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.
These songs truly define Rihanna's penchant for delivering confident and captivating vocal performances that leave listeners intrigued by her inventive use of voice and persona. Her ability to command attention through her compelling musical expressions is unmistakable.
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
50
Shut Up And Drive
By Rihanna (2007)
Rihanna found her niche in pop music because she implemented nostalgia, while making it progressive. “Shut Up And Drive” not only capitalized on the pop rock craze of the 2000s– it also recalled the new wave era of the ‘80s. The song incorporates aspects of New Order’s 1983 song “Blue Monday,” and features Rihanna delivering spunky innuendos such as “my engine’s ready to explode,” and “baby, you got the keys.”
49
California King Bed
By Rihanna (2010)
Existing as an outlier on the upbeat ‘LOUD,’ this country-pop ballad grounded the concept of the album. Penned by Priscilla Renea– who now goes by the stage name of Muni Long– this power ballad explores “distance between us” and the feeling of being “ten thousand miles apart.” The song’s electric and acoustic elements have received comparisons to the earlier work of Taylor Swift by critics.
48
Nobody’s Business
By Rihanna ft Chris Brown (2012)
The Michael Jackson sampling post-disco smash that caused controversy when first released because of the former couple’s scandalous relationship– but surged on TikTok last year unexpectedly.
47
Cockiness (Love It)
By Rihanna (2011)
A bumbling dancehall and dubstep record that features overt wordplay in the hook (“suck my cockiness, lick my persuasion”) and repetition of “I love it when you eat it.” Eventually it would receive a remix from now beau, A$AP Rocky.
46
Take Care
By Drake ft Rihanna (2011)
The basis of this collaboration exists in the electro-loungey production of Jamie xx’s remix of Gil Scott-Heron's 2010 version of "I'll Take Care of You." Exploring elements of trip hop there is even a laughing portion that adds a haunting mystique to the cut. “I know you’ve been hurt by someone else,” confesses Rihanna in a calming tone– as both lovers promise to take care of one another (although their vocal performances give uncertainty to that being fulfilled). The cryptic duet captured the vulnerability of both Drake and Rihanna– becoming one of the former’s most signature pop moments.
45
Woo
By Rihanna (2016)
Interpolating Ginuwine’s 1996 classic, “Pony,” this deep cut punches with raving dubstep – with the singer declaring “I ain't running 'round chasing no dude.” Although it failed to pop off as a single upon release, a remix of it with Burna Boy’s “Last Night” became popular on TikTok, a decade later.
44
Jump
By Rihanna (2012)
Interpolating Ginuwine’s 1996 classic, “Pony,” this deep cut punches with raving dubstep – with the singer declaring “I ain't running 'round chasing no dude.” Although it failed to pop off as a single upon release, a remix of it with Burna Boy’s “Last Night” became popular on TikTok, a decade later.
43
The Monster
By Eminem ft Rihanna (2013)
Eminem and Rihanna reunited for a fourth time to give another hit about their inner psychological turmoil. Fortified by rock band instrumentals, “The Monster” highlighted the rising popularity of pop rap in the 2010’s. It became a global smash– and their second No. 1 together– sparking a co-headlining, three stadium, The Monster Tour in 2014.
42
Talk That Talk
By Rihanna ft JAY-Z (2011)
The titular track accented by high throttle clapping really captures how trap&B would be the charge to motorize the entire friskiness of the album.
41
Lemon
By N.E.R.D & Rihanna (2017)
A Black power anthem of hyperbass and bounce music, where Rihanna raps “tell the paparazzi get the lens right.” Dropping “it’s Rihanna n!gga” and well as a shout out to Lebron James, “Lemon” became a caption-worthy affair for social media. It showcased Rihanna’s ability to make a song pop with a feature– and captured her confidence albeit the verse actually discusses surpassing her fears of not making it big in her respective music field.