Rihanna Sets Chart Record In The UK

Turns out pairing up with Scottish DJ/producer/pop star Calvin Harris for lead Talk That Talk single “We Found Love” was a stroke of genius for Rihanna, because she’s now set a chart record in Calvin’s homeland. “We Found Love” topped the official UK single chart this week, marking Vogue bombshell RiRi’s sixth #1 hit in the country in five years — a feat the Official Charts Company notes is “unequaled by any other female solo artist.” But what about Lily Allen or Beyonce or Lady Gaga or Britney Spears, you ask? Turns out Britney scored five #1s between 1998 and 2004 (her last being “Everytime”), while the breakdown of UK #1 hits over the past five years for Lily, Beyonce and Gaga is as follows:

Lily Allen’s UK #1s (since 2006): 1. “Smile” 2. “The Fear”

Beyonce’s UK #1s (since 2006): 1. “Deja Vu” 2. “Beautiful Liar” (with Shakira) 3. “If I Were A Boy” 4. “Telephone” (with Lady Gaga)

Lady Gaga’s UK #1s (since 2006) 1. “Just Dance” 2. “Poker Face” 3. “Bad Romance” 4. “Telephone” (with Beyonce)

For the record, here are Rihanna’s six chart-topping singles in the UK to date:

1. “Umbrella” 2. “Take A Bow” 3. “Run This Town” (with Jay-Z & Kanye West) 4. “Only Girl (In The World)” 5. “What’s My Name” (with Drake) 6. “We Found Love” (with Calvin Harris)

Here in the US, Rihanna has hit the top of the Hot 100 no less than 10 times, starting with “SOS” in 2006. Her most recent #1 single in the States was “S&M.” This past week, “We Found Love” moved up to #9 on the Hot 100.