Entertainment

8 Times Rihanna Sampled Other Arists' Songs

by Alex Kritselis

The latest gossip online is that Rihanna collaborated with Florence + The Machine on her as-yet-untitled eighth studio album (we're calling it R8 for fun). So, is there any truth to this new rih-mur? Possibly, but I'm not expecting a duet — I think it's far more likely that Rihanna sampled a Florence + The Machine song on R8, instead. Recently, a new Rihanna track was registered on Songfile, a music licensing database, called "A Night." It was co-written by Rih, Christian Keyon Jr. Boggs, Florence + The Machine vocalist Florence Welch, and producer Paul Epworth. Interestingly, there's a song on Florence + The Machine's 2011 album, Ceremonials, called "Only If for a Night" that was co-written by Welch and produced by Epworth, too.

Coincidence? I think not. It certainly looks to me like the 26-year-old pop superstar sampled "Only If for a Night" in some way. After all, she has a long history of borrowing bits and pieces from other artists' music.

As long as musicians are properly credited and compensated for the use of their work, I have no problem with sampling whatsoever. Sometimes, the results can actually be pretty cool! Here are eight times that Rihanna sampled other songs:

"Where Have You Been" from Talk That Talk (2011)

Samples Lucky Starr's 1962 song "I've Been Everywhere":

"Cheers (Drink to That)" from Loud (2009)

Samples Avril Lavigne's 2002 song "I'm With You":

"SOS" from A Girl Like Me (2006)

Samples Soft Cell's 1981 song "Tainted Love" (which was originally recorded by Gloria Jones in 1964):

"Jump" from Unapologetic (2012)

Samples Ginuwine's 1996 song "Pony":

"Don't Stop the Music" from Good Girl Gone Bad (2007)

Samples Michael Jackson's 1983 song "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'":

"Drunk On Love" from Talk That Talk (2011)

Samples The xx's 2009 song "Intro":

"Nobody's Business" from Unapologetic (2012)

Samples Michael Jackson's 1987 song "The Way You Make Me Feel":

"Cockiness (Love It)" from Talk That Talk (2011)

Samples Greg Kinnear's 2003 cover of "Summertime" from the movie Stuck On You: