Rihanna Returns With First New Single in Nearly Three Years

With new music, Rihanna is finally back.  Fans can now stream ‘Friend Of Mine,’ the worldwide superstar's first song since 2022, as it will be featured on the soundtrack to the upcoming Smurfs film.

 The song, which has a strong Afrobeats influence, is Rihanna's much-anticipated studio comeback.  It showcases her trademark combination of strong vocals and captivating melodies, with throbbing tribal drum rhythms and catchy vocal samples.  Rihanna sings of meeting someone who already feels familiar, like a buddy from a previous life, in the lyrics, which convey an immediate emotional connection.

‘Friend Of Mine’ appears on the soundtrack of the upcoming ‘Smurfs’ animated film, in which Rihanna not only contributes music but also voices Smurfette. The song comes after the release of ‘Higher Love’, which was part of the same soundtrack and included Desi Trill, DJ Khaled, Cardi B, Natania, and Subhi.  Roc Nation Distribution is scheduled to release the entire album on June.

Image Courtesy: YouTube

 In 2022, Rihanna's final musical contributions were ‘Lift Me Up’ and ‘Born Again’, which were featured on the soundtrack of ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’.  ‘Anti’, her 2016 full-length studio album, is still a fan favourite and the only one she has openly admitted she listens to guilt-free.

Fans often refer to the musical phenomenon as ‘R9’ because she has been teasing her highly anticipated ninth studio album.  Rihanna declared last year that she was beginning a new creative journey and experimenting with a sound that embodies her present artistic vision.  She made it clear that her new music would reflect where she believes her craft belongs today rather than conforming to radio-friendly formulae or conventional expectations.

Image Courtesy: YouTube

 Rihanna revealed earlier this month that she is still working on the new album even though she is expecting her third child with longtime husband A$AP Rocky.  She told fans that she is still capable and prepared to sing, even though she made hints that music videos would be postponed.

Rihanna has progressively resumed live concerts over the past 12 months.  She performed ‘Lift Me Up’ at the Oscars, was the star of the 2023 Super Bowl Halftime Show, and earlier this year gave her first full-length live performance in eight years at a well-known Indian wedding celebration.

‘The Smurfs’ film opens in theatres on 18th July.

 ‘Friend Of Mine’ heralds a new era for the multi-talented artist, one that combines nostalgia, development, and artistic freedom as Rihanna regains her prominence in both music and movies.

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–Farheen Ali