Ballad was trending that year?
Say Something, Stay
But I think maybe because Rihanna's image that time with her slower lead single, Diamonds
She made it with her new image
Also Right Now flopped even though it's more like Rihanna's singles last era (WFL, WHYB), because ppl love mellow Rihanna that time
It was the seasons when these duets about breakups were a thing. That's why Stay slayed together with Say Something, and the ultra-successful Just Give Me A Reason. Ergo, Rihanna is not just the major pop girl who had a hit ballad sans Adele in years.
