Unfaithful (song)
Encyclopedia
"Unfaithful" is a ballad written by Ne-Yo
, Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel S. Eriksen for R&B
singer Rihanna
's second album, A Girl like Me
. It was produced by Stargate
and released as the album's second single
in mid-2006. The music also featured, with Tamil
lyrics, as the song, "Unakenna Naan" in the 2008 film, Kadhalil Vizhunthen. It is generally considered to be her signature ballad.
, she collaborated with Def Jam labelmate singer-songwriter Ne-Yo
. Ne-Yo together with Norwegian duo Stargate
wrote "Unfaithful" as part of Rihanna's second studio album
, A Girl Like Me
, which she quoted as "a personal album" about what it's like to be a girl like her and speaking of girl experiences and things every girl has and will go through. Stargate
produced the track. While most of Rihanna's records since her debut album Music of the Sun
are set in a disco-mode, mostly dance-pop
and R&B
, "Unfaithful" was differently made compared to its predecessors. In an interview, Rihanna said, "It's a ballad, so it's new ground for me, but I'm excited." The song also appears in the game Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore.
-R&B
, ballad written by Ne-Yo
, Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel S. Eriksen while the production was handled by latter two under their production name StarGate
. According to the digital sheet music published by Sony/ATV Music Publishing
, the song is written in the key of G minor
and set in common time with a slow feeling groove. Rihanna's vocal range spans from the low note of F3
to C5
. Originally, "Unfaithful" was dark and moody track, inspired from the works of the American rock band Evanescence
. Both Hermansen and Eriksen collaborated on the melody. At the beginning the song's structure was all built with piano as the primary and only instrument, however a percussion of the strings was later added. Talking about the song's development in an interview for Sound on Sound
Eriksen concluded: "I find that how natural it sounds is not so much about how realistic the string sound is, but more about your choice of notes and how you play and program the strings." Both "Unfaithful" and Rihanna's previous single "SOS
" were both mixed by Phil Stan.
The piano-driven ballad is about a woman who is in a relationship with a man, but is having an affair. "I'm referred to as a murderer in that song. Meaning, I'm taking this guy's life by hurting him, cheating on him. He knows, and it makes him feel so bad. It's killing him to know that another guy is making me happy…we always put it out there that guys cheat. And finally someone put it in perspective: Girls cheat too." Rihanna said on an August 26, 2006 review that "Unfaithful" was birthed out of a relationship she outgrew when she was fourteen. She was quick to add though that the relationship was not physical. For radio airplay, the word "gun" (in the line "Might as well take a gun and put it to his head, get it over with") in the song is edited out.
foundation of her previous work. Her vocal performance has also been the subject of criticism. Shaun Kitchener of UKMix states "There's no denying that her voice is strong", though due to the fact that this song was thought to be a strong contender for the Grammys. However, when the 2007 nominations were released, the song received none.
Hot 100 chart in July 2006. Its music video
also performed well on MTV
's Total Request Live
peaking at No. 1 for 14 days. She performed the song on TRL on July 25 and the video was retired on July 27 (being at number 7 on the countdown). This was also her first video to retire on TRL.
The song is listed number eight on Songs of the Summer of 2006 published by Billboard
magazine.
The single was released July 17, 2006 in the UK and Australia where it was already available for downloads worldwide. It debuted at number sixteen in the UK Singles Chart
on downloads alone one week prior to its physical release. The following week, July 24, it jumped to number two on the UK Singles Chart after a physical release (held off number one by Shakira
and Wyclef Jean
with "Hips Don't Lie
"), becoming Rihanna's third number two hit in the UK, after "Pon de Replay
" and "SOS
". That same day "Unfaithful" debuted at number two on the ARIA
Singles Chart, it reached number one on the Eurochart 100 and stayed in the top 3 for several weeks. "Unfaithful" sold over 4.5 million copies.The song has sold 2,727,000 paid digital downloads in the United States, according to Nielsen Soundscan.
After a successful duet with Matt Cardle
on the popular British television show The X Factor (UK)
in December 2010, "Unfaithful" re-entered the UK top 40 at number 31.
and Diane Lane
.
Side A
Side B
Ne-Yo
Shaffer Chimere Smith, Jr. , better known by his stage name Ne-Yo, is an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer and actor. Beginning his career as a songwriter, Ne-Yo penned the hit "Let Me Love You" for singer Mario...
, Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel S. Eriksen for R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
singer Rihanna
Rihanna
Robyn Rihanna Fenty , better known as simply Rihanna, is a Barbadian recording artist. Born in Saint Michael, Barbados, Rihanna moved to the United States at the age of 16 to pursue a recording career under the guidance of record producer Evan Rogers...
's second album, A Girl like Me
A Girl Like Me (Rihanna album)
A Girl like Me is the second studio album by Barbadian R&B singer Rihanna. It was released through Def Jam Recordings on April 19, 2006 in Japan, on April 24 in the United Kingdom, and on April 25 in the United States. For the production of the album, Rihanna worked with Evan Rogers, Carl Sturken,...
. It was produced by Stargate
Stargate (production team)
This is a list of songs written and produced by the Norwegian production team Stargate.-Produced singles:-1999:5ive - Invincible*05. "Two Sides to Every Story"*06. "You Make Me a Better Man"Noora Noor - Curious*01. "Curious"...
and released as the album's second single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in mid-2006. The music also featured, with Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
lyrics, as the song, "Unakenna Naan" in the 2008 film, Kadhalil Vizhunthen. It is generally considered to be her signature ballad.
Background
In addition to Rihanna's workings with Sean PaulSean Paul
Sean Paul Ryan Francis Henriques , who performs under stage name Sean Paul, is a Jamaican pop rap and reggae singer.-1973–1996: Early life:...
, she collaborated with Def Jam labelmate singer-songwriter Ne-Yo
Ne-Yo
Shaffer Chimere Smith, Jr. , better known by his stage name Ne-Yo, is an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer and actor. Beginning his career as a songwriter, Ne-Yo penned the hit "Let Me Love You" for singer Mario...
. Ne-Yo together with Norwegian duo Stargate
Stargate (production team)
This is a list of songs written and produced by the Norwegian production team Stargate.-Produced singles:-1999:5ive - Invincible*05. "Two Sides to Every Story"*06. "You Make Me a Better Man"Noora Noor - Curious*01. "Curious"...
wrote "Unfaithful" as part of Rihanna's second studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
, A Girl Like Me
A Girl Like Me (Rihanna album)
A Girl like Me is the second studio album by Barbadian R&B singer Rihanna. It was released through Def Jam Recordings on April 19, 2006 in Japan, on April 24 in the United Kingdom, and on April 25 in the United States. For the production of the album, Rihanna worked with Evan Rogers, Carl Sturken,...
, which she quoted as "a personal album" about what it's like to be a girl like her and speaking of girl experiences and things every girl has and will go through. Stargate
Stargate (production team)
This is a list of songs written and produced by the Norwegian production team Stargate.-Produced singles:-1999:5ive - Invincible*05. "Two Sides to Every Story"*06. "You Make Me a Better Man"Noora Noor - Curious*01. "Curious"...
produced the track. While most of Rihanna's records since her debut album Music of the Sun
Music of the Sun
Music of the Sun is the debut album of Barbadian R&B singer Rihanna, released August 26, 2005 on Def Jam Recordings. Rihanna worked with several producers for the album, mainly Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers who produced and penned most of the tracks on the album. It features guest contributions by...
are set in a disco-mode, mostly dance-pop
Dance-pop
Dance-pop is dance-oriented pop music that originated in the early 1980s. Developing from post-disco, it is generally up-tempo music intended for clubs with the intention of being danceable or merely dancey...
and R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
, "Unfaithful" was differently made compared to its predecessors. In an interview, Rihanna said, "It's a ballad, so it's new ground for me, but I'm excited." The song also appears in the game Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore.
Music and lyrics
"Unfaithful" is a popPop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
-R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
, ballad written by Ne-Yo
Ne-Yo
Shaffer Chimere Smith, Jr. , better known by his stage name Ne-Yo, is an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer and actor. Beginning his career as a songwriter, Ne-Yo penned the hit "Let Me Love You" for singer Mario...
, Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel S. Eriksen while the production was handled by latter two under their production name StarGate
Stargate (production team)
This is a list of songs written and produced by the Norwegian production team Stargate.-Produced singles:-1999:5ive - Invincible*05. "Two Sides to Every Story"*06. "You Make Me a Better Man"Noora Noor - Curious*01. "Curious"...
. According to the digital sheet music published by Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Sony/ATV Music Publishing is a music publishing company co-owned by The Michael Jackson Family Trust and Sony. The organisation was originally founded as Associated TeleVision in 1955 by Lew Grade. In 1957, ATV acquired Pye Records as a wholly owned subsidiary...
, the song is written in the key of G minor
G minor
G minor is a minor scale based on G, consisting of the pitches G, A, B, C, D, E, and F. For the harmonic minor scale, the F is raised to F. Its relative major is B-flat major, and its parallel major is G major....
and set in common time with a slow feeling groove. Rihanna's vocal range spans from the low note of F3
F (musical note)
F is a musical note, the fourth above C. It is also known as fa in fixed-do solfège.When calculated in equal temperament with a reference of A above middle C as 440 Hz, the frequency of Middle F is approximately 349.228 Hz. See pitch for a discussion of historical variations in...
to C5
C (musical note)
C or Do is the first note of the fixed-Do solfège scale. Its enharmonic is B.-Middle C:Middle C is designated C4 in scientific pitch notation because of the note's position as the fourth C key on a standard 88-key piano keyboard...
. Originally, "Unfaithful" was dark and moody track, inspired from the works of the American rock band Evanescence
Evanescence
Evanescence is an American rock band founded in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1995 by singer/pianist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody. After recording private albums, the band released their first full-length album, Fallen, on Wind-up Records in 2003. Fallen sold more than 17 million copies worldwide...
. Both Hermansen and Eriksen collaborated on the melody. At the beginning the song's structure was all built with piano as the primary and only instrument, however a percussion of the strings was later added. Talking about the song's development in an interview for Sound on Sound
Sound on Sound
Sound on Sound is an independently-owned monthly music technology magazine published by SOS Publications Group, based in Cambridge, UK. The magazine includes product tests of electronic musical performance and recording devices, and interviews with industry professionals...
Eriksen concluded: "I find that how natural it sounds is not so much about how realistic the string sound is, but more about your choice of notes and how you play and program the strings." Both "Unfaithful" and Rihanna's previous single "SOS
SOS (Rihanna song)
"SOS" is a song by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna from her second studio album, A Girl like Me. The song was produced by J. R. Rotem and written by Rotem and Evan "Kidd" Bogart. It was released as the lead single from the album...
" were both mixed by Phil Stan.
The piano-driven ballad is about a woman who is in a relationship with a man, but is having an affair. "I'm referred to as a murderer in that song. Meaning, I'm taking this guy's life by hurting him, cheating on him. He knows, and it makes him feel so bad. It's killing him to know that another guy is making me happy…we always put it out there that guys cheat. And finally someone put it in perspective: Girls cheat too." Rihanna said on an August 26, 2006 review that "Unfaithful" was birthed out of a relationship she outgrew when she was fourteen. She was quick to add though that the relationship was not physical. For radio airplay, the word "gun" (in the line "Might as well take a gun and put it to his head, get it over with") in the song is edited out.
Critical reception
After steady strong chart performance, the track has received even better reviews among Rihanna's fans and critics, as it is the first ballad she released and quite a contrast to the pop/R&B/reggaeReggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
foundation of her previous work. Her vocal performance has also been the subject of criticism. Shaun Kitchener of UKMix states "There's no denying that her voice is strong", though due to the fact that this song was thought to be a strong contender for the Grammys. However, when the 2007 nominations were released, the song received none.
Chart performance
"Unfaithful" reached number six on the U.S. BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot 100 chart in July 2006. Its music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
also performed well on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's Total Request Live
Total Request Live
Total Request Live is a television series on MTV that featured popular music videos. TRL was MTV's prime outlet for music videos as the network continues to concentrate on reality-based programming. In addition to music videos, TRL featured daily guests...
peaking at No. 1 for 14 days. She performed the song on TRL on July 25 and the video was retired on July 27 (being at number 7 on the countdown). This was also her first video to retire on TRL.
The song is listed number eight on Songs of the Summer of 2006 published by Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
magazine.
The single was released July 17, 2006 in the UK and Australia where it was already available for downloads worldwide. It debuted at number sixteen in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
on downloads alone one week prior to its physical release. The following week, July 24, it jumped to number two on the UK Singles Chart after a physical release (held off number one by Shakira
Shakira
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll , known professionally as Shakira , is a Colombian singer who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s...
and Wyclef Jean
Wyclef Jean
Wyclef Jean is a Haitian musician, record producer, and politician. At age nine, Jean moved to the United States with his family and has spent much of his life in the country...
with "Hips Don't Lie
Hips Don't Lie
"Hips Don't Lie" is a Latin pop song based in a salsa and cumbia performed by Colombian singer Shakira and Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean, released in 2006 as the second single from Shakira's second English album Oral Fixation Vol. 2...
"), becoming Rihanna's third number two hit in the UK, after "Pon de Replay
Pon de Replay
"Pon de Replay" is a song recorded by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna, from her debut studio album Music of the Sun . The song was made available to download via iTunes on August 26, 2005, released as the album's lead single. The song was written and produced by Carl Sturken, Evan Rogers and...
" and "SOS
SOS (Rihanna song)
"SOS" is a song by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna from her second studio album, A Girl like Me. The song was produced by J. R. Rotem and written by Rotem and Evan "Kidd" Bogart. It was released as the lead single from the album...
". That same day "Unfaithful" debuted at number two on the ARIA
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
Singles Chart, it reached number one on the Eurochart 100 and stayed in the top 3 for several weeks. "Unfaithful" sold over 4.5 million copies.The song has sold 2,727,000 paid digital downloads in the United States, according to Nielsen Soundscan.
After a successful duet with Matt Cardle
Matt Cardle
Matthew Sheridan "Matt" Cardle is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist who rose to fame after winning the seventh series of The X Factor in 2010. He received a £1 million recording contract with Syco Music by winning, and his debut number one single "When We Collide" was released immediately...
on the popular British television show The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
in December 2010, "Unfaithful" re-entered the UK top 40 at number 31.
Music video
The video was directed by Anthony Mandler. It shows Rihanna in a restaurant with her boyfriend. The man (her love interest) tells the waiter to give the note to Rihanna whilst her boyfriend is away from the table. She reads it quickly and then her boyfriend comes back. Meanwhile, Rihanna is seen in the dressing room getting ready for her dress up and almost walking out of the room. The song begins when Rihanna walks out of the dressing room and walked to the stage. Then she starts singing by a piano. Then, we see moments of her and her boyfriend spending time together. While her boyfriend is sleeping, she sends a text to someone. Then, she hops into a car with her love interest. We see her singing by the piano again. Then, she sits by her love interest, who is the pianist, and they share a kiss. Then when she walks out of the stage, her boyfriend is waiting for her. The music video ends when she and her boyfriend hug each other and she sheds a tear. The music video takes it concept from the film Unfaithful starring Richard GereRichard Gere
Richard Tiffany Gere is an American actor. He began acting in the 1970s, playing a supporting role in Looking for Mr. Goodbar, and a starring role in Days of Heaven. He came to prominence in 1980 for his role in the film American Gigolo, which established him as a leading man and a sex symbol...
and Diane Lane
Diane Lane
Diane Lane is an American film actress.Born and raised in New York City, Lane made her screen debut at the age of 13 in George Roy Hill's 1979 film A Little Romance, starring opposite Sir Laurence Olivier. Soon after, she was featured on the cover of Time magazine...
.
Track listing and formats
- CD single (UK version)
- "Unfaithful" (Eriksen, M./Hermansen, T./Smith, S.) — 3:48
- "SOSSOS (Rihanna song)"SOS" is a song by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna from her second studio album, A Girl like Me. The song was produced by J. R. Rotem and written by Rotem and Evan "Kidd" Bogart. It was released as the lead single from the album...
(Moto Blanco Remix)" (Bogart, E. Kidd/Cobb, E./Rotem, J.) — 5:14
- CD single Pt. 2 (and German version)
- "Unfaithful" (Eriksen, M./Hermansen, T./Smith, S.) — 3:48
- "Unfaithful (Tony Moran Radio Edit)" (Eriksen, M./Hermansen, T./Smith, S.) — 3:10
- "Unfaithful (Instrumental)" (Eriksen, M./Hermansen, T./Smith, S.)
- Extras:
-
- "Unfaithful" (Video) — 4:34
- Dutch CD single
- "Unfaithful" (Eriksen, M./Hermansen, T./Smith, S.) — 3:48
- "Unfaithful (Tony Moran Radio Edit)" (Eriksen, M./Hermansen, T./Smith, S.) — 3:10
- UK 12" vinyl single
Side A
- Radio Edit
- Instrumental
Side B
- Remix
- Australian Single
- "Unfaithful" - 3:48
- "SOS" (Moto BlancoMoto BlancoMoto Blanco is an English DJ and electronic music duo consisting of Danny Harrison and Arthur Smith.They are also regularly joined by british record producer Jon Cohen.-History:...
Remix) - 8:37
- Australian Single Pt. 2
- "Unfaithful" - 3:48
- "Unfaithful" (Tony Moran Radio Mix) - 4:16
- Australian And American iTunes Remixes
- "Unfaithful" (Tony MoranTony MoranAnthony "Tony" Moran is a remixer/producer and DJ known for remixing popular songs. In 2007, he hit number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart with "Walk Away" featuring Kristine W.-Career:...
Radio Mix) - 4:15 - "Unfaithful" (Hamel Radio Edit) - 3:53
- "Unfaithful" (Maurice'sMaurice JoshuaMaurice Joshua, also known just as Maurice, born in Chicago, Illinois, is a record producer who is most known for his laid back and soulful House music style remixes.-Career:...
Radio Edit) - 3:28 - "Unfaithful" (Tony Moran Club Mix) - 9:08
- "Unfaithful" (Hamel Club Mix) - 8:48
- "Unfaithful" (Maurice's Club Mix) - 6:57
- "Unfaithful" (AOL Music Sessions) - 3:49
Charts
| Chart (2006) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
Year-end
| End of year chart (2006) | Position |
|---|---|
| German Singles Chart | 14 |
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
14 |
Decade-end charts
| (2000–2009) | Position |
|---|---|
| German Singles Chart | 43 |
Certifications
| Country | Provider | Certification |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | ARIA Australian Recording Industry Association The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956... |
Gold |
| Belgium | BEA Bea - Aviation :*British European Airways*Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses pour la Sécurité de l'Aviation Civile, the French agency responsible for investigating aviation accidents- People :* Augustin Bea , a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church... |
Gold |
| Denmark | IFPI IFPI The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry is the organisation that represents the interests of the recording industry worldwide. It is a not-for-profit members' organisation registered in Switzerland... |
Platinum |
| Switzerland | IFPI IFPI The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry is the organisation that represents the interests of the recording industry worldwide. It is a not-for-profit members' organisation registered in Switzerland... |
Gold |
| Sweden | IFPI IFPI The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry is the organisation that represents the interests of the recording industry worldwide. It is a not-for-profit members' organisation registered in Switzerland... |
Gold |
| United States | RIAA Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States... |
Platinum |
Release history
| Region | Date |
|---|---|
| United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
July 17, 2006 |
| Australia Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... |
July 20, 2006 |