The success of “Love on the Brain” on pop radio today is a rare find, because traditional R&B’s presence on the format is an oddity. With Rihanna’s delivery, there’s an earnest sincerity that’s rarely been felt in a ballad since “Hello,” which in itself recalls the theatrical flair of classic ’90s ballads like Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” or Toni Braxton’s “Un-Break My Heart.” The mystery of the song’s subject - which reasonably could have been about Drake, Anti’s only credited guest and her rumored at-the-time boyfriend - adds to the mystique of the pop star’s storied history with romance, which continues to engross media and fans. In a way, “Love on the Brain” serves as a continuation of the themes of emotional and mental abuse explored on Anti as well as her previous albums, 2012’s Unapologetic and 2009’s Rated R.
Immediately upon Anti’s release, some critics noted that the chorus lines “It beats me black and blue but it fucks me so good/And I can’t get enough” evoked the singer’s past of domestic abuse at the hands of ex Chris Brown, adding additional layers of complexity to the lyric and making it a richer, if sometimes borderline-uncomfortable listen. If there is a singer apt enough to tackle the heart-wrenching emotional depth of the lyrics, that would be Rihanna. 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.
#VIDEO RIHANNA LOVE ON THE BRAIN TV#
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. Although the tune would fall off the chart the following week - thanks to continued focus on the eventually No.