The song’s edgy R&B backbone suits urban radio listeners, while the retro factor and Rihanna’s star brand completes pop and adult contemporary needs.Īnother key factor in the song’s magnetic success is its vocal performance and context. It offers a timeless sensibility, as a traditionally pop-friendly ballad with contemporary cadences - its soft doo-wop sway and gently supportive backing vocals juxtapose nicely with Rihanna’s stunted, almost trap-like vocal approach and frank lyrical expletives. Analogous to one of Anti’s motifs of mixing the old with the new, “Love on the Brain” is practically a sonic paradox. 2016, with Lady Gaga’s Super Bowl-promoted power ballad “Million Reasons” following in February of 2017.īut if there was a challenger to buck these trends, it would be Rihanna’s “Love on the Brain.” It was the single off Anti that has united all demographics, both among her Rihanna Navy and the general public, across genres and ages. As far as slow-tempo ballads with minimalist production went, the retro stylings of Meghan Trainor and John Legend’s duet “Like I’m Gonna Lose You” made for a rare success story, reaching the Top 10 in Dec.
1 on the Hot 100 and helping Adele practically sweep the Grammys, but it would also be the last solo female performance to reach the Hot 100 summit for nearly two years, until Taylor Swift’s highly anticipated, electro-tinged statement single “Look What You Made Me Do” did this summer. The song was a massive success, debuting at No. Not only that: Adele’s “Hello” seemed to have both opening and immediately shut the door on the big female ballad with its massive surprise release in October 2015. Rihanna Rules Dance Club Songs With 'Love on the Brain,' Her 28th No. 5 peak on March 25 - more than a year after Anti’s release in January 2016. 80 and climbed slowly from there, becoming the Bajan icon’s landmark 30th top 10 hit on March 4, 2017, finally hitting a No.
On the Novemissue date of the Hot 100, “Love on the Brain” reentered at No. The cut was first serviced to rhythmic and hip-hop/R&B radio stations, followed by Top 40 pop and adult contemporary.
Later in June, the song would lead Billboard’s Top TV Songs chart for the month of May, helped by the dramatic closing four-minute sequence of Grey’s Anatomy’s season 12 finale, where “Love on the Brain” faintly played in the background.įollowing all this early promotion, along with the cut being a staple during Rihanna’s Anti World Tour and a highlight of her MTV Video Vanguard Award medleys, “Love on the Brain” finally became an official single on September 27, 2016. 7-peaking “Needed Me” - “Love on the Brain” remained ingrained in some of the public’s mind. Gigamesh gives a disco-esque twist on the dancefloor.Although the tune would fall off the chart the following week - thanks to continued focus on the eventually No. LISTEN || RIHANNA – LOVE ON THE BRAIN (GIGAMESH REMIX) Ry X shares the most soulful approach by breaking it down into poignant moments.
LISTEN || RIHANNA – LOVE ON THE BRAIN (RY X REMIX) LISTEN || RIHANNA – LOVE ON THE BRAIN (DON DIABLO REMIX)ĭon Diablo adds his own glitchy, and pulsating electronic vibe. There’s no denial in how powerful and poignant the original of Rihanna’s “Love on the Brain” is but there have been several official renditions that possess a quality seal of approval by electronic producers Don Diablo, Gigamesh, and RY X. However after one listen Rihanna became inspired to write her own lyrics, and sang with an overwhelming force of femininity mixed with vulnerability belted out over the notes which carried this song on to another level. The soulful instrumentals tied together a simple chord progression of an electric guitar, swirling organ and a 1950’s doo-wop sound fitting for the late Amy Winehouse. One of the standout tracks “Love on the Brain” was originally created by Grammy-nominated producer Fred Ball and unintended for Rihanna at first. On Rihanna‘s eighth studio album, ANTI, there is a sense of beauty found in the strength of becoming a true warrior within the ups and downs, on the rollercoaster ride, inside and on the outskirts of a toxic relationship.