Length 3:32 Producer(s) StarGate
Kuk Harrell | Label Def Jam
SRP "We All Want Love"
(7) "Drunk on Love"
(8) | |
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Recorded 2011; Roc the Mic Studios (New York City) ; Westlake Recording Studios (Los Angeles); The Hide Out Studios (London) Writer(s) Ester Dean
Mikkel S. Eriksen
Tor Erik Hermansen
Baria Qureshi
Romy Croft
Oliver Sim
Jamie Smith | ||
"Drunk on Love" is a song by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna, from her sixth studio album Talk That Talk (2011). The song was written by Ester Dean, Traci Hale, Mikkel S. Eriksen and Tor Erik Hermansen of StarGate and Baria Qureshi, Romy Croft, Oliver Sim and Jamie Smith of The xx, with production helmed by StarGate. A power ballad, "Drunk on Love" samples the melody of The xx's song "Intro", which was included on their debut album xx. Instrumentation consists of "a storm of drums" and "clattering synths." The song garnered mixed reviews from music critics, as they were divided on the song's composition as well as Rihanna's vocal performance. Upon the release of Talk That Talk, the song charted at number 55 on the South Korea Gaon International Chart and number 153 on the UK Singles Chart.
Contents
Recording and production
"Drunk on Love" was written by Ester Dean, Traci Hale, Mikkel S. Eriksen and Tor Erik Hermansen of StarGate and Baria Qureshi, Romy Croft, Oliver Sim and Jamie Smith of The xx. Production of the song was helmed by StarGate. Rihanna recorded the song at several recording studios around the world during her Loud Tour (2011), including Roc the Mic Studios, New York City, New York; Westlake Recording Studios, Los Angeles, California and The Hide Out Studios, London, United Kingdom. It was recorded by Eriksen, Miles Walker and Mike Anderson. Vocal producer Kuk Harrell carried out the vocal production and vocal recording; Marcos Tovar was also involved with the vocal recording. Alejandro Barajas served as the assistant vocal producer. "Drunk on Love" was mixed by Phil Tan and assisted by Daniella Rivera, while Eriksen and Hermansen provided instrumentation.
Composition and lyrics
"Drunk on Love" has been described as "trancey" and Europop-influenced power ballad. The song last for a duration of three minutes and 32 seconds. Instrumentation consists of "a storm of drums" and "clattering synths." Katherine St. Asaph for Popdust described the song's percussion as "huge." The song samples the melody of The xx's song "Intro", which was included on their debut album xx. Robert Copsey for Digital Spy noted that Rihanna describes herself as someone who wants to be loved in the lyric "I just wanna be in love" as she sings about being a "hopeless romantic". He also described the lyric "I wear my heart on my sleeve/ Always let love take the lead" as Talk That Talk's "most thoughtful" line. St. Asaph described the lyric "I love the way you taste on my lips when we kiss" as "PG-13 at best," and wrote that it is not possible to be "lovelorn" as well as filthy at the same time.
According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com, "Drunk on Love" is written in the key of A minor (recorded in G♯ minor) with a moderate pop tempo of 100 beats per minute. The song follows a progression Am−F−Am−F, and Rihanna's vocals span from A3 to E5.
Critical reception
"Drunk on Love" garnered mixed reviews from music critics. Sam Lansky for MTV Buzzworthy was complimentary of song, writing that only Rihanna is able to include an xx sample and sing love metaphors and make it sound "fresh." He praised Rihanna's vocal performance, calling it one of her best to date. Lansky also noted that Rihanna is "emotionally charged" when she sings the chorus. A reviewer for Sputnikmusic compared the song to one of Rihanna's previous songs from her fifth studio album, Loud, "What's My Name?", writing "'Drunk On Love' is reminiscent of Loud's best song, 'What's My Name,' with Rihanna singing 'I love it, I crave it' with serious conviction and confident, powerful vocals." Jason Lipshutz for Billboard described the song's production as "dynamic" and that Rihanna displays her "full range." He continued to write that it would be a good decision to release "Drunk on Love" as a single.
Meena Rupani of DesiHits was complimentary of the song's club appeal, but did not feel that the song was a standout or memorable track. Katherine St. Asaph for Popdust had mixed opinions of the song. As part of her introduction, she praised its composition and inclusion of The xx's sample of "Intro" and described the song as being "heavy" and "slightly emo." St. Asaph was complimentary of its melodramatic style, and added that "The xx sample does most of the heavy drifting here, but it's well-used–notice how the vocals of the original become backing vocals for Rihanna with almost no adulteration." However, she was critical of how the song's composition builds, writing that instead of starting quietly and building to its "bombast", it starts somewhere between quiet and loud and ends past [sic] its "bombast". As a sidenote, St. Asaph noted that Rihanna does not in fact sound drunk on the song, but wrote that it does not affect the outcome. Lindsay Zoladz of Pitchfork Media was critical of the song, labeling the chorus as "weak" and Rihanna's vocal performance as too "bombast" for the xx's "laid-back" sample.
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Talk That Talk, Def Jam Recordings, SRP Records.
Charts
Upon the release of Talk That Talk, "Drunk on Love" debuted and peaked on the South Korea Gaon International Chart at number 55 on November 26, 2011, with sales of 7,727 digital downloads. It also debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 153 in the chart issue December 3, 2011. On August 12, 2012, "Drunk on Love" debuted on the UK R&B Chart at number 23.