We Found Love is Rihanna’s most successful song, and one of the bestselling singles of all time. A song about love and loss, it is, nevertheless, a party anthem in the electro house genre. The song was written and produced by Scottish DJ Calvin Harris, who also features. In 2011, Harris was one of the opening acts for a Rihanna tour, and suggested that the Barbadian megastar record the track. When she announced the collaboration on social media, her fans, who Rihanna calls her Navy after a line from another of her songs, inundated Harris with messages, warning him that the track “better not berubbish.” It became Rihanna’s eleventh US chart topper and Harris’ first hit, staying at number one for ten weeks.
It is a very simple song lyrically, with the emphasis on the repeated hook. There are just two short verses and a bridge, all instantly memorable. English singer Leona Lewis originally recorded a demo, but as Harris told MTV: “No one could have taken it as far as Rihanna did.” The song made him a household name and one of the world’s highest-earning DJs.
The video shoot took place in Northern Ireland, and caused controversy when a farmer asked Rihanna to leave his field where she was filming because of her “inappropriate state of undress.” The crew moved to Belfast to complete the depiction of a toxic relationship, featuring English boxing champion Dudley O’Shaughnessy and a spoken intro by model Agyness Deyn.
Described by NPR as “the love song of a generation… an anthem of inclusivity”, in 2013 Billboard magazine named it the third biggest love song of all time.
It’s like you’re screaming,
and no one can hear
You almost feel ashamed, that someone could be that important
That without them, you feel like nothing
No one will ever understand
how much it hurts
You feel hopeless,
like nothing can save you
And when it��s over and it’s gone
You almost wish you could have all that bad stuff back
So that you could have the good
Yellow diamonds in the light
Now we’re standing side by side
As your shadow crosses mine
What it takes to come alive
It’s the way I’m feeling I just can’t deny
But I’ve gotta let it go
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
Shine a light through an open door
Love and life I will divide
Turn away ‘cause I need you more
Feel the heartbeat in my mind
It’s the way I’m feeling I just can’t deny
But I’ve gotta let it go
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
Yellow diamonds in the light
Now we’re standing side by side
As your shadow crosses mine
We found love in a hopeless place
[chorus]