How Rihanna Went From Teen In Barbados To Superstar In The U.S. In 2 Years—The Daily Earworm
Rihanna burst onto the U.S. music scene in May of 2005 with her debut single “Pon de Replay.” The catchy dance tune with reggae undertones put the young singer on the map. In two years, she had gone from 15-year-old Barbadian teen Robyn Rihanna Fenty to 17-year-old pop/R&B superstar Rihanna. In today’s Daily Earworm, we examine that meteoric rise to fame.
The Discovery
In 2003, a young Fenty formed a singing trio with two other teens in Barbados. The trio didn’t have their own material or even a name yet, and they mostly sang at school functions and local events. Enter songwriter/producer Evan Rogers. Rogers was in Barbados on vacation with his wife, Jackie, who had family on the island. A friend of Jackie’s introduced them to the 15-year-old Fenty and her group at a local function. Rogers was impressed enough to set up an audition.
Fenty’s talent and undeniable presence were obvious. Rogers set up a second meeting, this time, just with Fenty and her mother. He knew he had something and offered to bring Fenty to the United States to record demo songs. Staying with Rogers and his wife in Connecticut, Fenty recorded three songs, which Rogers sent off to record labels. One of those demo tapes came across the desk of the new President and CEO of Def Jam Recordings, Jay-Z. Jay-Z and L.A. Reid conferred and decided to offer Fenty, now 16, an audition in New York.
At the audition, a nervous Fenty performed Whitney Houston’s “For the Love of You” along with “Pon de Replay” and “The Last Time,” two of her demo tracks. Reid and Jay-Z were sold, and they signed Fenty to a six-album deal before she left the building. Going by her middle name, 16-year-old Rihanna moved to the U.S. full-time and began recording. Shortly after she turned 17, “Pon de Replay” was released as the first single from her debut album, Music of the Sun.
Instant Success
In Bajan Creole, “Pon de Replay” means “play it again” or literally “on the replay,” and that is what fans did with Rihanna’s debut. They played and played it. The song sold over five million copies and topped Billboard’s Dance Club Play and Digital Songs charts, while peaking at #2 on the Hot 100 Singles chart. Rihanna’s debut was also a hit outside the U.S., reaching the Top 10 in 17 countries and topping the charts in Canada and New Zealand. “Pon de Replay” was certified gold, platinum, or multi-platinum in eight countries. It won awards in Japan and Barbados, and it was nominated for a Teen Choice Award in the U.S.
The success of “Pon de Replay” translated into success for Rihanna’s debut album as well. The Caribbean-inspired record peaked at #10 on the Billboard 200 and at #6 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album also claimed Top 10 spots in Canada and the United Kingdom, and it was certified gold or better in six countries, including the U.S. Music of the Sun also took home Album of the Year and Best Reggae/Dancehall Album at the Barbados Music Awards.
Rihanna: Music Megastar and Fashion Mogul
Rihanna’s epic rise to fame at a young age is the stuff of legends — from an unknown teen in Barbados to a household name in America in two years. It didn’t stop there, though. As everyone knows, Rihanna is now eight albums in and has built a beauty and fashion empire as well. While it has been just short of 10 years since her last album now, don’t think that Rihanna is done. She has focused on building her businesses, starting a family, and dabbling a little acting, but she has not forgotten about music. She has been working on her ninth studio album and preparing to reclaim her spot at the top of the music world.
The Daily Earworm is a daily column that tells the stories, from the historic to the lesser-known, of some of the music industry’s greatest songs, albums, and artists. Here are some other music tales that you may find interesting:
Pearl Turns 55: Janis Joplin’s Final Album Still Resonates
Tom Morello: Legendary Renegade of Rock Guitar
