1. "Umbrella" featuring Jay-Z (2007)
Courtesy Def Jam
Rihanna's #1 smash hit "Umbrella" is a defining song of the decade. The song was written with Britney Spears in mind with hopes of being a comeback hit for her. However, her label, Jive, rejected it saying they had enough songs for her upcoming album already. The song eventually made its way to Rihanna and became the first single from her Good Girl Gone Bad album. It was a #1 hit around the world and made many critics' lists as one of the top 10 songs of the year.
2. "Disturbia" (2008)
Courtesy Def Jam
"Disturbia" was the third single from Rihanna's re-release of her album Good Girl Gone Bad. It was written by Chris Brown and his team of writers for him to record. He decided it was more appropriate for a female singer and passed it on to Rihanna. The song is creepy, disturbing, and an impressive dance song. It went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks at the end of summer 2008. Rihanna performed "Disturbia" to open the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards.
3. "S.O.S." (2006)
Courtesy Def Jam
"S.O.S." borrowed key elements from Soft Cell's 1981 top 10 pop hit "Tainted Love" to put together a banging club hit. It was produced by the upcoming J.R. Rotem. "S.O.S." is the first single from Rihanna's album A Girl Like Me. It became her first #1 pop hit in the US and spent three weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100.
4. "Don't Stop the Music" (2007)
Courtesy Island Def Jam
Rihanna tried on retro Euro-disco sounds for this single from Good Girl Gone Bad. It also samples the historic disco predecessor "Soul Makossa" by Manu Dibango. Stargate produced the record, and it very quickly became a #1 dance hit for Rihanna. Later the song climbed pop radio airplay charts and ultimately ended up hitting #3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
5. "Take a Bow" (2008)
Courtesy Def Jam
This song is not to be confused with Madonna's song of the same name. Stargate and Ne-Yo cowrote the hit. Her spoken, "Please!" and then a dismissive giggle are particularly memorable here. The deadpan delivery of news to an ex-lover is devastating. "Take a Bow" became Rihanna's third #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent 15 weeks in the top 10.
6. "Shut Up and Drive" (2007)
© Def Jam
Rihanna turned in a bit of a rock direction here. It is also one of her most aggressively dominant songs in attitude. The record incorporates elements of New Order's classic "Blue Monday." "Shut Up and Drive" was somewhat of a disappointment on the Billboard Hot 100 peaking at only #15, but it was another dance chart-topper.
7. "Breakin' Dishes" (2007)
Courtesy Def Jam
"Breakin' Dishes" is probably the Rihanna song most wanted as a single by fans that was never released as a single. It is included on Good Girl Gone Bad and is a potent electronic club-oriented track. It was featured as a promo single for a set of remixes of songs from the album and headed into the top 5 on the dance chart.
8. "Pon de Replay" (2005)
(Courtesy Def Jam)
Rihanna was just 17 when "Pon de Replay" bounded on to the charts in the summer of 2005. The song was part of Rihanna's original four-song demo that helped her earn a recording contract. The request of the DJ to "turn the music up" was an instant hit in dance clubs going clear to the top of the dance charts, and it almost made it there on the pop charts as well. Rihanna's initial hit peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
9. "Russian Roulette" (2009)
Courtesy Island Def Jam
"Russian Roulette" is the first single from Rihanna's fourth album Rated R. It was put together with the assistance of Ne-Yo. The song seems to make references to Rihanna's relationship with Chris Brown that ended amid domestic assault charges. A video accompanying the song is due to debut November 6, 2009.
10. "Hate That I Love You" with Ne-Yo (2007)
Courtesy Def Jam
