5 Most empowering Rihanna songs to boost self-confidence

Rihanna’s music can be described as pop anthems due to their upbeat sounds, but underneath the dance music are lyrics that convey the singer’s emotions, strength, and vulnerability. Her songs are punctuated by catchy hooks and lyrics that speak on different subjects, from relationships to celebrations and sad moments. The nine-time Grammy Award winner’s songs have been called anthems for empowerment and expression of freedom. These songs are defiant, introspective, and encouraging. They extol the virtues of independence.

In her nonchalant style, the singer has established herself as a nonconforming artist that encourages one to prioritize one's own happiness. From Hard to Diamonds, this article explores the best Rihanna songs to listen to for a confidence boost.

Disclaimer: This article reflects the writer's opinion only and the items on the list are placed in no particular order

5 Most empowering Rihanna songs that will boost self-confidence

Hard
ROCKSTAR 101
Diamonds
Cheers (Drink To That)
Dem Haters

1. Hard

The hip-hop song uses sharp beats, military horns, hissing synthesizers, and piano chords. Hard was released on November 10, 2009, from Rihanna’s fourth studio album, Rated R.

The song features vocal contributions from Young Jeezy. The lyrics of the song suggest living life on one's terms.

Some of the song's lyrics include:

"They can say whatever, I'ma do whatever / No pain is forever, yup! You know this (Young!),"

It continues:

"Tougher than a lion, ain't gon' needa try it / I live where the sky ends, yup! You know this (Young!)"

Hard serves as a reminder to listeners to be more courageous and confident. Hard became the Barbadian singer's thirteenth top-ten single on the US Billboard Hot 100, tying her with Beyoncé as the female artist with the most top-10 songs on the US charts since 2000.

2. ROCKSTAR 101

Rockstar 101, the Grunge and hip-hop track, was written by Rihanna together with The-Dream and Christopher “Tricky” Stewart as the fifth single from her fourth studio album, Rated R. The song was released on May 18, 2010, and includes contributions from Slash, of the rock band, Guns N’ Roses.

The song, when listened to, boosts one's confidence. The lyrics celebrate independence and self-sufficiency. Rockstar 101 promotes feel-good vibes and encourages listeners to love their peculiarities while pursuing their dreams with courage. Some of the following lyrics drive home the song's intent:

"To be what you is you gotta be what you are / The only thing I'm missing is a black guitar."

In the second verse, the song's lyrics depict confidence:

"Six-inch walker, big sh*t talker/ I never play the victim, I'd rather be a stalker,"

Rockstar 101 reached number 64 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number two on the Dance Club Songs chart.

3. Diamonds

Diamonds was released on September 26, 2012, as the lead single from the singer's seventh studio album, Unapologetic. Sia, Benny Blanco, and Stargate are credited as writers of the song.

Diamonds is an R&B, electronic, and mid-tempo pop song that fuses electronic rhythms, synthesizers, and orchestral melodies. The song teaches listeners to chase happiness. The song's intro goes:

"Shine bright like a diamond / Shine bright like a diamond,"

The first verse continues with a positive energy:

"Find light in the beautiful sea, I choose to be happy / You and I, You and I / We're like diamonds in the sky,"

The hit track conveys that tough situations bring out the best in people just like precious stones shine brightly after facing pressure. Diamonds ranked number one in over twenty different countries, the United States included, where it peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

4. Cheers (Drink To That)

Cheers (Drink To That) (Image via YouTube/Rihanna)

Cheers (Drink To That) was released as the seventh and final single from Rihanna's album, Loud. The song was released on August 2, 2011, and was written by Rihanna, Andrew Herr, Stacy Barthe, Chris Ivery, Jermaine Jackson, LP, and Corey Gibson, among others.

Cheers (Drink To That) is a party song that promotes a cheerful and worry-free approach to life with lyrics that include:

"Life's too short to be sittin' 'round miserable / And people gon' talk whether you doing bad or good, yeah."

The song goes further:

"Got a drink on my mind and my mind on my money, yeah."

The song encourages listeners to imbibe qualities of independence and courage by celebrating achievements and embracing a happy-go-lucky attitude. Cheers (Drink To That) ranked at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at the top 10 in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

5. Dem Haters

Dem Haters was written by Rogers, Sturken, M. Hallim, V. Morgan, Michaels Flowers, and Aion Clarke. The song was released on April 10, 2006, as the fifth track from Rihanna’s second album, A Girl Like Me, which peaked at number five on the US Billboard 200.

Dem Haters features singer Dwane Husbands and in a lighthearted manner, emphasizes the importance of disregarding haters and focusing on your success. The song encourages listeners to pay no heed to negativity and prioritize their goals using lyrics in the chorus which include:

"Get dem haters out your circle / Smile in your face, but all they wanna do is bring you down."

The outro of the song goes:

"But then they turn against you when you're not around / It's just jealousy and dishonesty / So hold on to your sanity."

Dem Haters prioritizes mental health and is a reminder for listeners to steer clear of others who don't align with their goals.

These Rihanna songs promote strong values of self-sufficiency and self-love and also encourage cutting out negativity from one's life. The songs are popular for their uptempo beats and made waves for their empowering lyrics worldwide.

Edited by Meghna