Who wrote the song Under My Umbrella by Rihanna?

Back in 2007, Rihanna debuted her new single “Umbrella” to a worldwide audience. The video was a smash, and the song marked a pivotal evolutionary moment in the singer’s image and career.

“Umbrella” went platinum six times in the U.S. alone and has become synonymous with RiRi. But as the story goes, the track was once offered to the queen of hip-hop soul, Mary J. Blige.

‘Umbrella’ was offered to two artists before Rihanna

Popular songs often have legends attached to them, and that’s the case for “Umbrella.” It was written by the song-writing trio Terius “The Dream” Nash, Christopher “Tricky” Stewart, and Kuk Harrell. Fun fact: Britney Spears was the inspiration behind it.

In 2017, The Dream did a guest spot on Drink Champs and spoke about the famous record. Fans may recall a 2007 incident when Spears was at a gas station and thrashed a paparazzi’s car with an umbrella. The Dream said he felt for Spears and the song was for her.

“That record was written out of pure pressure in life,” he said. “I was getting checks out of the game. I had a publishing deal. It clicked. It’s almost like having an out of body experience. I watched myself walk in and write that record. The record was written for Britney Spears.”

After Spears’ team turned it down (they supposedly didn’t see its potential), The Dream and his team offered the song to Mary J. Blige.

https://twitter.com/WORLDMUSICAWARD/status/979404368326819840

Mary J. Blige passed on ‘Umbrella’

For a while, some believed it was just a rumor that “Umbrella” went to Blige before Rihanna. But the “Love Yourself” singer confirmed the story during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.

While promoting Power Book II: Ghost, Blige did a Q&A segment that included fan questions, and someone asked if the “Umbrella” rumor was true.

“Yes!” Blige replied. “It was during Grammy time for me. It was a big Grammy time; I was nominated for eight Grammys and I was trying to get myself together for that. And during that time, that’s when ‘Umbrella’ came to me and I couldn’t do anything with it because I was so busy with my own life.”

Blige added that the record didn’t really fit with her sound and she passed on it. She felt like it was meant for Rihanna.

Cohen asked if she regretted the decision and Blige said no. “It was tailor-made for Rihanna,” she said, stating that it was perfect for her.

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‘Umbrella’ was a career-changing hit for Rihanna

By 2007, Rihanna already established herself with hits such as “Pon De Replay,” “SOS,” and “Unfaithful,” and when “Umbrella” came along, her career skyrocketed. Once Jay-Z and L.A. Reid secured the record for her, she took it and put her own spin on it.

Along with that hot track, Good Girl Gone Bad spawned the single “Don’t Stop the Music” and the album earned RiRi her first Grammy. At just 19 years old, she dropped one of the biggest songs of the decade and has been in the game ever since in fashion, beauty, and music.

Rihanna has collected many hits throughout her career. So many, in fact, that she is able to afford to take a sprawling break from releasing music altogether and not lose an ounce of her star power (of course, having a wildly successful clothing and make-up line helps to keep your name out there in the meantime).

Though she released a few name-making tracks prior, arguably the one that cemented her status as a pop icon came in 2007 with “Umbrella.” The track stayed atop the US Billboard Hot 100 for seven consecutive weeks and clinched two Grammy nominations. It is still one of the first songs that come to mind when you mention Rihanna’s name. But what is the meaning behind “Umbrella?” Find out below.

Behind the Meaning

Jay-Z opens up this song with a bombastic verse about his status. In contrast to Rihanna’s verses – which stress that money and fame aren’t important to her —it’s diamonds and stock options that will shelter her from any storm. His inclusion went on to win the duo a Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.

No clouds in my stones
Let it rain, I hydroplane in the bank
Coming down with the Dow Jones
When the clouds come, we gone, we Roc-A-Fella
We fly higher than weather, in G5’s or better
You know me (You know me)
In anticipation for precipitation, stack chips for the rainy day
Jay—Rain Man is back
With Little Miss Sunshine, Rihanna, where you at?

[RELATED: Behind the Song Lyrics of “We Found Love” by Rihanna]

Across the song, Rihanna is talking to a partner that doesn’t have the same status as her. Despite their differences, she promises to protect them from the proverbial rain—anything that threatens their relationship. They will shine through each other’s successes and deal with their failures side by side. The chorus is the most evocative of that idea and is one of the most recognizable refrains of the mid-00s.

Because, when the sunshine, we shine together
Told you I’ll be here forever
Said I’ll always be your friend
Took an oath, I’ma stick it out to the end
Now that it’s raining more than ever
Know that we’ll still have each other
You can stand under my umbrella

Origins

Before it fell into Rihanna’s hands, “Umbrella” was tossed around to a couple of other artists. The Dream and Tricky Stewart originally wrote it with Britney Spears in mind, but her label ultimately rejected it.

It then went to Mary J. Blige, who revealed in an interview with MTV, “They did the song for me. And it was during the Grammy time and I was really, really busy, and I heard it, and I was like, ‘Oh my goodness, that’s a smash. I love this song.’ And it was like, ‘It’s yours.’ So in the midst of it being mine, they were probably telling [Rihanna] it was hers. She’s such a beautiful lady, and I love her to death. I was so glad that she caught it and knocked it out of the park, and it’s still one of my favorite songs to date.”

“Umbrella” eventually found a permanent home on Rihanna’s third album, Good Girl Gone Bad (2007). Jay-Z hopped on for a feature adding some social capital to the release.

Tom Holland Lip Sync Battle

It’s funny how songs develop over time. Though the ultimate dream for an artist is to have a song that stands the test of time, that renaissance often comes from the most unlikely of sources. For “Umbrella,” that moment came via a 2017 lip sync battle between Spiderman actors Tom Holland and Zendaya.

[RELATED: Dr. Dre Offers Advice to Rihanna Ahead of Super Bowl Halftime Show – ‘Put the Right People Around You’]

Holland, a seasoned dancer, far exceeded everyone’s expectations by delivering a powerhouse performance of “Singin’ in the Rain” mashed up with “Umbrella.” As the Broadway classic switched over to the pop hit, Holland shed his coattails and revealed a saucy little lingerie number. He then lip-synced, like his life depended on it, to “Umbrella,” splashing around in pools of water and busting out moves we’re sure few thought the Englishman capable of. It is a truly iconic moment in pop culture – Rihanna can’t be too mad at that legacy.

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