9 fun facts about Rihanna's Music of the Sun

Ten years ago Sunday, a 17-year-old Rihanna (born Robyn Rihanna Fenty) gifted fans her debut album Music of the Sun. The record’s lead single “Pon de Replay,” a catchy summer jam with an island beat, filled clubs and summer camps alike during 2005’s warmer months, and reached No. 10 on the Billboard 200. Now with seven albums and collaborations with Drake, Jay Z, Kanye West, and Paul McCartney under her belt, it’s clear that pop’s bad girl is a music mainstay. In honor of the 10th anniversary of RiRi’s inaugural offering, enjoy these fun facts you might’ve forgot since Music of the Sun first dropped:

1. She had the name for the album before “Music of the Sun” was written.

2. Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers — who’ve worked with Kelly Clarkson and Christina Aguilera — produced Music of the Sun. Friends of Rogers’ Barbadian wife put the producer in touch with Rihanna, who then moved into the couple’s Connecticut home after landing a deal with Def Jam.

3. Despite being an industry newcomer, Grammy Award-winning songwriters lent Rihanna a hand on Music of the Sun. Diane Warren co-wrote the title track, and Deniece Williams lent a hand on “Willing to Wait.”

4. Rihanna didn’t like “Pon de Replay” upon first listen. “When I first heard that song, I didn’t want to do it, because it was very sing-songy and very — whatever. Nursery-rhymish,” she told Artistdirect. “But after I started recording it, I went along with it and started liking it.”

5. “You Don’t Love Me (No, No, No),” the fourth cut on Music of the Sun, is actually a cover of Jamaican singer Dawn Penn’s song, which debuted nine years earlier. Beyonce also covered the track during her I Am… World Tour.

6. After Jay Z played “Pon de Replay” for Clear Channel personnel, a staffer drove a copy of the track to Z100’s New York City studio to make its debut.

7. The album’s second single, “If It’s Lovin’ That You Want,” failed to meet the success of “Pon de Replay,” peaking at No. 9. (“Pon de Replay” topped at No. 2, stuck behind Mariah Carey’s “We Belong Together.”)

8. Rihanna toured with Gwen Stefani and 50 Cent to promote Music of the Sun.

9. In 2005, the Barbadian singer named Kanye West as the artist she’d most like to work with one day, proving dreams really do come true.

Related Stories

?Rihanna’s ‘Bitch Better Have My Money’ music video is bonkers, fantastic and totally NSFW

?Rihanna becomes first artist ever to hit 100 million digital sales

?Rihanna will join The Voice as key advisor