Rihanna‘s breakout hit ‘Pon De Replay’ which turned 18 earlier this year is official certified 2x platinum in the U.K. for selling 1,200,000 in that country. The catchy dancehall-pop anthem released May 24, 2005 was the debut single from her debut Caribbean inspired studio album, “Music of the Sun.” The certification for the Diwali clap riddim driven song was issued by the British Phonographic Industry on Friday September 29, 2023 and comes just four years after it was certified Platinum on July 12, 2019 for selling 600,000 units.
Music Of The Sun which offered diversity to the pop music scene when it was released peaked at number 10 on the Billboard 200 chart and peaked at No. 35 on the U.K. chart. It is certified gold by the Recording industry Association Of America and Gold in the U.K.
Since then, the Barbadian Billionaire has become the top certified female artist in the U.K. with over 50 million certified units in the country across her catalog.
“Pon de Replay,” recorded in 2004, marked the beginning of Rihanna’s remarkable career, setting the stage for her subsequent dancehall hits like “Work” and “Man Down” and other record-breaking achievements. The single not only showcased her vocal talent but also her ability to connect with listeners on a personal level. It was part of the Barbadian singer’s demo tape which was penned by songwriters Alisha Brooks, Vada Nobles, Carl Sturken, and Evan Rogers, who also handled produced the track.
The accompanying music video, directed by Little X was filmed in Toronto’s Republik Nightclub, with dancehall performances and cameos from Kardinal Official electrifying performance ignites a bored crowd, turning the nightclub into a vibrant, energetic dancehall haven.
The song reached number two on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, narrowly missing the top spot held by Mariah Carey’s “We Belong Together” and went on to spend 12 weeks in the top 10. The DefJam release was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on August 28, 2020 making it one of the 50 most successful dancehall songs of all time in the U.S.
Internationally, the song made waves across the globe, peaking at number one in New Zealand and achieving top-five positions in several countries, including the UK, Austria, and Switzerland. In Australia, it received platinum certification from the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).
