Drunk on Love (Rihanna song)

"Drunk on Love"
Song by Rihanna from the album Talk That Talk
Recorded 2011; Roc the Mic Studios (New York City) ; Westlake Recording Studios (Los Angeles); The Hide Out Studios (London)
Length 3:32
Label
Writer
Producer
Talk That Talk track listing

"We All Want Love"
(7)		 "Drunk on Love"
(8)		 "Roc Me Out"
(9)

"Drunk on Love" is a song by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna, from her sixth studio album Talk That Talk (2011). The song was written by Ester Dean, Mikkel S. Eriksen and Tor Erik Hermansen of StarGate and Baria Qureshi, Romy Croft, Oliver Sim and Jamie Smith of The xx, with production helmed by StarGate. A power ballad, "Drunk on Love" samples the melody of The xx's song "Intro", which was included on their debut album xx. Instrumentation consists of "a storm of drums" and "clattering synths." The song garnered mixed reviews from music critics, as they were divided on the songs composition as well as Rihanna's vocal performance. Upon the release of Talk That Talk, the song charted at number 55 on the South Korea Gaon International Chart and number 153 on the UK Singles Chart.

Recording and production

"Drunk on Love" was written by Ester Dean, Traci Hale, Mikkel S. Eriksen and Tor Erik Hermansen of StarGate and Baria Qureshi, Romy Croft, Oliver Sim and Jamie Smith of The xx.[1] Production of the song was helmed by StarGate.[1] Rihanna recorded the song at several recording studios around the world during her Loud Tour (2011),[2] including Roc the Mic Studios, New York City, New York; Westlake Recording Studios, Los Angeles, California and The Hide Out Studios, London, United Kingdom.[1] It was recorded by Eriksen, Miles Walker and Mike Anderson.[1] Vocal producer Kuk Harrell carried out the vocal production and vocal recording; Marcos Tovar was also involved with the vocal recording.[1] Alejandro Barajas served as the assistant vocal producer.[1] "Drunk on Love" was mixed by Phil Tan and assisted by Daniella Rivera, while Eriksen and Hermansen provided instrumentation.[1]

Composition and lyrics
"Drunk on Love"
A 24-second sample of the song's chorus, which features the lyrics "I wear my heart on my sleeve/ Always let love take the lead". Katherine St. Asaph for Popdust described the lyric as Talk That Talk‍ '​s "most thoughtful" line.[3]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Drunk on Love" has been described as "trancey" and Europop-influenced power ballad.[3][4][5] The song last for a duration of three minutes and 32 seconds.[6] Instrumentation consists of "a storm of drums" and "clattering synths."[5] Katherine St. Asaph for Popdust described the songs percussion as "huge."[3] The song samples the melody of The xx's song "Intro", which was included on their debut album xx.[5][7] Robert Copsey for Digital Spy noted that Rihanna describes herself as someone who wants to be loved in the lyric "I just wanna be in love" as she sings about being a "hopeless romantic".[5] He also described the lyric "I wear my heart on my sleeve/ Always let love take the lead" as Talk That Talk‍ '​s "most thoughtful" line.[5] St. Asaph described the lyric "I love the way you taste on my lips when we kiss" as "PG-13 at best," and wrote that it is not possible to be "lovelorn" as well as filthy at the same time.[3]

According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com, "Drunk on Love" is written in the key of A minor (recorded in G♯ minor) with a moderate pop tempo of 100 beats per minute. The song follows a progression Am−F−Am−F, and Rihanna's vocals span from A3 to E5.[8]

Critical reception

Oliver Sim of The xx received co-writing credits due to the sample of "Intro" on "Drunk on Love".[1]

"Drunk on Love" garnered mixed reviews from music critics. Sam Lansky for MTV Buzzworthy was complimentary of song, writing that only Rihanna is able to include an xx sample and sing love metaphors and make it sound "fresh."[9] He praised Rihanna's vocal performance, calling it one of her best to date.[9] Lansky also noted that Rihanna is "emotionally charged" when she sings the chorus.[9] A reviewer for Sputnikmusic compared the song to one of Rihanna's previous songs from her fifth studio album, Loud, "What's My Name?", writing "'Drunk On Love' is reminiscent of Loud's best song, 'What's My Name,' with Rihanna singing 'I love it, I crave it' with serious conviction and confident, powerful vocals."[10] Jason Lipshutz for Billboard described the songs production as "dynamic" and that Rihanna displays her "full range."[11] He continued to write that it would be a good decision to release "Drunk on Love" as a single.[11]

Meena Rupani of DesiHits was complimentary of the songs club appeal, but did not feel that the song was a standout or memorable track.[12] Katherine St. Asaph for Popdust had mixed opinions of the song. As part of her introduction, she praised its composition and inclusion of The xx's sample of "Intro" and described the song as being "heavy" and "slightly emo."[3] St. Asaph was complimentary of its melodramatic style, and added that "The xx sample does most of the heavy drifting here, but it's well-used–notice how the vocals of the original become backing vocals for Rihanna with almost no adulteration."[3] However, she was critical of how the songs composition builds, writing that instead of starting quietly and building to its "bombast", it starts somewhere between quiet and loud and ends past [sic] its "bombast".[3] As a sidenote, St. Asaph noted that Rihanna does not in fact sound drunk on the song, but wrote that it does not affect the outcome.[3] Lindsay Zoladz of Pitchfork Media was critical of the song, labeling the chorus as "weak" and Rihanna's vocal performance as too "bombast" for the xx's "laid-back" sample.[13]

Credits and personnel

Recording
Personnel

  • Songwriting – Ester Dean, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Baria Qureshi, Romy Croft, Oliver Sim, Jamie Smith
  • Production – StarGate
  • Vocal production – Kuk Harrell
  • Vocal recording – Kuk Harrell, Marcos Tovar
  • Vocal recording assistant – Alejandro Barajas
  • Recording – Mikkel S. Eriksen, Miles Walker, Mike Anderson
  • Mixing – Phil Tan
  • Assistant mixing – Daniella Rivera
  • Instruments – Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Talk That Talk, Def Jam Recordings, SRP Records.[1]

Charts

Upon the release of Talk That Talk, "Drunk on Love" debuted and peaked on the South Korea Gaon International Chart at number 55 on November 26, 2011, with sales of 7,727 digital downloads.[14] It also debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 153 in the chart issue December 3, 2011.[15] On August 12, 2012, "Drunk on Love" debuted on the UK R&B Chart at number 23.[16]

Chart (2011) Peak
position
South Korea (Gaon Chart)[14] 55
UK Singles Chart (OCC)[15] 153
Chart (2012) Peak
position
UK R&B Chart (OCC)[16] 23

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Talk That Talk (liner notes). Rihanna. Def Jam Recordings, SRP Records. 2011.
  2. ↑ Corner, Lewis (April 25, 2012). "Rihanna releases 'Talk That Talk' documentary - video". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 St Asaph, Katherine (November 14, 2011). "Read The Popdust Reviews For All 11 Tracks On Rihanna's 'Talk That Talk'". Popdust. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  4. ↑ Lanksy, Sam (November 21, 2011). "A ton of New Rihanna Songs! 'Talk That Talk' Feat. Jay-Z, 'Where Have You Been,' + 'Drunk On Love'". MTV Buzzworthy. Viacom. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Copsey, Robert (November 11, 2011). "Rihanna's new album 'Talk That Talk': First listen". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Talk That Talk (Deluxe Edition)-Rihanna". iTunes Store (United States). Apple. November 11, 2011. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
  7. ↑ Graham, Mark (November 9, 2011). "Album Preview: Rihanna's Talk That Talk Is The Dirtiest Pop Record Since Madonna's Erotica". VH1. Viacom. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  8. ↑ http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdFPE.asp?ppn=MN0103828&
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Lanksy, Sam (November 21, 2011). "Rihanna's 'Talk That Talk': A Track-By-Track Guide To Her New Album". MTV Buzzworthy. Viacom. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
  10. ↑ M, Steve (November 18, 2011). "Rihanna Talk That Talk". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Lipshutz, Jason (November 17, 2012). "Rihanna, 'Talk That Talk': Track-By-Track Review". Billboard (Prometheus Global Media). Retrieved March 30, 2012.
  12. ↑ Rupani, Meena (November 18, 2012). "Album Review: Rihanna's 'Talk That Talk'". DesiHits. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  13. ↑ Zoladz, Lindsay (November 23, 2011). "Rihanna: Talk That Talk". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "South Korea Gaon International Chart (Week: November 20, 2011 to November 26, 2011)". Gaon Chart. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "UK Singles Chart: CLUK Update (3.12.2011 – week 48)". Zobbel.de. Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 18, 2011.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "UK Top 40 R&B Singles Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2012-08-12.

External links