A Girl like Me

A Girl Like Me is the second album by pop singer Rihanna. It was released through Def Jam Records on April 19 2006 in Japan, on April 24 in the United Kingdom, and on April 25 in the United States (see 2006 in music).

Writing and theme

Rihanna teamed up once again with record producers Evan Rogers and Carl Sturken who made most of the tracks in her previous album, Music of the Sun, and Norwegian production duo Stargate. Rihanna also collaborated with her Def Jam label-mate singer-songwriter Shaffer "Ne-Yo" Smith in addition to Jamaican reggae and dancehall artist Sean Paul. She co-wrote three songs in the new album. Late in February 2006, Rihanna was almost done recording her second studio album.

From her light and uptempo debut effort, Music of the Sun, A Girl Like Me reveals new types of genres and the album's theme speaks of girl experiences. In an interview, Rihanna said, "Now I'm singing about experiences that I've gone through and stuff that other 18-year-old girls go through, so it's all about progression." A Girl Like Me follows the disco-ish mode of its predecessor but introduces new genres like the old rock and roll which is being represented by rock and reggae mash-up "Kisses Don't Lie." The new effort also presents her new side with songs like "A Million Miles Away" and "Unfaithful", which are of ballad elements.

Chart performance

The album debuted at number five on the U.S. Billboard 200 with over 115,000 copies sold in its first week, nearly twice the debut sales of Music of the Sun. It debuted at number six on the UK Album Chart with 24,000 copies sold that week, and reached its peak of number five in July due to the popularity of new single "Unfaithful". To date the album has sold 400,000 copies in the UK. In the United States it has been certified Platinum by the RIAA and it has also achieved a platinum certification in Europe. In 2006, the album ended the year as the 20th best-selling album in the world.

The lead single, "SOS" (also known as "S.O.S. (Rescue Me)", achieved considerable airplay throughout the United States and Canada and reached high peak positions on both airplay charts. It contains samples of the 1981 cover version of "Tainted Love" from Soft Cell. The song peaked at number two in the UK and at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. "Unfaithful", the second single, peaked at number six on the Hot 100, however, outside the US it performed better becoming a number one hit in Portugal and Switzerland and reaching the top 10 across 16 countries. The third single, "We Ride", was released to U.S. radio on August 21 and wasn't nearly as successful as the previous two singles, not charting on the Billboard Hot 100 (it peaked at number six on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart); it was, however, a number-one club hit and it charted in the top 10 in New Zealand and Finland. The fourth single from the album was "Break It Off" (featuring Sean Paul), peaked at number nine on the Hot 100 to become Rihanna's fourth top ten single in the United States.

Critical reception

A Girl Like Me generally received mixed to positive reviews from critics. David Jeffries of the Allmusic said that "Versatile urban dance-pop singer Rihanna gracefully avoids the sophomore slump with A Girl Like Me, a less tropical-flavored, more urban effort than her sun-and-fun debut." Songs including "SOS", "Unfaithful" and "Break It Off" gained particularly good notices. The Observer noted "Chuck in a bit of Sugababes-esque harmony, some M.I.A.-style electro and a dollop of reggae, and you're even closer to getting Rihanna. If you liked last year's ridiculously catchy 'Pon De Replay', there's more of the same here."

Track listing

1. "SOS" (J. Rotem, E. Kidd Bogart, E. Cobb) – 4:00
2. "Kisses Don't Lie" (Evan Rogers, Carl Sturken, Rihanna Fenty) – 3:53
3. "Unfaithful" (S. Smith, T. Hermansen, M. Eriksen) – 3:48
4. "We Ride" (M. Riddick, T. Hermansen, M. Eriksen) – 3:56
5. "Dem Haters" (featuring Dwane Husbands) (M. Flowers, M. Hallim, A. Clarke, V. Morgan, E. Rogers, C. Sturken) – 4:19
6. "Final Goodbye" (Charlene Gilliam,Curtis Richardson,Luke McMaster) – 3:14
7. "Break It Off" (featuring Sean Paul) (Donovan Bennet, K. Ford, Rihanna Fenty, Sean Paul Henriques) – 3:34
8. "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" (featuring J-Status) (E. Rogers, C. Sturken, D. Virgo, A. Barwise, B. Barwise, O. Stewart, A. Thompson) – 3:23
9. "Selfish Girl" (E. Rogers, C. Sturken) – 3:38
10. "P.S. (I'm Still Not Over You)" (E. Rogers, C. Sturken) – 4:11
11. "A Girl Like Me" (E. Rogers, C. Sturken, R. Fenty) – 4:18
12. "A Million Miles Away" (E. Rogers, C. Sturken) – 4:11
13. "If It's Lovin' That You Want (Part II)" (feat Cory Gunz) (Jean Claude Oliver, Samuel Barnes, Makeba, Alaxsander Mosely, Scott Larock, Lawrence Parker) – 4:08

Bonus tracks

1. "Who Ya Gonna Run To?" (E. Rogers, C. Sturken) (Japanese edition) – 4:04
2. "Pon de Replay" [Full Phat Remix] (UK, Dutch, Italian Best Buy edition) – 4:04
3. "Coulda Been the One" (E. Rogers, C. Sturken) (Japanese edition) – 3:38

Re-release

After the success of the album, it was re-released in a deluxe package in Germany titled A Girl Like Me: Deluxe Edition. The CD includes a bonus CD containing leftover tracks from A Girl Like Me and Music of the Sun. There is also an enhanced CD featuring two of her music videos.

The track listing is as follows:

Disc 1

14. "Pon de Replay" [Full Phatt remix] – 4:04

Disc 2

1. "Who Ya Gonna Run To?" – 4:04
2. "Coulda Been the One" – 3:38
3. "Should I?" (feat J-Status) – 3:06
4. "Hypnotized" – 4:15
5. "Unfaithful" [NU Soul remix] –

Enhanced CD

1. "SOS" [video]
2. "Unfaithful" [video]

Release history

Region	Date
Japan	April 19, 2006
Europe	April 21, 2006
United Kingdom	April 24, 2006
United States	April 25, 2006

Singles

"SOS"

"Unfaithful"

"We Ride"

"Break It Off"

Charts and certifications

Chart (2006)	Peak position	Certification	Sales
Australian ARIA Albums Chart	9	Platinum	70,000
Canadian Albums Chart	1	Platinum	100,000
Czech Albums Chart	7
Finnish Albums Chart	30
French Albums Chart	18	Gold	139,600
German Albums Chart	13	Gold	100,000
Irish Albums Chart	5	2x Platinum	30,000
Japanese Oricon Albums Chart	4
Mexican Albums Chart	60
Netherlands Albums Chart	1
New Zealand RIANZ Albums Chart	8	Gold	7,500+
Poland Albums Chart	42
Spain Album Chart	81
Swedish Album Chart	29
Swiss Albums Chart	6	Platinum	30,000
UK Albums Chart	5	Platinum	300,000
U.S. Billboard 200	5	Platinum	1,000,000+
United World Chart	3	Platinum	4,986,800

Personnel and production

• Executive producers: Carter Administration
• Co-executive producers: Evan Rogers, Carl Sturken
• Producer: Mike City, Gussie Clarke, Don Corleon, Mikkel S. Eriksen,Tor E. Hermansen, Poke & Tone, Evan Rogers, J. R. Rotem, Carl Sturken, The Conglomerate
• Vocal producer: Makeba Riddick
• Engineers: James Auwater, Donovan "Vendetta" Bennett, Franny "Franchise" Graham, Jeremy Harding, Al Hemberger, Malcolm Pollack, J. R. Rotem, Tiger Stylz
• Mastering: Chris Gehringer
• Mixing: Jason Goldstein, Jason Groucott, Al Hemberger
• A&R: Jay Brown, Adrienne Muhammad, Tyran "Ty Ty" Smith
• Art direction: Alli Truch
• Violin: Abe Appleman

External links

• ThisIsRihanna.com — official website
• MySpace.com/Rihanna — official MySpace page

Vorlage:Rihanna