SOS (Rihanna song)
"SOS" | ||||
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A Girl like Me | ||||
B-side |
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Released | February 14, 2006 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | ||||
Length | 3:59 | |||
Label |
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Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | J. R. Rotem | |||
Rihanna singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"SOS" on YouTube |
"SOS" is a song by Barbadian singer
"SOS" became a commercial success. In the United States, it topped the
Three music videos were shot for "SOS"; aside from the official music video, directed by
Background and conception
"SOS" was written by
I did Rihanna's song “SOS” and it wasn't her first song, but it was her first number one. Since then, she's obviously one of the biggest stars in the world. But I never look at it like that's because of me or something like that. I just look at it like it was amazing to have worked with her at that time, and I would like to work with her again.[5]
"SOS" was originally intended to be given to and recorded by former Def Jam labelmate Christina Milian, for her third studio album, So Amazin' (2006), but Milian passed on it and former Def Jam CEO and chairman L.A. Reid offered the song to Rihanna instead.[6]
Production and mixing
The
This song uses a stereo two-bar loop from Soft Cell's song 'Tainted Love' as its basis. J.R. played the additional parts with a combination of soft and hardware synths. There were probably 30 to 40 tracks in total. J.R. tends to give you [Pro Tools] Sessions that have a clear direction: there's not much guesswork. I didn't change or add much, just a bass drum and taking out the loop a couple of times for additional breaks. There was never any doubt that it was going to be a clubby song, so it had to be very immediate and hard-hitting.[7]
Composition
"SOS" is an
The use of the 'Tainted Love' sample was well received by critics. Ruth Jamieson of The Observer commented that the sample was an "outrageously hooky Soft Cell rhythm".[13] Jazzily Bass of Contactmusic.com complimented the inclusion of the "Tainted Love" sample, describing "SOS" as "superbly infectious".[12] Bass continued to praise the song for not making the sample too obvious, writing "I was accepting it to sound like every other song that has sampled the hook."[12] Kelefa Sanneh of The New York Times described the inclusion the "Tainted Love" sample as being "brazen" and "astute".[14]
Release
"SOS" was first released in France on March 27, 2006, as a physical
Critical reception
Upon the release of the album, "SOS" garnered positive reviews from music critics. Bill Lamb of
Quentin B. Huff of Popmatters was complimentary of the song, writing, "all things considered, '[SOS]' is a decent song, brimming with energy and perfectly suited to Rihanna’s layered vocals."[10] Barry Walters of Rolling Stone wrote, "Barbados-born emigre Rihanna's huge dancehall pop hit last year, "Pon De Replay," was savvy and sexy, and her new smash, "SOS," is even more so. Singing a snaky Destiny's Child-like melody around synth riffs and machine beats from Soft Cell's '80s classic hit "Tainted Love," Rihanna proves America still appreciates clever pop when it hears it."[22]
Year-end lists
Publication | Rank | List |
---|---|---|
Pitchfork Media
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95 | The 100 Best Tracks of 2006[23] |
Chart performance
In the United States, "SOS" peaked at number one on the
In Europe, "SOS" achieved moderate chart success in different countries. In Belgium (Flanders), the song debuted at number 18 on April 22, 2006, and peaked at number two in its fourth week charting.[33] In Switzerland, "SOS" debuted and peaked at number three on May 21, 2006, and stayed inside the top-ten of that countries singles chart for the following nine weeks.[34] In Finland, the song spent two weeks on the countries singles chart; "SOS" debuted and peaked at number two on April 24, 2006, and fell to number 14 to following week.[35] In Norway, "SOS" debuted at number 16 on April 17, 2006, and peaked at number three in its third week charting.[36] Elsewhere, the song attained top-five positions on the singles charts of Austria and Belgium (Wallonia), peaking at numbers four and five, respectively.[37][38] " SOS" attained top-ten positions in The Netherlands and Italy, peaking at numbers six and seven, respectively.[39][40] The song failed to chart within the top-ten in France and Sweden, peaking at number 12 on both countries singles charts.[41][42]
In the United Kingdom, "SOS" debuted at number five on April 22, 2006.[43] The following week, the song rose to number two, being held off of the number one position by Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy".[44] In its third week charting, both "SOS" and "Crazy" retained their respective chart positions.[45] Over the following weeks, "SOS" began to come down the top 10 of the chart, falling to number five for two weeks, whilst "Crazy" retained its number one position.[46][47] In Australia, "SOS" debuted at number one on April 30, 2006, a position it held for eight consecutive weeks.[48] In New Zealand, the song debuted at number 37 on April 10, 2006, and spent the following five weeks fluctuating in the lower region of the top 40 singles.[49] In its seventh week charting, the song leaped to a peak of number three for two weeks.[49]
Music videos
"SOS" received two separate treatments for the music video, each serving a different purpose. In addition to the official music video, another version was shot for a
Official music video
The video begins with Rihanna singing the hook while wearing a low-cut green dress and dancing in front of tropical trees on an island.
Nike version
The video begins with a
Track listings
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Credits and personnel
Credits are adapted from the liner notes of A Girl Like Me, Def Jam Recordings, SRP Records.[3]
Recording and sample
- Recorded at Bartmitzvah Hall Studios in Century City, and Loft Recording Studios in Bronxville.
- Mixed at Silent Sound Studios in Atlanta.
- Contains elements from the composition "Tainted Love", written by Ed Cobb under Embassy Music Corporation (BMI).
Personnel
- Songwriting – J. R. Rotem, Evan "Kidd" Bogart, Ed Cobb
- Production – J. R. Rotem
- Recording – J. R. Rotem, Al Hemberger
- Mixing – Phil Tan
- Assistant mixing engineer – Rob Skipworth
- Vocal production – Evan Rogers, Carl Sturken
- Lead and background vocals – Rihanna, Evan Rogers
Accolades
Year | Ceremony | Award | Result |
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2006 | MTV Video Music Awards | Viewer's Choice | Nominated |
Best New Artist in a Video | Nominated | ||
MTV Europe Music Awards | Best Song | Nominated | |
MuchMusic Video Awards
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International Video of the Year - Artist | Won | |
UR Fave International Artist/Group | Nominated | ||
Radio Disney Music Awards | Best Song | Nominated | |
Teen Choice Awards | Choice: Music Single | Nominated | |
2007 | Barbados Music Awards
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Best Music Video | Nominated |
Best Dance Single | Nominated |
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA)[117] | 2× Platinum | 140,000‡ |
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[118] | Platinum | 60,000* |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[119] | Platinum | 8,000^ |
Germany (BVMI)[120] | Gold | 150,000‡ |
Japan (RIAJ)[121] | Gold | 100,000* |
Sweden (GLF)[122] | Gold | 10,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[123] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[32] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[124] Mastertone |
Gold | 500,000* |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
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United States | February 14, 2006 |
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[125] | |
Germany | April 15, 2006 | Universal Music
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Australia | April 17, 2006 | CD | [126] | |
United Kingdom | Mercury | [127] |
See also
- List of Billboard Hot 100 number ones of 2006
- List of Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number ones of 2006
References
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{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link - ^ "Interview with JR Rotem". HitQuarters. April 4, 2010. Retrieved April 8, 2011.
- ^ Ketchum, William E. (May 13, 2011). "Producer's Corner: JR Rotem". HipHopDX. Retrieved January 1, 2012.
- ^ Lelinwalla, Mark (June 12, 2006). "Island Def Jam Drops Christina Milian : VIBE.com". Vibe. Archived from the original on December 2, 2008. Retrieved August 13, 2009.
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the thumping, "Tainted Love"-sampling dancepop song "SOS"
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