Rihanna is the undisputed Singles Queen of our generation. She could record the sound of her rum filled urine banging against the walls of a toilet, dub it over a Rebecca Black song and it would probably go #1... but Rihanna does have some fucking amazing album tracks that slip under the radar and don't get the single treatment for one reason or another.
"Skin"
I mine as well hit the ground running, right? This is her best slow song. Hands down. No questions.
For those pervs out there with sex playlist, I'd bet my next car payment that you have this song on it. Every pop starlet has that one sex anthem. Christina Aguilera has "Sex for Breakfast" and Beyoncé has "Speechless," but "Skin" actually sounds like sex. The way that the beat changes tempos throughout the song creates the perfect grinding rhythm. Add Rihanna's unique talent to make a song about a spec of dust sexy and you have the greatest sex song in pop of the past ten years. Easy.
"Fire Bomb"
This is Rihanna as an artists, using her vocals and co-penning a song with lyrics that actually have some profound, lovely meaning. I would sacrifice my next door neighbor's first born (because that bitch is always on the front porch crying) for Rihanna to release an album full of songs like this instead of filler tracks that aren't even worthy of her megastar status.
"Breakin' Dish"
Umm, hello? I don't know anyone who wasn't shocked when this song didn't become a single. I can picture this song jumping right to the top spot.
I think this song made me a little nostalgic. It makes me think instantly of the ratchet Destiny's Child days when they were still "Jumpin', Jumpin'" with Bow Wow and Da Brat.
This is just an amazing song. I think a number of artists out their could have turned this into a hit. Rihanna just lucked up and got her hands on it first. Shame on her for not making it a single, though.
"Push Up On Me"
Had this been a single, Rihanna would be taking a lot more credit for the current dance movement that's helping a lot of untalented artists claim the #1 spot on Billboard.
I think this should also been the single that introduced Rihanna to real choreography, at least the caliber or "Where Have You Been." Let's face it, dancer or not, hardly any females are doing it these days. If Rihanna would put some effort forward to do some real choreo, she'd be unstoppable.
"Final Goodbye"
Rihanna's most underrated ballad. I honestly think this is her greatest vocal performance and could have been one of her breakout hits from A Girl Like Me. It's kind of slow, but it's a gorgeous song. This song and "A Million Miles Away" really are the songs that pushed me to buying a copy of the album.
"Do Ya Thang"
Why is this a deluxe track? Lord knows I hate Talk That Talk with a fiery passion, but had it been an EP with this song as the follow up single to "Where Have You Been" as the lead, it'd be one of the greatest releases of 2011. This song is like R&B from the early 2000s updated for the current time. I don't really seeing it being a worldwide #1 smash hit, but the R&B charts would really eat a song like this up. Plus, it's one of the few tracks from the album that doesn't sound like a remake from the Loud or Rated R album.
I almost chose "Watch N Learn" over this. I feel the exact same about that song.
"Lemme Get That"
I might be alone on this one, but this song is addictive like cocaine.
Don't like it? Let's try something!
Next time you clean your house, apartment, car or whatever you live in, turn this song on and see if you can stop yourself dancing with it. It's not the greatest song ever, but it's a hidden gem that most people forget about.
"Raining Men"
I'm putting this on here for Nicki Minaj. This is one of those raps that don't make any fucking sense, but because of her delivery, it slays!
Plus, this song is catchy as fuck and makes my ass pop in the club.
"Wait Your Turn"
I really love the way she sings this song. It's one of the few uptempo songs where she really showcases her vocal talent (in the chorus). I mean, the girl does have chops, but it's 2012 and no one cares about that except Beyoncé's and Christina Aguilera's fans. Now people just want to dance, so hit magic usually lies within' the powers of the producer.
"I'm such a fuckin' lady." <--- One of the greatest lines she's ever spit.
"Cockiness (Love It)"
One of the best songs from "Talk That Talk." I gotta give Bangladesh props for this beat. Can he do wrong? I don't think so. I really want him to produce a hip-hop track for Britney, but that's a story for another time.
This song would drive even the most strict bible thumpers to shaking their ass. Lyrics are nasty, just the way I like them and I love Rihanna for raising the bar for sexual innuendos in pop music!
What are your favorite non-singles by Rihanna?
omg i love complicated! Her vocals are amazing....
ReplyDeleteYes!!
DeleteGreat minds!
ReplyDeleteDamn this list is on point. Um I'm guessing you should've chose her singles lol
ReplyDeletewasn't "Wait Your Turn" a single?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8u965-x-l3w&ob=av2e
It was just promo, a buzz single :-)
DeleteFor me "The Last Song" "Fire Bomb" & "G4L" are her best songs ever!
ReplyDeleteI think Fool In Love and Farewell should be singles. I don't even understand why Fool In Love is a bonus track... that's just stupid. Farewell should be the last single (it's like the California King Bed #2). Fool In Love delivers vocally.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure Wait Your Turn was a single until it flopped, for it to eventually be deemed a buzz single? Much like Marinas Radioactive..
ReplyDeleteGood article. I agree with almost every song. Especially Breaking Dishes. Just fix a few grammatical errors boo. Their is is the main one
ReplyDeletePromo :-)
ReplyDeleteI really loved Photographs - I think that the power of will.i.am, especially after Boom Boom Pow and I Gotta Feeling, combined with Rihanna could've propelled that track to the top. The video would've been killer too!
ReplyDeleteBreaking Dishes and Lemme Get that should have been in the number 1 & 2 positions
ReplyDeletei dont like her non-singles tracks,she always releases the bests on the album which are a few.Till now ive only liked Raining men.
ReplyDeleteI think Sell Me Candy should have been one! I LOVE THAT SONG
ReplyDeleteC O L D C A S E L O V E >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
ReplyDeleteRed Lipstick slays. I'm def all about Watch N Learn (more so than do ya thang, but still love do ya thang).
ReplyDeleteI'll stay forever pressed she never recorded and released "Emergency Room ft. Akon". It would've slayed and absolutely destroyed chris brown's career.
Also Complicated is amazing.
wait what? Skin as the best sex song of the past 10 years? NO... Breathe On M3 still slays.
ReplyDeleteCrazy Little Thing Called Love
ReplyDeleteGood Girl Gone Bad
Fading
Music Of The Sun
Stupid In Love
Photographs
G4L
Drunk On Love
Red Lipstick
Fool In Love
And the ones you put in the list, except for The Final Goodbye and Fire Bomb.
Same here!
ReplyDeleteLemme Get That is loved by everyone with a decent taste tbh! FLAWLESS!
ReplyDelete"LET ME" would be a perfect single at time! :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of the choices made here but I have to definitely add Drunk on Love & Photographs.
ReplyDeleteRiRi has heaps of album tracks that could have done well as singles. I didn't like the fact she released California King Bed as a single; yes her vocals are pretty good, but it's definitely not single material, especially with songs on Loud like Raining Men (w/ Nicki Minaj) and Skin that should have made the singles cut.
ReplyDeleteShe has a lot of stellar tracks on Good Girl Gone Bad that didn't get the single treatment - Push Up On Me, Breakin' Dishes and Lemme Get That the main ones. Those tracks are absolutely flawless. Shame on her for releasing Hate that I Love You (w/ Ne-Yo) that's a complete filler!
I LOVE TALK THAT TALK! I honestly think it's RiRi's finest album yet! Yes, it's a tad rushed, but practically all the songs are killer, albeit Fool in Love and We All Want Love! I totally agree with Do Ya Thang and Cockiness; they're amazing! And I'm glad she released a full version of Birthday Cake (even if it was with her violent ex, Chris Brown) Whilst I love both You Da One and Talk That Talk, Where Have You Been is pretty much the highlight of Talk That Talk and was a guaranteed hit from the get go; I don't know if it would have better if she released as the follow up to We Found Love, but it's definitely gaining steam now, so possibly not!
Fire Bomb, Photographs and G4L should have been singles! One of them should have been chosen over Te Amo, which is still good, but not really single material.