Unfaithful (song)
"Unfaithful" is a song by Barbadian singer Rihanna from her second studio album A Girl like Me (2006). It was written by Shaffer "Ne-Yo" Smith with the song's producers Stargate. The song was released by Def Jam Recordings on May 1, 2006, as the second single from the album. "Unfaithful" is a pop, dancehall and R&B ballad and was inspired by the music of American rock band Evanescence. Originally titled "Murderer", the single speaks about a woman who regrets cheating on her partner.
This article is about the Rihanna song. For the Stornoway song, see Stornoway (band)."Unfaithful"
May 1, 2006
2005–2006
- Avatar, Battery (New York City)
- Loft (Bronxville)
- Digital Insight (Las Vegas)
3:49
- Def Jam
- SRP
"Unfaithful" received mixed to positive reviews from critics; many praised its powerful balladry, but some criticized the lyrics. The song reached the top ten on the singles charts in 19 countries, including the UK Singles Chart, on which it became Rihanna's third top-ten single. "Unfaithful" peaked at number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting shipments of over one million copies.
The song's accompanying music video was directed by Anthony Mandler and premiered in May 2006. It features Rihanna in a love triangle in which she struggles to choose between her romantic interest and her lover, and regrets having cheated on the former. Since its release, "Unfaithful" has become a staple of Rihanna's live performances. In 2006, she performed it on award ceremonies such as the MOBO Awards and the World Music Awards. The song was on the set list of three of her major tours, Good Girl Gone Bad (2007–09), the Last Girl on Earth Tour (2010–11) and the Loud Tour (2011).
Composition[edit]
"Unfaithful" is a pop, dancehall and R&B ballad that runs for three minutes and forty-six seconds.[6][13][14] Originally, it was a dark and moody track inspired by the music of the American rock band Evanescence, with the working title of "Murderer".[15] Hermansen and Eriksen collaborated on the melody of "Unfaithful". In the beginning, the song's structure was built around piano as the only instrument; the percussion and strings was added later. The strings on the track were arranged and conducted by Rob Mounsey.
Elaborating about the song's development in an interview for Sound on Sound Eriksen said, "I find that how natural it sounds is not so much about how realistic the string sound is, but more about your choice of notes and how you play and program the strings."[15] According to the sheet music published by Universal Music Publishing Group at Musicnotes.com, it was composed in the key of C minor using in common time and a slow feeling groove of 72 beats per minute.[16] Rihanna's vocal range spans from the low note of F3 to the high note of C5.[16]
According to Brandee J. Tecson of MTV News, "Unfaithful" is a "bittersweet ballad" that shows a new side to Rihanna.[17] In an interview for the same publication Rihanna said about the lyrics, "I'm referred to as a murderer in that song. Meaning, I'm taking this guy's life by hurting him, cheating on him. He knows, and it makes him feel so bad." She continued, "We always put it out there that guys cheat, and finally someone put it in perspective: girls cheat too."[17] In another interview for Newsday, she said that "Unfaithful" was "birthed out of a relationship she outgrew when she was fourteen".[18] She added that the nature of the relationship was not physical.[18]
Chart performance[edit]
"Unfaithful" debuted at number 51 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart on May 13, 2006. The same week, Rihanna's previous single "SOS" reached number one.[28] "Unfaithful" peaked at number 6 on July 22, 2006, after 10 weeks on the chart,[29] and became Rihanna's third top ten single in the US.[29] On July 29, 2006, "Unfaithful" also topped the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart, becoming her third number one there.[30] The song was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on July 27, 2006, after more than one million downloads were shipped.[31] "Unfaithful" was more successful in Canada where it reached number one on the Canadian Singles Chart.[32] In Australia, the song entered the chart at number two, where it peaked, on July 30, 2006.[33] It was later certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), denoting shipments of 35,000 copies.[34] The same week, "Unfaithful" entered the New Zealand singles chart at number five. The next week, it peaked at number four where it stayed for three consecutive weeks.[35]
In Europe, "Unfaithful" reached the top ten in 14 countries. The song was most successful in Hungary and Switzerland where it reached number one on both nation's singles charts,[36][37] and became Rihanna's first single to reach number one on both charts. "Unfaithful" was certified gold by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) – Switzerland for shipping over 15,000 paid downloads in the country.[38] In Norway, the song entered the national singles chart at number 18 and after six weeks it peaked at number two, where it stayed for two weeks.[39] "Unfaithful" entered the Austrian singles chart at number eight on August 18, 2006,[40] peaked at number two and stayed on the chart for 27 weeks. The single reached number two in Germany[41] and the Republic of Ireland,[42] number three in Denmark,[43] Belgium (Flanders)[44] and the Czech Republic,[45] number five in Slovakia,[46] number six in Sweden,[47] number seven in France[48] and number nine in Netherlands.[49] On the UK Singles Chart, the song debuted at number 16 on July 22, 2006,[50] and the next week, it peaked at number two.[51] "Unfaithful" re-entered the chart in both 2010 and 2011, when it reached numbers 31 and 50 respectively.[52][53] More than 315,000 copies of the song have been sold in the UK.[54]
Music video[edit]
The accompanying music video for "Unfaithful" was directed by Anthony Mandler on March 1-2, 2006.[55] After their work on "Unfaithful", Mandler became Rihanna's regular collaborator, and worked on most of Rihanna's videos, including "Disturbia" (2008) and "Russian Roulette" (2009).[55] The video premiered May 1, 2006 on MTV,[56] and was later released on iTunes for digital download.[57]
As the video begins, Rihanna is walking towards a dressing room mirror while preparing for a show. This is intercut with scenes of Rihanna with her boyfriend in a restaurant. While they talk to each other, Rihanna's boyfriend leaves the table and is absent for some time, during which Rihanna watches the other tables. One diner writes a note and gives it to a waiter, who passes it to Rihanna, who reads and quickly hides the note as her boyfriend returns to the table. Rihanna starts to sing the song's lyrics while she leaves the dressing room and approaches the stage, where she continues singing while a man plays a piano on the stage. The arena is empty and it appears as though Rihanna is rehearsing.
Other scenes show Rihanna dancing around the piano while the pianist is still playing. While her boyfriend is sleeping, Rihanna sends a text message to her lover, "B down in 5". She walks down the street and gets into a car with her lover, who is the note-writing diner from the restaurant and the man who plays the piano at the rehearsal. As the song continues, Rihanna is shown regretfully embracing her lover near the piano. When the rehearsal finishes, she leaves the arena, where her boyfriend is waiting for her with his car. Rihanna hugs him and tears fall from her eyes. A reviewer from MTV Australia wrote about the video's theme and appearance, "Cheaters always get busted. And this time around, Rihanna sings about being the one doing the two-timing. Secret notes, sneaking around, hearts broken... Oh, the drama. And she looks gooooood."[58]
Credits are adapted from the liner notes of A Girl Like Me, Def Jam Recordings, SRP Records.[5]
Recording
Personnel