She has attained fourteen Billboard Hot 100 number ones thus far and is the second Barbadian artist to win a Grammy Award. She is also a cultural ambassador for Barbados. In 2021 Rihanna was named a "National Hero" in her home country, earning her the title "The Right Excellent."
Rihanna was born in Saint Michael, Barbados to Ronald Fenty, a warehouse supervisor, and Monica Fenty, an accountant. Her mother, a native of Guyana, is Afro-Guyanese and her father is Bajan and Irish. She is the oldest of three siblings; two younger brothers, Rorrey and Rajad Fenty. She began singing at around the age of seven. Her childhood was deeply affected by her father's addiction to crack cocaine and parent's rocky marriage, which ended when she was fourteen years old. Rihanna attended Charles F. Broome Memorial School, a primary school in Barbados, and then the Combermere School, where she formed a musical trio with two of her classmates at the age of fifteen. In 2004 she won the Miss Combermere Beauty Pageant. She was an army cadet in a sub-military programme that trained with the military of Barbados and Shontelle was her drill sergeant.
At the age of 15, she formed a girl group with two of her classmates. In 2003, friends introduced Rihanna and her two bandmates to record producer Evan Rogers, who was vacationing in Barbados with his wife. The group auditioned for Rogers, who said that "the minute Rihanna walked into the room, it was like the other two girls didn't exist." While auditioning for Rogers, Rihanna sang Destiny's Child's cover of "Emotion". Over the next year, Rihanna and her mom shuttled back and forth to Rogers home in Stamford, Connecticut. Then, shortly after turning 16, she relocated in the United States and moved in with Rogers and his wife. Carl Sturken helped Rihanna record a four-song demo, which included the ballad "The Last Time," a cover of Whitney Houston’s hit "For the Love of You" and what would become her first hit, "Pon de Replay" to send to various recording companies. It took a year to record the demos, because she was going to school and would only record during summer and Christmas school breaks. Rihanna's demo made its way to Def Jam, which invited her to audition for the label's then-president, Jay-Z, who quickly signed her.
Rihanna broke into the recording industry in 2005 with the release of her debut album Music of the Sun, which features the number 2 hit single "Pon de Replay". Less than a year later, Rihanna released album artist=Rihanna]A Girl Like Me and earned her first number-one single, "SOS, which sampled the popular 80s track "Tainted Love". "Unfaithful" was also released and was fairly successful.
Rihanna released her third album Good Girl Gone Bad in June 2007. Prior to the release of the album, she spent the week of the Grammys writing songs for the album with Ne-Yo. She adopted a more sexual image while recording the album, eventually dying her hair black and cutting it short. Rihanna worked with Timbaland and Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, as well as previous musical collaborators such as Stargate, Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers to re-imagine her album compositions with uptempo dance tracks. Rihanna commented, "I want to keep people dancing but still be soulful at the same time. You feel different every album, and [at] this stage I feel like I want to do a lot of uptempo [songs]."
The album topped the charts in countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Brazil, Russia and Ireland, and peaked at number two in the United States and Australia. Unlike previous work, the album featured a more dance-pop sound instead of the dancehall, reggae and ballad styles. The album received positive reviews by critics, becoming her most critically acclaimed album at that time compared to her previous efforts.
It yielded eight hit singles - "Umbrella" "Shut Up and Drive", "Don't Stop The Music" "Hate That I Love You" "Rehab" "Disturbia" "Take A Bow" "If I Never See Your Face Again" - all singles reaching the top twenty on the Billboard Hot 100 — including the worldwide number-one hit "Umbrella," featuring Jay-Z.
In addition to reaching number one in various countries, "Umbrella" was the number one single in the United Kingdom for ten consecutive weeks, making it the longest-running number-one single since Wet Wet Wet's single "Love Is All Around" spent fifteen weeks at the top in 1994. The song is listed number three on the 100 Best Songs of 2007 published by Rolling Stone magazine. In 2008, "Umbrella" earned Rihanna and Jay-Z a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration in addition to receiving nominations for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. It managed to stay at number one in the United Kingdom for 10 weeks, the longest time spent by a female and in the 21st century, on this chart.
"Umbrella" has also been recognised in various forms of accolades by the music press. The song is listed number three on the 100 Best Songs of 2007, published by the music magazine Rolling Stone. Time magazine also listed the song number three on their Top 10 Songs of 2007. The song is listed number one on Entertainment Weekly magazine's list of the 10 Best Singles of 2007, while topping the magazine's poll for the best single of 2007. Blender magazine awarded the song Song of the Year in their Readers' Poll 2007. The music press has considered "Umbrella" as 2007's Song of the Summer, while The New York Times writer Kelefa Sanneh regarded it as "arguably 2007's signature slow jam".
In August 2009, Rihanna collaborated with Jay-Z and Kanye West on "Run This Town." The song peaked at number two on Billboard Hot 100 and also reached the top ten in five other countries. She appeared on the cover of Vogue Italia for the September 2009 Issue. The shoot was influenced by Rihanna's hair, which she had cut for the shoot into a mohawk-like style. The style of the shoot was Extreme Couture and very dark, and in one shot she appeared semi-nude. Rihanna performed "Run This Town" along with Jay-Z and West for the "Answer the Call" concert at Madison Square Garden in September 2009, making it her first musical performance since the altercation with Brown. The trio also performed "Run This Town," on the premiere of The Jay Leno Show on September 14, 2009.
In November of 2009, Rated R was released in the wake of a physical altercation with romantic interest Chris Brown, who pled guilty to felony assault. The album's lead single, "Russian Roulette" -- written with Ne-Yo - was one of the year's most controversial singles. The album also includes collaborations with Tricky, The-Dream, Stargate, and SRP.
One year later, Rihanna released her fifth studio album called Loud. It's lead single, "Only Girl (In the World)", reached number one in more than ten countries. The song also won a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording.
Talk That Talk was released one year after Loud. With the song "We Found Love", Rihanna became the fastest solo artist in the chart's history to achieve twenty Hot 100 top-ten singles, breaking the previous record set by Madonna. The song later became her eleventh number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100. "You Da One" became the second single from the album but was not as successful as "We Found Love". The third single from the album, "Talk That Talk" featuring Jay-Z, was announced on Rihanna's Twitter. The fourth single, "Where Have You Been", peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100.
On February 20, 2012, Rihanna and Chris Brown released 2 remixes, one featuring the "Talk That Talk" album track "Birthday Cake" and the other featuring Chris Brown's "Turn Up The Music"
In April 2012, the singer appeared in the movie "Battleship", which is based on the game of the same name.
Rihanna's seventh album Unapologetic was released on November 19, 2012; it was preceded by the lead single Diamonds, which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 becoming Rihanna's twelfth number one single on the chart and tying her with Madonna and The Supremes for the fourth-most number ones in the chart's history.
On January 28, 2016, Rihanna released her eighth studio album ANTI exclusively through streaming service Tidal. The album peaked at number one on the US Billboard 200, becoming Rihanna's second number one and eighth top ten album on the chart. The album was supported by the release of four singles including the lead single "Work" featuring Drake, which topped the Billboard Hot 100. Further platinum singles "Needed Me" and "Love on the Brain" both peaked inside the top ten of the Hot 100. In 2016, Rihanna was featured on several singles. The first collaboration was Calvin Harris' "This Is What You Came For," which reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two in the United Kingdom. Rihanna was also featured on Drake's "Too Good" from his album Views and Mike Will Made It's single, "Nothing Is Promised". On June 27, 2016, Rihanna released "Sledgehammer", the lead single from the Star Trek Beyond soundtrack. On August 28, Rihanna was honored with the MTV Video Vanguard Award at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards. Rihanna was elected artist of the decade of 2010 by Pitchfork, Insider, Lofficiel among other major music magazines.
In October 2022, Rihanna released "Lift Me Up" from the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, marking her first solo single since 2016's "Love On The Brain". It reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #3 in the UK. The song was nominated for a Golden Globe and Academy Award, making it Rihanna's first nomination in both awards. On February 12, 2023, she performed at the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show, marking her first performance since the 2018 Grammy Awards. Her Halftime show became the second most watched Halftime show of all time with 118.7 million viewers, just after Lady Gaga’s (117.5 million), but behind Katy Perry’s (121 million).
Take A Bow
Rihanna Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah
Standin' ovation
Ooh
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
You look so dumb right now
Standin' outside my house
You're so ugly when you cry
Please
Just cut it out
Don't tell me you're sorry 'cause you're not
Baby when I know you're only sorry you got caught
But you put on quite a show
Really had me goin'
But now it's time to go
Curtain's finally closin'
That was quite a show
Very entertaining
But it's over now
(But it's over now)
Go on and take a bow, oh
Grab your clothes and get gone (get gone)
You better hurry up
Before the sprinklers come on (come on)
Talkin' 'bout, "Girl, I love you, you're the one"
This just looks like a re-run
Please
What else is on? Oh, oh
And don't tell me you're sorry 'cause you're not
Baby when I know you're only sorry you got caught
But you put on quite a show
You really had me goin'
But now it's time to go
Curtain's finally closin'
That was quite a show
Very entertaining
But it's over now
(But it's over now)
Go on and take a bow
Oh, and the award for the best lie
Goes to you (goes to you)
For makin' me believe
That you could be
Faithful to me
Let's hear your speech, oh
How 'bout a round of applause?
A standin' ovation
But you put on quite a show
You really had me goin'
Now it's time to go
Curtain's finally closin'
That was quite a show
Very entertaining
But it's over now
(But it's over now)
Go on and take a bow
But it's over now
The song Take A Bow by Rihanna is a powerful break-up anthem about realizing someone’s true intentions and calling them out on their lies. The opening lines, “Oh, how 'bout a round of applause? Standin' ovation” sarcastically applaud the ex for their performance, but also show that Rihanna has moved on and is no longer affected by their actions. She describes the ex as “so ugly when you cry” and tells them to stop apologizing. The chorus is a clear message to the ex, stating that she knows they are only sorry they got caught cheating, and now it’s time to go.
The second verse of the song demonstrates the ex’s desperation to keep Rihanna, with lines like “Grab your clothes and get gone (get gone)/ You better hurry up/ Before the sprinklers come on (come on).” She pokes at his repeated efforts to apologize and states that she would rather watch something else on TV than listen to him.
Rihanna ends the song with the line “But it’s over now,” which is a powerful reminder of her newfound freedom and confidence. Take A Bow is an empowerment anthem about standing up for oneself and recognizing the true intentions of those who claim to care about us.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, how 'bout a round of applause?
Sarcastic remark on how glad the singer is now that the relationship is over.
Yeah
Standin' ovation
Ooh
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
The singer is celebrating the end of the relationship and the departure of the ex-partner.
You look so dumb right now
Standin' outside my house
The singer is mocking the ex-partner for coming to apologize after the relationship has ended.
Tryin' to apologize
You're so ugly when you cry
Please
Just cut it out
The ex-partner's crying and apology are not genuine, and the artist wants them to stop pretending.
Don't tell me you're sorry 'cause you're not
Baby when I know you're only sorry you got caught
The artist doesn't believe the ex-partner's apology because they only feel bad about getting caught, not for their actions.
But you put on quite a show
Really had me goin'
But now it's time to go
Curtain's finally closin'
The singer was fooled by the ex-partner's lies and deception but now knows the relationship is over.
That was quite a show
Very entertaining
But it's over now
(But it's over now)
Go on and take a bow, oh
The singer acknowledges that the ex-partner was good at putting on a show, but it's time for them to leave and take responsibility for their actions.
Grab your clothes and get gone (get gone)
You better hurry up
Before the sprinklers come on (come on)
The artist wants the ex-partner to leave quickly before the sprinklers turn on and get their clothes wet.
Talkin' 'bout, "Girl, I love you, you're the one"
This just looks like a re-run
Please
What else is on? Oh, oh
The ex-partner's attempts to win the artist back are repetitive and unconvincing.
And don't tell me you're sorry 'cause you're not
Baby when I know you're only sorry you got caught
Reiteration of the fact that the ex-partner's apology is insincere.
But you put on quite a show
You really had me goin'
But now it's time to go
Curtain's finally closin'
Further emphasis on the fact that the ex-partner fooled the singer but it is now time for them to leave for good.
That was quite a show
Very entertaining
But it's over now
(But it's over now)
Go on and take a bow
Final message to the ex-partner to take responsibility for their actions and leave with grace.
Oh, and the award for the best liar
Goes to you (goes to you)
For makin' me believe
That you could be
Faithful to me
Let's hear your speech, ohh
Sarcastic way of saying that the ex-partner deserves an award for their lying and deceiving behavior.
How 'bout a round of applause?
A standin' ovation
More sarcasm towards the ex-partner - this time joking that they deserve a round of applause and standing ovation for their performance.
But you put on quite a show
You really had me goin'
Now it's time to go
Curtain's finally closin'
Final reiteration of the ex-partner's talent for deception and the fact that the relationship is over.
That was quite a show
Very entertaining
But it's over now
(But it's over now)
Go on and take a bow
But it's over now
Final message to the ex-partner that it is time to acknowledge their mistakes and leave, now that the relationship is over for good.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Mikkel Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Shaffer Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Ohh, how about a round of applause,
Yeah, standin′ ovation,
Ooh ohh yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah.
[Verse 1]
You look so dumb right now,
Standin′ outside my house,
Tryin′ to apologize,
You’re so ugly when you cry,
Please, just cut it out.
[Chorus]
Don’t tell me you’re sorry ′cause you’re not,
Baby when I know you’re only sorry you got caught,
But you put on quite a show (oh),
You really had me goin′,
But now it’s time to go (oh),
Curtain’s finally closin′,
That was quite a show (oh),
Very entertainin′,
But it’s over now (but it′s over now),
Go on and take a bow, ohh ohh.
[Verse 2]
Grab your clothes and get gone (get gone),
You better hurry up before the sprinklers come on (come on),
Talkin’ ′bout girl, I love you, you’re the one,
This just looks like the re-run,
Please, what else is on.
[Chorus]
And don’t tell me you’re sorry ′cause you’re not (mmm),
Baby when I know you’re only sorry you got caught (mmm),
But you put on quite a show (oh),
You really had me goin′,
But now it’s time to go (oh),
Curtain’s finally closin′,
That was quite a show (oh),
Very entertainin′,
But it’s over now (but it′s over now),
Go on and take a bow, ohh.
[Bridge]
And the award for the best liar goes to you (goes to you),
For makin′ me believe that you could be faithful to me,
Let′s hear your speech out,
How about a round of applause,
A standin′ ovation.
[Chorus]
But you put on quite a show (oh),
You really had me goin′,
But now it’s time to go (oh),
Curtain’s finally closin′,
That was quite a show (oh),
Very entertainin′,
But it’s over now (but it′s over now),
Go on and take a bow.
But it′s over now.
Trevor Fenlon
I can finally play this on the piano.
Mildred Miller-King
Wow good for you
Anna Herrera
Hell yeah!
TAJS
@Marijoe Mchomvu if you know how to read sheet music you can get this from Sheet music direct for £3, definitely worth it. That's how I'm learning this song
TAJS
Good lookin bro, I'm nearly there myself
Marijoe Mchomvu
Which chords didi you use? Help me please
David Lowell
very powerful lyrics, and music. I love it so much
MA2I
damn..i love the bass line in this song...
Beatz Prod
in fact in the original sound to a very smooth bass , that 's what led me to look for this instrumental . 🔥🔥
Axireon
@Dinozzo I know there's actual bass, but there's no bass that stands out much over the rest of the instrumental. It blends in well. With no obvious bass line, and the fact that this comment has 32 likes, this must have been intended as a joke.