Chart Rewind: In 2008, Rihanna Had a Monster Hit With ‘Disturbia’

“It’s safe to say that Rihanna is the premier artist of the second half of the decade, with no signs of wear and tear,” Michael Menachem wrote in a review of her then-new single, “Disturbia,” in the July 5, 2008, Billboard issue.

“This latest is a sort of ‘Thriller’ for partygoers, with multilayered vocals cascading across Ri’s lower register, alongside fun scatting, a la ‘bum bum bi dum bum,’” the spotlight lauded. “In short order, Rihanna has become the trustworthy ‘it’ girl of our time.”

The same week, “Disturbia” debuted at No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100. Among Rihanna’s prior 11 entries, she had never opened in the chart’s top half (starting at a No. 51 best to that point with “Unfaithful” in May 2006).

Seven weeks after its arrival, “Disturbia” hit No. 1 on the Hot 100 dated Aug. 23, 2008. Beginning a two-week reign, it became Rihanna’s fourth leader, following “Take a Bow” (one week, May 2008), “Umbrella,” featuring Jay-Z (seven weeks, June-July 2007) and “SOS” (three, May 2006).

“Disturbia” and “Take a Bow” were released from the deluxe Reloaded edition, released in June 2008, of Rihanna’s 2007 album Good Girl Gone Bad. “Umbrella” introduced the original version.

Among the writers of “Disturbia,” Chris Brown earned his second of two Hot 100 No. 1s as an author. He previously led as a writer and recording artist with “Kiss Kiss” in 2007. That hit was penned with T-Pain, who produced it and is featured on it.

“Disturbia” was solely produced by Brian Kennedy, who crowned the Hot 100 with his first entry in that role. He’s since added two more top 10s: Kelly Clarkson’s “Mr. Know-It-All” (No. 10 peak, November 2011) and Brown’s “Don’t Wake Me Up” (No. 10, November 2012). He most recently reached the chart via The Weeknd’s “Here We Go… Again,” featuring Tyler, The Creator, in 2022.

“Disturbia” also topped the Pop Airplay and Dance Club Songs charts and was nominated for best dance/electronic recording at the Grammy Awards in 2009.

Rihanna has, of course, continued to fulfill the promise of the praise in Billboard’s review of “Disturbia.” The superstar artist and fashion mogul has upped her count to 14 Hot 100 No. 1s — the most among all acts over the first quarter of the 21st century.