"Love on the Brain" was the first song commissioned for Rihanna's album Anti. Norwegian producer Fred Ball co-wrote and produced the song. "Love on the Brain" was covered by various artists including Kelly Clarkson, Ava Max, Little Mix and S'22kile from Idols SA season 17. Rihanna performed the track during her Anti World Tour, as well as at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards and the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards. It was certified 5× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The song reached number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart it became Rihanna's 22nd top-five single breaking her tie with Elvis Presley as the artist with the 5th most top-five singles, and it was also her 30th top-ten single tying her with Madonna and The Beatles. "Love on the Brain" reached number one on the Polish Singles Chart, as well as the top-twenty in France and New Zealand, and top-forty in Austria, Canada, and Germany. Lyrically, the song has themes of swinging back and forth between the highs and lows of toxic love. Its instrumentation consists of a guitar arpeggio, swirling organ, a simple chord progression, syncopated strings, and orchestra. "Love on the Brain" is a doo-wop and soul ballad inspired by 1950s and 1960s music. The song was sent to the US rhythmic contemporary and urban contemporary radio stations on 27 September 2016 as the album's fourth and final single.
It was written by Joseph Angel and produced by Fred Ball, with additional writing by Rihanna. The narrator is already broken and the last thing left for them to do is try, and try harder.Īlthough this song might be dedicated to Rihanna's abusive relationship with Chris Brown, I believe that it is more emotionally related, since it has affected the brain (where all emotions are conveyed)." Love on the Brain" is a song recorded by Barbadian singer Rihanna for her eighth studio album, Anti (2016). The narrator's lack of control means that they have to somehow cope with the situation and since this feeling is so strong this line states that they are willing to do everything to win the other's heart, regardless of how hard and emotionally draining it may be. Hence the "Must be love on the brain" lines which state the narrator's helplessness in the situation and their lack of control over their feelings which get us to one of the most emotional parts ("What do I gotta do to get in your motherfuckin’ heart?"). This love that has savoured the narrator is in their brain and this is the only reason why they cannot get over it, becaue biologically all feelings are commanded by it. The narrator is desperate for the other's love, attention and appreciation and even though it hurts them, I believe it's more of a mental pain that this song is about, ("It beats me black and blur/ but it fucks me so good") they are so intoxicates by it that they "can't get enough" and it keeps reminding of itself all the time, probably by dreams, memories, ect., ("And it keeps cursing my name") that all effort the narrator puts into forgetting the other one is basically pointless, because the need and the wanting are stronger that their will to get over it.Īll the narrator asks for is for the other to love them and to stop this mentally abusive relationship ("All you need to do is love me yeah"). This love is so strong yet so tiring, probably both mentally and physically, ("And I run for miles just to get a taste"). However, the narrator's love towards the other mentally abusive lover is so strong that they are "fisting with fire/ just to get close to you". They put so much effort into this relationship ("And I tried to buy your pretty heart/ but the price too high") and are left with nothing else to give ("What do you want from me?") as the other has treated them in such a bad way ("So you can put me together/ And throw me against the wall") and has exhausted them emotionally. The narrator is head-over-heels for the other one. My InterpretationIn my opinion this song is about on-sided love, that hurts the narrator because the other person only uses their feelings and plays with them ("I'm tired of being played like a violin".)
What do I gotta do to get in your motherfuckin' heart?
No matter what I do, I'm no good without you It beats me black and blue but it fucks me so goodĪnd it keeps cursing my name (cursing my name) That's got me feeling this way (feeling this way) What you want from me? (What you want from me?)Īnd I tried to buy your pretty heart, but the price too high