Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Given the proliferation of young and beautiful urban dance-pop divas dominating the radio and music video airwaves in 2005, it initially was tempting to discount Rihanna as yet another Beyoncé-Ciara-Ashanti cash-in. But like her Def Jam labelmate Teairra Mari -- another young and beautiful urban dance-pop diva who emerged out of nowhere in 2005 -- Rihanna is winsome rather than wannabe, thanks in no small part to her producers. Just as Teairra Mari benefited greatly from irresistibly shrewd beat-making on her debut album, Rihanna benefits from the knowing production work of Syndicated Rhythm Productions, aka Evan Rogers and Carl Sturken, who together produced a laundry list of contemporary teen pop sensations during the prior decade. What these guys do that's so irresistibly shrewd is synthesize Caribbean rhythms and beats with standard-issue urban dance-pop: Caribbean-inflected urban, if you will. So while a song like "Pon de Replay" -- to pick the most obvious exhibit -- is driven by booming dancehall-lite beats and a reggae vocal cadence (and title spelling), it's a simple dance-pop song at its core, with standard English-language singing as well as a can't-miss singalong hook (and a glitzy, urban-style MTV video to boot). The best songs on Music of the Sun follow this appealing template, including the similarly catchy few songs that follow the aforementioned album-opening smash hit: "Here I Go Again," "If It's Lovin' That You Want," and "You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)." As with most albums of this ilk, Music of the Sun descends into faceless slow jams after a while, overall consistency not being among its attributes, but thankfully it picks up the pace toward the end of its 13-song run and concludes on a fun note, with a remix of "Pon de Replay" featuring Elephant Man. The result is one of the more engaging urban dance-pop albums of the year (and one of the most infectious summer jams, for sure), as well as a nice Caribbean primer for those not ready or willing to jump on the increasingly trendy dancehall and reggaeton bandwagons concurrently sweeping through America's more fashionable cities.
© Jason Birchmeier /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From $10.83/month
Carl Sturken, Producer, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Evan Rogers, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Vada Nobles, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Alisha Brooks, ComposerLyricist - Rihanna, Vocals, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Blake Douglas, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jason Groucott, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Al Hemberger, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jason Agel, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Roy Matthews, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Val Brathwaite, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2005 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Carl Sturken, Producer, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Evan Rogers, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Robyn Fenty, ComposerLyricist - Rihanna, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Andrew Thompson, ComposerLyricist - Al Hemberger, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - J-Status, FeaturedArtist - Andrew Barwise, ComposerLyricist - Byron Barwise, ComposerLyricist - Oraine Stewart, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2005 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Makeba Riddick, Producer, Additional Producer, ComposerLyricist - Carl Sturken, Producer, Additional Producer - Evan Rogers, Producer, Additional Producer - Samuel Barnes, ComposerLyricist - Matt Noble, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lawrence Parker, ComposerLyricist - Scott Larock, ComposerLyricist - Spanador, Producer, Co-Producer - Rihanna, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Jason Goldstein, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Alexander Mosely, ComposerLyricist - Al Hemberger, Additional Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jean-Claude Oliver, ComposerLyricist - Poke & Tone, Producer
℗ 2005 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Carl Sturken, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Evan Rogers, Producer - ELLAS MCDANIEL, ComposerLyricist - Rihanna, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Vybz Kartel, FeaturedArtist - Dawn Penn, ComposerLyricist - Al Hemberger, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Willie Cobbs, ComposerLyricist - Dwayne Richard Chin-Quee, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 2005 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Carl Sturken, Producer, Additional Producer - Evan Rogers, Producer, Additional Producer - Gerard Charles, ComposerLyricist - Hugh Clarke, ComposerLyricist - Brian George, ComposerLyricist - Full Force, Producer, Mixer, Vocals, Vocal Arranger, Recording Engineer, Recording Arranger, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Lou$tar, Unknown, Other - Rihanna, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Curtis T. Bedeau, ComposerLyricist - Al Hemberger, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lucien George, ComposerLyricist - Paul Anthony George, ComposerLyricist - D. Emile, Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Cee Gee, Unknown, Other - Johnny Nice, Producer, Mixer, Co-Producer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Charlene Curry, Unknown, Other - Raphaella St. Vil, Unknown, Other - Sharina Sharpe, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2005 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Carl Sturken, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Evan Rogers, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Rihanna, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Al Hemberger, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Stephanie Cummins, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Debra Shufelt-Dine, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Elizabeth Nielson, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2005 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Carl Sturken, Producer, Keyboards, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Evan Rogers, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Robyn Fenty, ComposerLyricist - Deniece Williams, ComposerLyricist - Rihanna, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Henry Redd, ComposerLyricist - Nathan Watts, ComposerLyricist - Coton Greene, ComposerLyricist - Al Hemberger, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2005 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Carl Sturken, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Evan Rogers, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Diane Warren, ComposerLyricist - Rihanna, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Robyn Rihanna Fenty, ComposerLyricist - Al Hemberger, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2005 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Makeba Riddick, ComposerLyricist - Carl Sturken, Producer, Additional Keyboards, Co-Producer, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Evan Rogers, Producer, Co-Producer - Tor Erik Hermansen, Unknown, Other, ComposerLyricist - Mikkel S. Eriksen, Unknown, Other - Mikkel Eriksen, ComposerLyricist - Rihanna, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - StarGate, Producer - Al Hemberger, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2005 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Carl Sturken, Producer, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Evan Rogers, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Matt Noble, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rihanna, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Kardinal Offishall, FeaturedArtist - Al Hemberger, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2005 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Carl Sturken, Producer, Keyboards, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Evan Rogers, Producer, ComposerLyricist - E. Jordan, ComposerLyricist - Rihanna, MainArtist - Rudy Maya, Producer, Drums, Additional Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Al Hemberger, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - J-Status, FeaturedArtist
℗ 2005 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Carl Sturken, Piano, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Evan Rogers, ComposerLyricist - Cenovia Cummins, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Avril Brown, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Sortomme, Unknown, Other - Kenneth Burward-Hoy, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - ROB MOUNSEY, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Rihanna, MainArtist - Jan Mullen, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Robyn Rihanna Fenty, ComposerLyricist - Malcolm Pollack, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Ann Leathers, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Marti Sweet, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Sue Pray, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Shuman, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Locker, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Carol Webb, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Al Hemberger, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Vincent Lionti, Viola, AssociatedPerformer - Yana Goichman, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Uri Vodoz, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Lary Glazener, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
℗ 2005 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Carl Sturken, Producer, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Evan Rogers, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Vada Nobles, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Elephant Man, FeaturedArtist - Alisha Brooks, ComposerLyricist - Rihanna, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Blake Douglas, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jason Groucott, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Al Hemberger, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jason Agel, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Julius Diaz, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Roy Matthews, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Val Brathwaite, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Alex Pinto, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2005 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
Given the proliferation of young and beautiful urban dance-pop divas dominating the radio and music video airwaves in 2005, it initially was tempting to discount Rihanna as yet another Beyoncé-Ciara-Ashanti cash-in. But like her Def Jam labelmate Teairra Mari -- another young and beautiful urban dance-pop diva who emerged out of nowhere in 2005 -- Rihanna is winsome rather than wannabe, thanks in no small part to her producers. Just as Teairra Mari benefited greatly from irresistibly shrewd beat-making on her debut album, Rihanna benefits from the knowing production work of Syndicated Rhythm Productions, aka Evan Rogers and Carl Sturken, who together produced a laundry list of contemporary teen pop sensations during the prior decade. What these guys do that's so irresistibly shrewd is synthesize Caribbean rhythms and beats with standard-issue urban dance-pop: Caribbean-inflected urban, if you will. So while a song like "Pon de Replay" -- to pick the most obvious exhibit -- is driven by booming dancehall-lite beats and a reggae vocal cadence (and title spelling), it's a simple dance-pop song at its core, with standard English-language singing as well as a can't-miss singalong hook (and a glitzy, urban-style MTV video to boot). The best songs on Music of the Sun follow this appealing template, including the similarly catchy few songs that follow the aforementioned album-opening smash hit: "Here I Go Again," "If It's Lovin' That You Want," and "You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)." As with most albums of this ilk, Music of the Sun descends into faceless slow jams after a while, overall consistency not being among its attributes, but thankfully it picks up the pace toward the end of its 13-song run and concludes on a fun note, with a remix of "Pon de Replay" featuring Elephant Man. The result is one of the more engaging urban dance-pop albums of the year (and one of the most infectious summer jams, for sure), as well as a nice Caribbean primer for those not ready or willing to jump on the increasingly trendy dancehall and reggaeton bandwagons concurrently sweeping through America's more fashionable cities.
© Jason Birchmeier /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 13 track(s)
- Total length: 00:52:04
- Main artists: Rihanna
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Def Jam Recordings
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2005 The Island Def Jam Music Group ℗ 2005 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz?
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalog with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets, and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.