live chart updates; online social media discussion — far as Twitter, Tik Tok; relevancy in the news; chatter amongst fans, as far as social media and in person exchanges; reported digital sales; radio airplay; usage in visual media, as far as TV and movies; and artist’s own attention to the song.
Known as Bad Gal RiRi, Rihanna lives up to her moniker with these songs. Whether she’s effortlessly displaying her rapping skills or effortlessly transitioning into Oscar-nominated film soundtracks, these iconic hits undeniably adheres to her nickname’s lofty expectations.
With this interactive countdown, you can click on the picture frames to watch the music videos, because we miss MTV and BET as much as you do… But if it’s an album cover? Sorry… no video was released at the time of this countdown’s publishing…
harpsichord’s greatest
Hot 101 Rihanna Songs
Published February 2024
40
You Da One
By Rihanna (2011)
Pushed forward by reggae and elements of ska, “You Da One” opens up ‘Talk That Talk’ with a dreamy aspect. Rihanna boldly sings about fawning and obsessing over a guy– especially because of his skills in the bedroom. In the bridge, she plays around with distortion– coyly singing “ain’t no other n!ggas like you.”
39
Russian Roulette
By Rihanna (2009)
One of her darkest ballads, “Russian Roulette” sets the tone for ‘Rated R.’ Based off the killer game with life, she compares the pressure of the relationship gone sour to having a gun to her head. “So just pull the trigger,” she cries out in defeat. And then there is the dramatic bridge where she starts out, “as my life flashes before my eyes.” Although jarring, “Russian Roulette” was later revered for its autobiographical tone that addressed the tabloids about the domestic violence situation that changed the trajectory of her career at the time.
38
Bad Remix
By Wale ft Rihanna (2013)
Wale already had a bed-squeaking hit on his hands, but Rihanna’s substitution on the hook propelled it to new heights while also giving her leverage for the moniker of Bad Gal RiRi.
37
Lift me Up
By Rihanna (2022)
Marketed as her comeback single, Rihanna stunned the world with her first solo single in five years since “Love on the Brain” went Top 10 in 2017. Full of humming, the ballad marked as a tribute to the late actor Chadwick Boseman. Oscar nominated, the song appeared on the soundtrack of the 2022 superhero film ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.’ Its vocal approach not only highlighted Rihanna’s ability to twist words phonetically, but also modeled after the stylings of Tems, one of the song’s co-writers.
36
Unfaithful
By Rihanna (2006)
“Unfaithful” marked a sharp turn for Rihanna at the start of her transition into more pop music. Starting out with “story of my life,” the piano ballad became a global hit for its intricate storytelling of a secret rendezvous– aided by a convincing performance from an ingenue that let the world know she’s not completely innocent. It’s the dramatic reveal of “I don’t want to be… a murderer,” that had audiences buzzing whenever that sang along to the chorus.
35
Consideration
By Rihanna (2016)
As the opener of ‘Anti,’ the boom bap production takes charge in showcasing that this album would be unlike any of Rihanna’s previous. Written by SZA (who not only gets a credit on the song, but is a featured vocalist), it sets forth the tale of a woman contemplating her artistic standing, and also the idea of leaving a relationship behind.
34
Hard
By Rihanna (2009)
“Brilliant, resilient, fan mail from 27 million,” gloats Rihanna on the hard hitting bop from ‘Rated R.’ Working as a call to arms from a military sergeant, Rihanna showcased that her entire fourth studio album would not have just sad moments. It flexed that she could also be cocky, as she raps about why she’s simply the sh!t. She disparages her enemies such as “bloggaz” and the “girls talking trash.” Jeezy salutes the victory of President Barack Obama in his rap verse. And just like the hit manifested, remember “that Rihanna Reign just won’t let up.”
33
Loyalty.
By Rihanna (2017)
Rihanna’s capability of rapping should not go unnoticed. This effort from her became one of the many moments on ‘DAMN.’ that helped Kendrick Lamar become the first rapper to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music. Along with K. Dot she sings about “switching sides.” But it’s her actual verse where she literally “haul[s in] the fast lane” with rapid delivery. Just as he calls himself “Kung Fu Kenny” in superhero style, so does she as “Bad Gal RiRi.”
32
Take A Bow
By Rihanna (2008)
“You look so dumb right now,” starts Rihanna with her verse. She’s unashamed of kicking an ex to the curve– letting him know that she can’t be deceived. While the instrumental is a piano, it’s her brazen delivery that sells the message. The song not only became a No. 1 on the Hot 100, it also went down in Pop Culture history as Tasha Mack (a character from the sitcom, ‘The Game’) sang this during a break up with Rick Fox.
31
Sex With Me
By Rihanna (2016)
Water and a lemon. Shots of vodka. “I know I know, I make it hard to let go.” A Marilyn Monroe reference. Rihanna lets the world know that she’s saucy and can “hit a switch on a fake.” These are the things that make her a master of coitus.