Rihanna’s “Pon de Replay” is 16 years old as of May 24, that is just one year less than then unknown Barbadian singer’s age when she released the debut single. The track from her first studio album, Music of the Sun, dropped May 24, 2005.
“Pon de Replay” was recorded at The Loft Recording Studios. Songwriters include Alisha Brooks, Vada Nobles, Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers. Brooks, Nobles and Sturken also produced.
Nobles told Vulture last year how “Pon de Replay” quickly crossed over to pop radio and propelled Rihanna to pop stardom.
Back in the day, black artists did not skip over black radio and go straight pop. If that happened, then they would get alienated and have problems backtracking at black radio. “Pon de Replay” crossed over right away. She wasn’t really getting the initial respect and support from black radio. She’s an international pop star because she was introduced as a pop artist. Now, when they did the “Umbrella” record, they were grabbing urban [radio]. And the great thing about it is she did so well at pop that her urban records went pop. I think “Pon de Replay” is an international classic record.
Vada Nobles via Vulture
The Video
Video auteur Director X created the video which had racked up over 151 million views on YouTube.
Director X told Vulture he shot the clip in Toronto and “wanted to put that flavor around her with kids who came from the culture and understood it.”
'Pon de Replay' Essential Reading and Viewing An Oral History of Rihanna’s ‘Pon de Replay’ - Vulture 'Pon de Replay' music video - Vevo/YouTube How Well Do You Remember the Lyrics to Rihanna's 'Pon de Replay'? - MTV
“Pon de Replay” peaked at #1 on the Billboard charts on July 30, 2005. The track spent 34 weeks on the charts.
Rihanna discussed the single and video production with MTV in 2005:
Rihanna performed the single live from Miami on MTV when it was released:
AOL Sessions and MSN performances by Rihanna:
