Let's Fight Over Rihanna's Greatest Number Ones While We Wait For Her New Album
The world is anxiously awaiting the return of our favorite bad gal. With 13 number one songs under her diamond-encrusted belt, Rihanna is currently tied with Michael Jackson as the third act in history with the most number 1 hits. The duo are preceded by Mariah Carey and Elvis Presley with 18 number ones apiece and the Beatles with 20 chart-toppers.
With the rumored and allegedly-titled “R8” on its way (c’mon Ri, you ready to drop dat?), there’s no doubt its first single will rocket to number one. While we wait for the forthcoming masterpiece – let’s rewind and rank—in ascending order of greatness—Ri’s 13 chart-toppers.
13. “S&M” feat. Britney Spears, 1 week at Number 1 (2011)
Na, na, na, c’mon… on the up-tempo naughty girl track, Rihanna confessed to enjoying the odors of sex in the air and how chains and whips excite her. Oh, bad gal Ri-Ri. You naughty, girl. While “S&M” was a mainstay on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, it wasn’t until Brit jumped on the remix that the track boosted its way to number 1. Thanks to Brit, “S&M” became Rihanna's tenth US number 1 single (Britney’s fifth) – tying her at the time with Janet Jackson in fourth place for female soloists who have topped that chart.
12. “SOS” 3 weeks at Number 1 (2006)
“SOS” was baby Ri’s first number 1 single. Here, she wasn’t quite a good girl gone bad...yet. The track was initially intended for Ri’s Def Jam label-mate Christina Milian. But Christina said, “um, nah.” Bad move, Chrissy. When the up-tempo track went to Ri, it became her first mondo mainstream hit – and had girls at every prom worldwide wailing, “SOS, please someone help me. It’s not health-y for me to feel the waaay.”
11. “Take a Bow” 1 week at Number 1 (2008)
Rihanna didn’t want to hear apologies from her cheating boo (who happened to look ugly when he cried) on “Take a Bow.” Instead, a scorned Ri wanted her former flame to take a damn bow and “just get gone.” “Take a Bow” showcased the serious and vulnerable sides of our favorite clubgoer. The nation liked boss lady Ri and the track topped the charts for 1 week.
10. “The Monster” Eminem feat. Rihanna, 4 weeks at Number 1 (2013 and 2014)
Rihanna became friends with the monster that was living under her bed on monstrous track “The Monster” – which brought Em and Ri together for the fourth time (insert praise hands emoji); following their team-ups on “Love the Way You Lie,” “Love the Way You Lie (Part II)” and “Numb.” The oddly infectious track topped the charts for 4 weeks.
9. “Love The Way You Lie” Eminem feat. Rihanna, 7 weeks at Number 1 (2010)
Em and our girl Rihanna partnered for the first glorious time on “Love The Way You Lie” – and aside from being an absolute masterpiece, the track was also spun approximately 8 billion times on the radio during the summer of 2010. The track received 5 Grammy nominations, topped 26 charts and remains Eminem's best-selling single—and is widely regarded as his best single, like, ever. We don’t disagree.
8. “Only Girl (In The World)” 1 week at Number 1 (2010)
“Only Girl (in the World)” was released as the lead single from Rihanna's fifth studio album, Loud—and has had us shaking our butts ever since. Oddly, “Only Girl” peaked at number 1 after Loud’s second single (“What’s My Name?”) reached the top spot. Our girl Ri has a knack for making history and stuff—because the aforementioned occurrence marked the first time ever that an album’s lead single reached number 1 after the second single.
7. “Live Your Life” T.I. feat Rihanna, 6 weeks at Number 1 (2008)
Alongside Iggy Azalea’s godfather, T.I., Rihanna guested on one of the dopest rap tracks, like, ever. “Live Your Life” debuted at number 80 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and the following week the track boomed to number 1 (where it stayed for 6 nonconsecutive weeks) and set a record for the highest jump to number 1 in history—that is, until the accolade was dethroned by Britney Spears’ “Womanizer” just one week later.
6. “What’s My Name?” featuring Drake, 1 week at Number 1 (2010)
Good weed, white wine. That’s when Drake comes alive in the nighttime, you guys. Well, at least that’s what he told Ri on “What’s My Name?” The tracked paired one of the most befuddling couples (?) of all time, where the two shared cutesy back-and-forth banter over a slick electro-reggae beat. Ohh—the things they could do in 20 minutes, girl.
5. “Disturbia” 2 weeks at Number 1 (2008)
Prior to “Disturbia,” Rihanna had teased us with her flirtatious vocal licks and bad gal attitude, but this was the monumental moment where Rihanna proved that she really was a good girl gone bad, guys. And, oh, how we loved every twisted second of it.
4. “Rude Boy” 5 weeks at Number 1 (2010)
There’s not one club in world that doesn’t erupt when the DJ drops “Rude Boy.” Fact.
3. “Diamonds” 3 weeks at Number 1 (2012)
“Diamonds” had us feeling beautiful like a diamonds in the sky for the first time in our lives. Feeling that beautiful was the greatest, right? “Diamonds” topped the music charts in over 20 countries, and became Ri’s twelfth number 1 single stateside—and tied her with Madonna and The Supremes for the fifth-most number 1 singles in the chart's history. Get it, Ri. You beautiful diamond, you.
2. “We Found Love” featuring Calvin Harris, 10 weeks at Number 1 (2011 and 2012)
The synth-heavy beat of “We Found Love” was unparalleled to the any of the previous masterpieces that Rihanna had blessed the universe with. Oh, and Rihanna sang about diamonds some more. Part club go-dumb, part thought-provoker – “We Found Love” charted the longest run at number 1 in 2011.
1. “Umbrella” featuring Jay Z, seven weeks at Number 1 (2007)
We loved our girl Ri from the moment we begged Mr. DJ to turn the music up on “Pon de Replay.” (Possibly her hottest single to not top the Hot 100, btw.) However, “Umbrella” was her stellar—now classic—breakout jam that made it clear that Ri was one of the fiercest forces in pop music. “Umbrella” has made it onto numerous ‘greatest songs of all time’ lists (as it should), claimed the top spot for 7 weeks, and has forced humankind to add ‘ella-ella’ onto the end of the track’s rain-shielding object every time we mention it in casual conversation.
[Photo: Getty Images]