Loud | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | November 12, 2010 | |||
Recorded | February–August 2010 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 46:39 | |||
Label |
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Producer | ||||
Rihanna chronology | ||||
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Singles from Loud | ||||
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Loud is the fifth studio album by Barbadian singer Rihanna. It was released on November 12, 2010, by Def Jam Recordings and SRP Records. The album was recorded between February and August 2010, during the singer's Last Girl on Earth tour (2010-2011) and the filming of her first feature film Battleship (2012). Rihanna and L.A. Reid were the executive producers of Loud and worked with various record producers, including Stargate, Sandy Vee, The Runners, Tricky Stewart and Alex da Kid. The album features several guest vocalists, including rappers Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Eminem, who is featured on the sequel to "Love the Way You Lie", titled "Love the Way You Lie (Part II)".
A dance-pop and R&B album, Loud differs from Rihanna's previous effort, Rated R (2009), which incorporates a prominently foreboding and angry tone and dark themes. Loud features up-tempo songs, and marks the return of the bright, optimistic sound prominent on her first two albums Music of the Sun (2005) and A Girl Like Me (2006). It also uses rock in "California King Bed" and reggae in the Caribbean-inspired "Man Down".
Loud received generally positive reviews from music critics, who complimented its upbeat material and Rihanna's vocal performances, while others stated that although the songs were solid, they were unfocused to each other. The album was a commercial success; it debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200 chart, with sales of 207,000 copies, the highest first-week sales of her career at the time. The album peaked at number one on the Canadian, Swiss and the UK album charts. According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), Loud was the eighth global best-selling album of 2011. [1] Since its release, it has sold over 8 million copies worldwide.
The album produced seven singles, including the international hits "Only Girl (In the World)", "What's My Name?", and "S&M". All three singles reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. "S&M" was Rihanna's tenth number one song in the US, making Rihanna the youngest recording artist to accumulate the plateau in the shortest time, surpassing Mariah Carey. "Only Girl (In the World)" won the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording in February 2011; additionally, the album was nominated for three more Grammy Awards, including for Album of the Year. To support the album, Rihanna embarked on her third worldwide concert tour, entitled the Loud Tour.
Following a domestic violence case between Rihanna and her boyfriend, the American entertainer Chris Brown, media speculated as to whether any song on her fourth studio album would be about him. [2] The album was released in November 2009, under the title Rated R . Primarily a pop and R&B album, [3] [4] it also incorporates elements of hip hop, rock, and dancehall. [5] [6] Rated R was commercially successful and spawned six singles, including the international hit, "Rude Boy". Six months after releasing the record, Rihanna began planning a fifth studio album, promising that her new material would be "more energetic" than her previous works. [7]
Stargate's Tor Erik Hermansen, said "Rihanna came to us before we started recording 'Only Girl (In the World)' and said 'I feel great about myself. I want to go back to having fun, I want to make happy and up-tempo records'." [8] Sean Garrett compared the sound of the new tracks with her previous hit singles "Umbrella" and "Rude Boy". [9] In an interview for MTV UK, the vice president of Def Jam Recordings compared the upcoming Rihanna album with Michael Jackson's Thriller saying, "Rihanna is coming along incredibly. I'm trying to push her to where every song will be a hit from one to 12. I'm talking about NO album fillers. Our bar for this album is Michael Jackson's Thriller." [9]
"I'm done recording the whole album. I made sure not to let you down with my music! You guys are always defending me, so now you've got some great songs to justify it. I didn't want to go backward and remake [2007's] Good Girl Gone Bad . I wanted the next step in the evolution of Rihanna, and it's perfect for us."
—Rihanna talking about the concept of Loud for Rihannadaily.com [10]
Rihanna and Antonio "L.A." Reid assembled a group of songwriters and record producers at several recording studios in Los Angeles for two weeks to write songs for Rihanna; they wrote approximately 200 songs, eleven of which were included on the album. [11] Def Jam rented out nearly every recording studio in Los Angeles in order to create as many songs as possible. [12] Ray Daniels, the manager of musical duo Rock City (brothers Theron and Timothy Thomas), was present during the sessions, and stated that a writing camp typically involves the label hiring ten recording studios for two weeks at the cost of $25,000 per day. [13] Daniels revealed that it is where songwriters have lyrics but no music, and where producers have music but no lyrics. [13]
Singer-songwriters and producers Taio Cruz, [14] Alex da Kid, [15] Sean Garrett, [16] Ne-Yo, [17] Rico Love, [18] Timbaland, [18] Shontelle, [19] David Guetta, [20] and Drake [21] contributed to the album. "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love" was written for Rihanna, but the song was rejected and was subsequently sent to Usher. [11] With regard to "What's My Name?", Rihanna thought Drake could understand the melody of the song and invited him to work on the track when she played him the finished recording. [22] The collaboration was originally planned to be a remix, but later it was decided that the version featuring Drake would be used as the original. [23]
Loud was recorded in various recording studios worldwide including the Larrabee Sound Studios, The Village and Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles, Platinum Sound Recording Studios, and Roc the Mic Studios in New York City and The Bunker Studios in Paris. [24] In September 2010, during a webchat with her fansite Rihannadaily.com, Rihanna announced that the album would be called Loud, saying "get Loud everybody, get crazy, get excited, because I'm pumped. I'm just gonna be me because that's what you guys love the most, and that's what makes me feel best. Just being normal, normal for me is Loud! Sassy, fun, flirty, energetic." [10] While Rihanna was filming Battleship , she explained in an interview with Entertainment Tonight , "Loud is, the word, the name of the album definitely reflects the attitude of it, it's really sassy and flirty and it grabs your attention and that's why I enjoy it. It takes you through a really really interesting ride. So colorful the album." [25]
Loud is a departure from the personal, melodramatic themes of Rated R. [26] Stylistically, it is a return to the Caribbean-inspired dance-pop of Rihanna's earlier work. [27] Ryan Burleson of Consequence of Sound described the album as "a dynamic R&B and dance-pop record". [28] In an interview with MTV, Rihanna said "I wanted songs that were all Rihanna songs, that nobody else could do. I didn't want the generic pop record that Ke$ha or Lady Gaga or Katy Perry could just do and it'll work. I wanted a song, or songs, that were Rihanna songs, that only I could do, had that little West Indian vibe to it, had that certain tone, a certain sass and a certain energy." [29] During the promotion of Loud, Rihanna said that much of the music was born out of frustration. She explained: "When you go to a club and have to listen to bad music you revert to the liquor, because you want to have a good time. I hate having to skip a track. I wanted to make an album you can just play." [30]
The opening track "S&M" is an up-tempo Eurodance song [34] produced by Norwegian producers Stargate and Sandy Vee. The song is reminiscent of Depeche Mode's 1984 song "Master and Servant" [35] and contains lyrical thoughts of sadomasochism. [35] Andy Kellman of AllMusic regarded "S&M" as a dance-pop song which efficiently balanced "Rihanna's playful and sinister sides". [36] "What's My Name?" was also produced by Stargate and features guest vocals from Canadian rapper Drake. It is a mid-tempo, electro-R&B song with a back track consisting of heavy reggae. The song also sees Rihanna's return to the "Island-pop" style of her early career". [37] "Cheers (Drink to That)" is a pop rock song produced by the Runners which interpolates Avril Lavigne's 2002 single "I'm with You". [38] Mark Savage from BBC News described the song as a funky, loping guitar groove for a night out on the town. [39] "Only Girl (In the World)" was the third song from the album produced by Stargate. It is an up-tempo dance-pop song that incorporates elements of Eurodance in its production. [31] [32] [40] Brad Wete, a reviewer of Entertainment Weekly, described Rihanna's vocals as "seductive" and reminiscent of a "stronger, sexier version" of her 2007 single, "Don't Stop the Music". [32]
"California King Bed" is a rock power ballad; Ryan Dombell of Pitchfork compared it to the Aerosmith song, "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing". [41] The Shama "SAK PASE" Joseph produced "Man Down" is a reggae song with an electro rhythm, in which Rihanna sings in a West Indian accent. [42] [43] "Raining Men" is a hip-hop song, which features rap vocals from rapper Nicki Minaj. Rihanna described the song as a fun song that differs from the original, referring to the 1979 single by the Weather Girls with similar title "It's Raining Men". [44] "Complicated" was produced by Tricky Stewart and Ester Dean. Leah Greenblatt from Entertainment Weekly said "Even while telling a recalcitrant man how hard he is to love, she [Rihanna] sounds almost buoyant, her newly expanded vocals eager to scale the song's high-altitude house beat". [5] The final track is the sequel to Rihanna's duet with Eminem, "Love the Way You Lie". "Love the Way You Lie (Part II)", which was produced by Alex da Kid, features Rihanna as the protagonist and lead vocalist, viewing aspects of a relationship from a female perspective, unlike the original, which featured Eminem as lead vocalist and was from a male perspective. [45]
"Only Girl (In the World)" was released as the album's lead single on September 10, 2010. [46] The song was sent to US mainstream and rhythmic radio on September 21, 2010. [47] [48] It received positive reviews from music critics, who praised its chorus and thunderous dance beats. [49] The song reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, in the UK, Canada, Australia, Austria, Belgium (Wallonia), Ireland, Israel, Italy, New Zealand, Norway and Slovakia, becoming one of her best charting songs to date. [50] At the 53rd Grammy Awards, held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 13, 2011, "Only Girl (In the World)" won the award for Best Dance Recording. [51]
"What's My Name?", which features guest vocals by Canadian recording artist Drake, was released as the album's second single; it was sent to US rhythmic radios on October 25, 2010. [52] Music critics praised the song as some of Rihanna's best vocal work to date, noting the romantic nature of the song and its sexual tones. The song peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, giving Rihanna her eighth number-one on the chart, [53] [54] while "Only Girl (In the World)" became her ninth number-one song two weeks after "What's My Name?". [55] It reached number one in the United Kingdom and became Rihanna's fifth UK number one single and Drake's first. [56]
"Raining Men", was sent to urban radio on December 7, 2010, as an urban radio single and third track from Loud as a single in the US. The song featured rapper Nicki Minaj. [44] It peaked at number 48 on the US Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. [57] "Raining Men" received mixed reviews from critics who praised the chemistry between Rihanna and Minaj but criticized the song for failing to create anything new or original. [36]
"S&M", the album's fourth US single and third international single, was solicited to US mainstream radio on January 23, 2011. [58] Reception of "S&M" was mixed; some reviewers criticized the overt use of sexual lyrics while others noted it as a stand-out track from Loud. [59] A remix of the song which features guest vocals by Britney Spears, was digitally released on April 11, 2011. [60] "S&M" reached the top ten in twenty-four countries and peaked at number one in Australia, Canada and the United States. [61]
"Man Down" was released as the fifth international single in some European countries in July 2011. [62] [63] It received positive reviews from critics, who called it a return to Rihanna's Caribbean-tinged rhythm. "Man Down" reached a peak of 59 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In France, it peaked at number one for five consecutive weeks. [64]
"California King Bed" was released as the fourth international single on May 13, 2011, [65] and as the sixth US single. It was sent to US Hot/Modern adult contemporary radio on May 16, 2011. [66] The song peaked at number four in Australia and New Zealand [67] and number eight on the UK Singles Chart. [68]
"Cheers (Drink to That)" was announced by Rihanna as the seventh single from the album on July 24, 2011. [69] The single was released to US mainstream and rhythmic radio on August 2, 2011. [70] The song peaked at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100, [71] and number twelve on the US Pop Songs chart. [71]
Loud was released on November 12, 2010, in four separate editions: a standard edition; a deluxe edition, packaged in a digipak exclusively for the US and Australia, that features a 30-minute documentary Making of Loud DVD (Directed by Brian and Brad Palmer); a Couture Edition containing the deluxe edition of Loud with a deluxe cover art lithograph, a box set with enhanced clear couture cover and a full-size photo book. [72] An Ultra Couture Edition was also produced, containing a copy of the Deluxe Edition of Loud signed by Rihanna, the MP3 download of Loud on street date and all the features of the Couture Edition. The Ultra Couture Edition sold out and is no longer available neither on Amazon or her online store. [73] An explicit version of Loud was also released and features a Parental Advisory label due to some of the lyrical content. [74] The Japanese edition of the album was released with two additional remixes of "Only Girl (In the World)". [75] The piano version of "Love the Way You Lie (Part II)" was only available with the iTunes edition of the album. However, the version which features Eminem was available for purchase. [76]
Rihanna embarked on a promotional tour across Europe and North America to promote the album's release. The singer performed "Only Girl (In the World)", the lead single, live for the first time in North America on Saturday Night Live on October 30, 2010, and debuted the second single, "What's My Name?", later on in the show. [77] The following day in the United Kingdom, Rihanna sang "Only Girl (In the World)" on series seven of The X Factor . [78] Rihanna performed "Only Girl (In the World)" at the 2010 MTV Europe Music Awards in Madrid, Spain, on November 7, 2010, [79] on the X Factor in Italy on November 9, 2010, [80] and on Le Grand Journal in France on November 10, 2010. [81] On November 11, 2010, Rihanna appeared on a pre-recorded edition of The Graham Norton Show in the United Kingdom, where she gave an interview and sang "Only Girl (In the World)". [82] On November 15, before the album's US release, Rihanna reprised her performance of "What's My Name?" for MTV's The Seven, live from Times Square, New York City. [83] The next day, Rihanna performed "What's My Name?" on the Late Show with David Letterman . [84] On November 17, 2010, Rihanna was interviewed and performed "Only Girl (In the World)" and "What's My Name?" on Good Morning America . [85] Rihanna performed a medley of "Love the Way You Lie (Part II)", "What's My Name?" and "Only Girl (In the World)" at the American Music Awards of 2010 on November 21, 2010, where she won the award for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist. [86]
On December 11, 2010, Rihanna returned to series seven of the UK's The X Factor, to perform "Unfaithful" with finalist Matt Cardle, as well as a solo of "What's My Name?". [87] The finale was watched by fifteen million viewers. Rihanna performed the song with Drake for the first time at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards on February 13, 2011. [88] Rihanna also appeared at the Brit Awards 2011 on February 15, 2011, where she performed "S&M" for the first time, as a medley with "Only Girl (In the World)" and "What's My Name?". [89] Rihanna was requested to "tone down" her performance of "S&M" by the show's producers, [90] and she performed only one verse and chorus in-between "Only Girl (In The World)" and "What's My Name?". Rihanna was a special guest at the NBA All-Star Game on February 20, 2011, where she performed a medley of "Umbrella", "Only Girl (In the World)", "Rude Boy", "What's My Name?" (with Drake) and "All of the Lights" (with Kanye West). [91]
Rihanna performed "California King Bed" in the style of a country music song for the first time with Sugarland front woman Jennifer Nettles, during the ACM Awards held by the Academy of Country Music on April 3, 2011. [92] She was a guest on the tenth season of the US series American Idol on April 14, 2011, where she performed "California King Bed". [93] Rihanna promoted "California King Bed" with performances in Milan, Paris and Hamburg, because she was appointed ambassador for Nivea skincare. [94] Rihanna opened the Billboard Music Awards on May 22, 2011, performing the remix of "S&M" with Britney Spears at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. [95] The performance attracted complaints about the overt sexual nature of the broadcast on a publicly owned television channel. [96] Rihanna performed on NBC's Today show on May 27, 2011, as part of a Summer Concert Series. She performed "S&M", "Only Girl (In the World)", "What's My Name?" and "California King Bed". [97]
To further promote Loud, Rihanna embarked on her fourth concert tour, the Loud Tour, in June 2011, having announced it on February 9, 2011. [98] The tour comprised 101 show dates, 32 in North America, 1 in Central America, 4 in South America and 64 in Europe. [99] [100] Tickets sold well in the United Kingdom and some additional shows were added. She performed ten shows at London's O2 Arena. [101] Rihanna was interviewed by Ryan Seacrest on American Idol, and talked about the design of the stage, stating: "We've just designed the stage and we have a section that we are building ... where the fans can actually be in the show and in the stage and be closer than they've ever been. It's real VIP." [102] The North American leg of the tour began on June 4, 2011, in Baltimore, United States. [103] Originally, J. Cole and CeeLo Green were planned as supporting acts for the North American leg. However, Green left the tour, citing schedule conflicts. [104] Rappers Drake, Kanye West and Jay-Z made guest appearances on some dates to perform their collaborations "What's My Name?", "Run This Town", "All of the Lights" and "Umbrella", respectively. [105] The tour was received positively by critics, with some calling it "Rihanna's best tour yet". Jane Stevenson of the Toronto Sun commented that "the two-hour, larger-than-life show lived up to the billing." [106] Jon Brean of the Minneapolis "Star Tribune" remarked, "The Barbadian singer is more visually and vocally dynamic than she has ever been before." [107]
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 6.2/10 [108] |
Metacritic | 67/100 [109] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [36] |
The A.V. Club | B− [110] |
Entertainment Weekly | A− [5] |
The Independent | [111] |
Los Angeles Times | [112] |
NME | 7/10 [113] |
Pitchfork | 7.6/10 [114] |
Rolling Stone | [115] |
Slant Magazine | [26] |
Spin | 8/10 [116] |
Loud received positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 given to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 67, based on 22 reviews. [117] Jon Pareles of The New York Times perceived a "hermetic, cool calculation" on the album, writing that it "works the pop gizmos as neatly as any album this year, maintaining the Rihanna brand". [43] Entertainment Weekly's Leah Greenblatt commented that Loud shows Rihanna "undefeated by her worst circumstances — and finding redemption in exactly the kind of pop nirvana that made her famous in the first place". [118] James Reed of The Boston Globe called the album "an unabashed return to where Rihanna belongs: the dance floor" and stated: "As if liberating herself from the depths, she's a force on these 11 songs". [119] Stacey Anderson of Spin commended Rihanna's "full, healthy claim to her sexuality" and wrote that the album "offers a confident female ethos on par with the best of Shakira or Beyoncé". [116]
Genevieve Koski of The A.V. Club commended Rihanna for elevating the album's generic sound, writing that she "does sound invigorated, delivering charismatic vocal performances of material that doesn’t always warrant them". [110] Emily Mackay of NME felt that its "experiments feel more organic, its tone better paced" than Rated R. [113] Thomas Conner of the Chicago Sun-Times wrote that "the celebratory atmosphere of Rihanna's sassy new jams are seasoned with some of the darker flavors from 'Rated R'". [27] Pitchfork's Ryan Dombal complimented the album's "effervescent pop" and stated: "Her laissez-faire attitude toward hit-making on Loud can result in too-safe moves or semi-experiments that come off surprisingly great". [114] Ed Power of Hot Press complimented its "unabashedly subtext-free" songs and found its hooks "way beyond addictive." [120]
In a mixed review, Andy Kellman of AllMusic found the album's material "slapdash" and "uneven", and called it "more an unfocused assortment of poor-to-solid songs than a unified set". [36] Andy Gill of The Independent felt that "the more interesting tracks are those with less salacious demands on her vulnerability". [111] Slant Magazine 's Sal Cinquemani commended that "the subtle West Indian flavor with which Rihanna and company have smartly imbued" most of the album, although he noted some flaws in its production and wrote that "Rihanna has always had trouble fitting into one genre ... and for better or worse, Rihanna continues to stylistically branch out on Loud". [26] Hugh Montgomery of The Observer commented that "sonically, it's fairly unremarkable ... but its strident buoyancy is difficult to resist". [121]
"Only Girl (in the World)" won the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards and the album was nominated for three awards at the 54th Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "What's My Name?". [122]
Loud debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200 chart, with first-week sales of 207,000 copies in the United States, giving Rihanna her highest first-week sales in the US at that time. [123] It also debuted at number one on Billboard 's R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. [124] In its second week, the album dropped to number six on the Billboard 200 and sold 141,000 copies. [125] By its thirteenth week, the album returned to its peak at number three and sold 62,000 copies. [126] However, in its fourteenth week, the album dipped to number ten on the Billboard 200 with 45,000 copies sold. [127] In its fifteenth week, Loud rose to number eight, selling an additional 33,000 copies in the US. [128] By July 3, 2011, Loud was the eleventh-best selling album of 2011 in the United States, selling 598,000 copies between January 1, 2011, and July 3, 2011. [129] Loud ranked as Billboard magazine's ninth-most successful album of 2011 on their year-end charts. [130] As of May 2024, Loud was certified quintuple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), [131] denoting shipments of five million album-equivalent units in the United States, including pure album sales of 1.8 million copies in the US as of June 2015. [132]
Loud was also a commercial success outside of the United States. [133] In Canada, it debuted at number one on the Canadian Albums Chart, [134] selling 27,000 copies in its first week. [135] Loud sold more than 80,000 units in Canada, achieving platinum status by the first week of December 2010. [136] By September 8, 2011, Loud had sold more than 240,000 copies in Canada. [137] In France, the album debuted at number three with first-week sales of 17,304 copies. [138] By its sixth week on the French charts, Loud achieved platinum status, reaching the 100,000 copies mark. [139] In France, the album has sold 355,000 copies as of April 2013. [140] In its second week on the Australian Albums Chart, Loud was certified platinum for shipments of over 70,000 copies. [141] In Italy, the album reached number eleven. [142] It became Rihanna's highest-charting album there until her sixth studio album Talk That Talk (2011) surpassed the record, peaking at number ten. Unapologetic (2012) did even better, peaking at number seven. Loud was her third consecutive number-one album in Switzerland. [143] Loud debuted at number two on the German Albums Chart. [144]
The album debuted at number two in the United Kingdom, with first week sales of 91,000 units. [145] In its fifth week, the album sold 306,107 copies in the United Kingdom, giving the singer her first platinum-selling week in her career. [146] In its seventh week on the chart, Loud reached number one, giving Rihanna her second UK number-one album. After seven weeks of sales, the album became the fourth best-selling album of 2010 in the UK. [147] Loud was certified seven-times platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), marking shipments of 2.1 million copies to retailers. [148] It was the biggest selling R&B and hip hop album of 2011 in the UK. [149] As of August 2012, Loud is the fifth biggest selling digital album of all time. [150] As of March 2015, Loud is the 45th best-selling album of the millennium in the United Kingdom. [151] As of November 2011, the album has sold over 8 million copies worldwide. [152]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "S&M" | 4:03 | ||
2. | "What's My Name?" (featuring Drake) |
|
| 4:23 |
3. | "Cheers (Drink to That)" |
| 4:21 | |
4. | "Fading" |
|
| 3:19 |
5. | "Only Girl (In the World)" |
|
| 3:55 |
6. | "California King Bed" |
|
| 4:11 |
7. | "Man Down" |
|
| 4:27 |
8. | "Raining Men" (featuring Nicki Minaj) | 3:44 | ||
9. | "Complicated" |
|
| 4:17 |
10. | "Skin" |
| 5:03 | |
11. | "Love the Way You Lie (Part II)" (featuring Eminem) |
| 4:56 | |
Total length: | 46:39 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "The Making of Loud: Chapter 1" | 0:48 |
2. | "The Making of Loud: Chapter 2 – Raining Men Recording Session" | 1:32 |
3. | "The Making of Loud: Chapter 3 – Man Down Recording Session" | 1:40 |
4. | "The Making of Loud: Chapter 4" | 0:30 |
5. | "The Making of Loud: Chapter 5 – Live in NYC – Madison Square Garden" | 7:00 |
6. | "The Making of Loud: Chapter 6 – Reb'l Fleur Photo Shoot" | 3:30 |
7. | "The Making of Loud: Chapter 7 – Loud Album Art Photo Shoot" | 1:52 |
8. | "The Making of Loud: Chapter 8 – Day One" | 3:39 |
9. | "The Making of Loud: Chapter 9 – Day Two" | 2:48 |
10. | "The Making of Loud: Chapter 10 – Credits" (includes making of "Only Girl (In the World)" video) | 3:05 |
Total length: | 26:24 |
Notes
Loud (Ultra Couture edition) [CD+DVD] [154]
| Loud (Couture edition) [CD+DVD] [155]
|
Credits for Loud adapted from AllMusic and album's liner notes. [156]
|
|
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
All-time charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [228] | 3× Platinum | 210,000^ |
Austria (IFPI Austria) [229] | Gold | 10,000* |
Belgium (BEA) [230] | Platinum | 30,000* |
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [231] | Platinum | 40,000* |
Canada (Music Canada) [232] | 3× Platinum | 240,000^ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [233] | 3× Platinum | 60,000‡ |
France | — | 355,000 [234] |
GCC (IFPI Middle East) [235] | Gold | 3,000* |
Germany (BVMI) [236] | 2× Platinum | 400,000‡ |
Hungary (MAHASZ) [237] | Gold | 3,000^ |
Ireland (IRMA) [238] | 5× Platinum | 75,000^ |
Italy (FIMI) [239] | Platinum | 60,000* |
Japan (RIAJ) [240] | Gold | 100,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ) [241] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
Poland (ZPAV) [242] | 3× Platinum | 60,000* |
Portugal (AFP) [243] | Gold | 10,000^ |
Russia (NFPF) [244] | Gold | 5,000* |
Singapore (RIAS) [245] | Platinum | 10,000* |
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [246] | Gold | 30,000^ |
Sweden (GLF) [247] | 2× Platinum | 80,000‡ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [248] | 2× Platinum | 60,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [148] | 7× Platinum | 2,100,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [131] | 5× Platinum | 5,000,000‡ |
Summaries | ||
Europe (IFPI) [249] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000* |
Worldwide | — | 8,000,000 [152] |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format | Edition | Label |
---|---|---|---|---|
Australia [250] | November 12, 2010 | CD, CD+DVD | Standard, deluxe | Universal Music |
Germany [251] | ||||
Ireland [252] | Digital download | Standard | ||
Netherlands [253] | CD | |||
France [254] | November 15, 2010 | CD, CD+DVD | Standard, deluxe | |
New Zealand [255] | ||||
Portugal [256] | ||||
Philippines [257] | MCA Music Phils. | |||
United Kingdom [258] | CD | Standard | Mercury Records | |
Mexico [259] | November 16, 2010 | Universal Music | ||
United States [260] | CD, CD+DVD, digital download | Standard, deluxe | Def Jam Recordings | |
United States [261] | CD+DVD | Deluxe (Couture edition) | ||
Poland [262] | November 19, 2010 | CD | Standard | Universal Music |
Brazil [263] | November 30, 2010 | |||
Indonesia [264] | December 2, 2010 | |||
Japan [265] | January 19, 2011 |
Music of the Sun is the debut studio album by Barbadian singer Rihanna. It was released on August 29, 2005, by Def Jam Recordings. Prior to signing with Def Jam, Rihanna was discovered by record producer Evan Rogers in Barbados, who helped Rihanna record demo tapes to send out to several record labels. Jay-Z, the former chief executive officer (CEO) and president of Def Jam, was given Rihanna's demo by Jay Brown, his A&R at Def Jam, and invited her to audition for the label after hearing the song that would become her first single, "Pon de Replay". She auditioned for Jay-Z and L.A. Reid, the former CEO and president of record label group The Island Def Jam Music Group, and was signed on the spot to prevent her from signing with another record label.
Barbadian singer Rihanna has released eight studio albums, two remix albums, one reissue, seven box sets and three extended plays. Since the beginning of her career in 2005, Rihanna has sold 60 million album units and 215 million digital tracks worldwide, making her one of the best-selling artists of all time. All of her albums have been certified platinum and multi-platinum in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and have totalled sales of over 10 million copies in the country.
A Girl Like Me is the second studio album by Barbadian singer Rihanna. It was released on April 10, 2006, by Def Jam Recordings. For the production of the album, Rihanna worked with Evan Rogers, Carl Sturken, Stargate, J. R. Rotem, and label-mate Ne-Yo, who wrote the album's second single. A Girl Like Me is a pop and reggae album influenced by Rihanna's Caribbean roots. The album also incorporates elements of dancehall and rock, as well as ballads, which music critics were ambivalent towards.
Take Care is the second studio album by Canadian rapper Drake. It was released on November 15, 2011, by Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records and Republic Records. The album features guest appearances from the Weeknd, Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, Birdman, Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, Stevie Wonder, Lil Wayne, and André 3000. Alongside prominent production from the album's executive producers Drake and 40, further contributors include T-Minus, Chantal Kreviazuk, Boi-1da, Illangelo, Jamie xx, Supa Dups, Just Blaze, Chase N. Cashe, and Doc McKinney.
"Unfaithful" is a song by Barbadian singer Rihanna from her second studio album A Girl like Me (2006). It was written by Shaffer "Ne-Yo" Smith with the song's producers Stargate. The song was released by Def Jam Recordings on May 1, 2006, as the second single from the album. "Unfaithful" is a pop, dancehall and R&B ballad and was inspired by the music of American rock band Evanescence. Originally titled "Murderer", the single speaks about a woman who regrets cheating on her partner.
"What's My Name?" is a song recorded by Barbadian singer Rihanna, for her fifth studio album Loud (2010). Featuring guest vocals from Canadian rapper Drake, the song was released as the second single from Loud on October 25, 2010, through Def Jam Recordings and in Germany on January 21, 2011, as a single through Universal Music Group. The dancehall-infused electro-R&B song was produced by the Norwegian production duo Stargate, and was written by the duo along with Ester Dean, Traci Hale, and Drake. Lyrically, it incorporates themes of romance and sex.
Good Girl Gone Bad is the third studio album by Barbadian singer Rihanna. It was released on May 31, 2007, by Def Jam Recordings and SRP Records. Rihanna worked with various producers on the album, including Tricky Stewart, The-Dream, Neo da Matrix, Timbaland, Carl Sturken, Evan Rogers and Stargate. Inspired by Brandy's fourth studio album Afrodisiac (2004), Good Girl Gone Bad is a pop, dance-pop and R&B record with 1980s music influences. Described as a turning point in Rihanna's career, it represents a departure from the Caribbean sound of her previous releases, Music of the Sun (2005) and A Girl like Me (2006). Apart from the sound, she also endorsed a new image for the release going from an innocent young woman to an edgier, more mature look.
"Take a Bow" is a song recorded by Barbadian singer Rihanna for Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded (2008), the re-release of her third studio album Good Girl Gone Bad (2007). The song was written and produced by Tor Erik Hermansen, Mikkel Eriksen, and Shaffer Smith under their stage names StarGate and Ne-Yo. "Take a Bow" was released as the first single on April 15, 2008 by Def Jam Recordings, from the re-release and the fifth single overall from the two releases. It is an pop and R&B song that contains elements of dance-pop. Critical reception of "Take a Bow" was mixed, with some critics praising the song's lyrics and powerful balladry, while others criticized StarGate's production as unoriginal.
Good Girl Gone Bad Live is the first live long-form video by Barbadian singer Rihanna. It was first released on June 9, 2008 by Def Jam Recordings. The DVD and Blu-ray release features Rihanna's concert at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, United Kingdom held on December 6, 2007, as part of her Good Girl Gone Bad Tour (2007—2009) which supported singer's third studio album Good Girl Gone Bad (2007). Most of the concert's set list originates from Good Girl Gone Bad, however, Rihanna also performed songs from her previous albums Music of the Sun (2005) and A Girl like Me (2006). It also contains a special Documentary Feature that presents Rihanna discussing her experiences during the tour.
"Disturbia" is a song recorded by Barbadian singer Rihanna for Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded (2008), a re-release of her third studio album Good Girl Gone Bad (2007). It was written by Andre Merritt, Chris Brown, Brian Kennedy and Rob. A!, with the production of the song helmed by Kennedy. The song was released as the third single from the reloaded edition of the album, and seventh overall. "Disturbia" was sent to US contemporary hit radio on June 17, 2008, and was released as a CD single in the United Kingdom on July 22, 2008.
I Am... Sasha Fierce is the third solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Beyoncé. It was released on November 12, 2008, by Columbia Records and Music World Entertainment.
Recovery is the seventh studio album by the American rapper Eminem, released on June 18, 2010, by Aftermath Entertainment, Shady Records, and Interscope Records. Unlike his previous albums, it features a majority of outside producers, including Alex da Kid, Just Blaze, Boi-1da, Jim Jonsin and Havoc, alongside in-house producers Emile, DJ Khalil, Mr. Porter, and Dr. Dre. The album also features pop artists such as Pink and Rihanna, as well as rapper Lil Wayne and the rap group Slaughterhouse.
Rated R is the fourth studio album by Barbadian singer Rihanna. It was released on November 20, 2009, by Def Jam Recordings and SRP Records. Recording sessions for the album began in March 2009 and took place at recording studios throughout United States and Europe. Rihanna was the executive producer of the album alongside Antonio "L.A." Reid and The Carter Administration. It features additional production by various record producers, including Chase & Status, Stargate, The-Dream, Ne-Yo, and Brian Kennedy. The record features several vocalists and instrumentalists, including Young Jeezy, will.i.am, Justin Timberlake and Slash, who played the guitars in "Rockstar 101".
"Only Girl (In the World)" is a song by Barbadian singer Rihanna from her fifth album, Loud (2010). Serving as the album's lead single, it was released on September 10, 2010. Crystal Johnson wrote the song in collaboration with producers Stargate and Sandy Vee. Rihanna contacted Stargate before Loud's production and asked them to create lively, uptempo music. "Only Girl (In the World)" was the first song composed for the album, and the singer decided to include it on the track list before she recorded her vocals. Backed by strong bass and synthesizer, it is a dance-pop and Eurodance song that has an electronic composition. Its lyrics describe Rihanna demanding physical attention from her lover.
"S&M" is a song by Barbadian singer Rihanna from her fifth studio album Loud (2010). The song was released on January 23, 2011, as the fourth single from the album. American songwriter Ester Dean wrote "S&M" in collaboration with the producers Stargate and Sandy Vee. Backed by bass beats, a keyboard and guitars, it is an uptempo Hi-NRG and Eurodance track with lyrics about sexual intercourse, sadomasochism, bondage, and fetishes.
"California King Bed" is a song by Barbadian singer Rihanna from her fifth studio album, Loud (2010). The song was written and produced by Andrew Harr and Jermaine Jackson, of the American production duo the Runners, with Priscilla Renea, Alex Delicata and Rihanna. The song was chosen to be a single from the album through Twitter, and it was released as the album's sixth single on May 13, 2011, by Def Jam. "California King Bed" is a rock and R&B power ballad.
Talk That Talk is the sixth studio album by Barbadian singer Rihanna. It was released on November 18, 2011 by Def Jam Recordings and SRP Records. Talk That Talk was recorded during the Loud Tour between February and November 2011. It was originally planned to be a reissue of her previous studio album Loud (2010). As executive producer, Rihanna enlisted a wide range of producers including Alex da Kid, Calvin Harris, Chase & Status, No I.D., and Stargate to achieve her desired sound. Following in the same vein as Loud, Talk That Talk is a dance-oriented pop/R&B crossover album that incorporates elements of hip hop, dubstep, electronic and house music. The album also contains subtle dancehall influences while its lyrical content and themes revolve around a nihilistic, romantic, and lascivious lover.
The albums discography of Roc Nation, an American company and record label, consists of three studio albums, one collaboration album, one compilation album and two mixtapes by Jay-Z, four studio albums and two mixtapes by J. Cole, one studio album by Alexis Jordan, one studio album by Hugo, one studio album by Rita Ora, and one studio album by Rihanna. Upcoming studio albums are also included.
Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded is the reissue of Barbadian singer Rihanna's third studio album Good Girl Gone Bad (2007). It was first released digitally in selected countries on June 2, 2008, by Def Jam Recordings and SRP Records. Launched to mark the first anniversary of the original album, Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded features three newly recorded songs and a DVD showing exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of Rihanna's worldwide tour, the Good Girl Gone Bad Tour (2007–2009). For the new material, she worked with past collaborators Ne-Yo, Stargate, and C. "Tricky" Stewart, as well as Brian Kennedy, Mark Endert, Mike Elizondo, Mark "Spike" Stent and Maroon 5.
Barbadian singer Rihanna has released 53 singles as lead artist, 17 singles as a featured artist, two charity singles, and four promotional singles. One of the best-selling artists of all time, her albums and singles sales as of 2018 stood at 250 million. In the United States, Rihanna has amassed 14 number-one songs and 32 top-ten songs on the Billboard Hot 100. She has tallied 60 weeks at number one and is the artist with the most weeks in the top ten (360). The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) recognized Rihanna as the top-selling female digital singles artist, with 183 million certified units as of May 2024. Furthermore, she has earned seven singles certified Diamond by RIAA, thus becoming the female artist with the most Diamond singles and Diamond certified titles.
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