News

Rihanna’s Breakout Song Umbrella Almost Went To These Artists First

This week marks 17 years since Rihanna released her hit song Umbrella.

Rih’s pop anthem was number one in the UK charts for 10 consecutive weeks – and was the song that really catapulted the rising pop star into the limelight.

It’s fair to say that the song was inescapable that year and was the soundtrack to summer 2007.

However, this breakout hit wasn’t originally intended for Rihanna.

The artists that were offered the song Umbrella first

Speaking to NME back in 2008, Tricky Stewart, the producer of the track revealed that it had been offered to artists before being offered to Rihanna.

Tricky recalled: “In a two-day period, we were in the bidding war of our lives.”

Originally, the song was actually intended for Britney Spears. However, the singer already had a full tracklist for her upcoming album Blackoutat the time and, according to NME, her people were struggling to even get those recorded.

The track was then sent to Family Affairsinger Mary J. Blige and LA Reid, CEO of Island Def Jam, Rihanna’s label at the time.

However, Mary was busy with prior commitments, later telling Andy Cohen on his podcast: “It was during Grammy time for me, it was a big Grammy time. I was nominated for eight Grammys and I was trying to get myself together for that

“And during that time, that’s when Umbrella came to me and I couldn’t do anything with it because I was so busy with my own life and I was like, you know what? It doesn’t even sound like me anyway.”

So, in the end, the song was given to Rihanna.

Umbrella was a turning point for Rihanna

The then-19-year-old told Billboard in June 2007: “My new look is purposely adult. I did what felt natural.”

It was also, she added, part of her Good Girl Gone Bad mission statement.

“I wanted to show growth as a person and artist. But for me, ‘bad girl’ does not mean ‘wild girl.’ It’s more about taking chances, trying new things — visually and musically.”

Well, given that the song stayed in the UK Top 100 for 71 weeks, it seems like the stars were aligned for Rihanna in 2007 and the hit was just the start of what was ahead for the global icon.

Related Posts

Controversial footballer axed from tournament over ‘high testosterone’ wins BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year

A footballer who missed a major tournament amid a gender eligibility row over high testosterone levels has been named as BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year. Zambia and Orlando Pride striker Barbra Banda received the most votes from BBC Sport website readers after being included on a five-player shortlist. Banda’s place in the running for the annual prize was criticised by women’s rights groups because she was previously left out of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in 2022 by team bosses over allegedly high testosterone levels.

Can Keir Starmer REALLY get sicknote Britain back to work? Economic inactivity due to ill health has soared 7-FOLD in parts of country since pre-Covid… so how bad is the crisis in YOUR area?

Worklessness due to long-term sickness has risen seven-fold in parts of the country since Covid, according to startling figures laying bare the crisis Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to tackle. The Government estimates that around 2.8million people are currently off work with a continuing illness. This is up by around 700,000 on before the pandemic. Dire forecasts warn this could exceed 4million by 2030, with much of the explosion down to an increase in benefits for mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.

Labour’s big new ‘back to work’ threat to strip youngsters of their benefits if they are unwilling to graft or train already happens, admits minister –  and they can appeal if it’s too harsh

Labour’s big ‘back to work’ threat to strip unwilling teens of their benefits if they don’t try to get a job or train is just a continuation of the current system, a senior minister admitted today. Alison McGovern was grilled over the drive to ‘get Britain working again’ and achieve an ‘ambitious’ target of getting another 2 million people into jobs. As well as targeting the long-term sick, ministers have also vowed that those aged 18 to 21 who are out of work but refuse to look for a job, seek training or an apprenticeship, will get no taxpayer cash.

Israel and Hezbollah on the cusp of a peace deal: Netanyahu ‘gives green light to ceasefire proposal’

A ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah could see the terrorist organisation leave southern Lebanon and the IDF withdraw its troops. The deal, which reportedly has the support of Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, could see the nearly two-month military incursion to come to an end. A source within the government told the Daily Telegraph that the Israeli cabinet will vote on the proposals drawn up by the United States today.

Reason I’m A Celebrity’s Tulisa and Reverend Richard Coles are exempt from height trials is revealed

I’m A Celebrity fans discovered last night that Tulisa and Reverend Richard Coles were exempt from height trials, with the N-Dubz singer accidentally revealing hers was on ‘medical grounds’. Before the voting opened for tonight’s Bushtucker trial, the show’s longtime hosts Ant and Dec announced Tulisa, 36, and Reverend Coles, 62, would be exempt from the trial with no further explanation. Fans were left speculating as to why even when the Geordie duo told the camp Dean McCullough, 32, was going to face a trial yet again.

New bank holiday planned to mark major event anniversary in 2025

Brits are to get a new bank holiday next year to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War – with a bumper four-day weekend planned. The major celebration will be marking the heroics of the ‘Greatest Generation’ who fought against Hitler and the Nazis in Europe and Africa, and Imperial Japan in Asia. And as part of a big year of events, a four-day jamboree will reportedly be staged either in May or August.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *