[Vanitas]

Originally posted by GreasyBruce

No shade, I like a lot of her music, but in the music industry you can change a few words or request that the song be a bit different in some aspect, or add a couple harmonies that weren't in the original music sheet and it counts as a writing credit.

It comes down to this, basically.

[Chemical X.]

I don't think Rihanna is a songwriter per se, but I do think she makes changes to the demos she's given and works with her favorites (Ester Dean, The-Dream, James Fauntleroy) to develop the songs she wants and convey the ideas she wants to convey. I think the only time she was heavily-involved in writing/production was Rated R and Unapologetic. Some of the songs on those albums feel too much like "Rihanna" to solely be made by other people. But I'll gladly agree that Rihanna is usually not writing the bulk of her songs- but she's never really claimed to do so? Like her name is usually at the end of the credit list for a reason

Beyond that, why would she randomly steal writing credits on songs that the average person will never hear? What does she gain from being the second or third credited writer on a few album tracks? It doesn't make sense, especially when she has practically zero writing credits from her two biggest eras. To imply that every single Rihanna writing credit in existence is fake is just absurd

[GreasyBruce]

Originally posted by Chemical X.

I don't think Rihanna is a songwriter per se, but I do think she makes changes to the demos she's given and works with her favorites (Ester Dean, The-Dream, James Fauntleroy) to develop the songs she wants and convey the ideas she wants to convey. I think the only time she was heavily-involved in writing/production was Rated R and Unapologetic. Some of the songs on those albums feel too much like "Rihanna" to solely be made by other people. But I'll gladly agree that Rihanna is usually not writing the bulk of her songs- but she's never really claimed to do so? Like her name is usually at the end of the credit list for a reason

Beyond that, why would she randomly steal writing credits on songs that the average person will never hear? What does she gain from being the second or third credited writer on a few album tracks? It doesn't make sense, especially when she has practically zero writing credits from her two biggest eras. To imply that every single Rihanna writing credit in existence is fake is just absurd

Money of course A large amount of royalties from each album sold go to the songwriters, more so than the performers of the music. Considering she's been selling 3-5m albums each year since 2007 (the end cycle of the album she released the last year + the first months of the new album) that's a lot of $$$.

[RomanNavy]

I just don't understand why Rih haters like Manny or 99% of the hive care about whether Rihanna wrote her songs or not. She's still the best selling digital artist in the US and the biggest selling female in the UK. Her vocals add something very pleasant, special and heavenly to a track and looking at the receipts the rest of the world agrees.

[BlueTimberwolf]

Originally posted by IsidoraMarí

If that was true her name would've been on every song after GGGB and Rihanna's net worth would be 300 Million

Not surprised that they are all Def Jam artists. And we've known about Kanye for a while now.

[liberalmusiclover]

Originally posted by GeezusHaberdash

http://singersroom.com/content/2011-...ter-Speaks-Up/

???

What song has she ever written for Rihanna to say she doesn't deserve credit? NONE.

[MikeFenty]

Originally posted by Reaper

Because she isn't main writer i suppose. I think mostly (not always) she's just credited because she's too big artist now so real songwriters must accept her inclusion if they want their songs in her album

Well considering she has multiple songs without writing credits and 2 full album without them, I doubt it's the case.

[BlueTimberwolf]

Originally posted by IsidoraMarí

She's relatable, has a killer voice, sounds great on any and every song, and she performs like a Rockstar

[MikeFenty]

Originally posted by Ferrer

I care about songwriting. I think it adds genuine heart to the song when the person singing it actually had a say in the lyrics. No offense but Rihanna sounds like a soulless hit machine to me. I like artists who participate actively in the process of creating their songs.

Well then, you're going to love Rated R and Unapologetic.

[pink.hearts]

Originally posted by mannybillionz

Nnnnfffskll

So we're comparing Rihanna to Whitney and Elvis now Nobody cared that Whitney didnt write her own music , why? Because she was a powerhouse vocalist. They didn't care that much about Elvis' lack of songwriting either , why ? Because at least he knew how to play a few instruments and performed like a rock star. They both had saving graces , whats Rihanna's? Her ***** pat dance

!!! I'd buy the songwriting doesn't matter argument if she had something else to bring to the table talent wise but....

[Raava]

Originally posted by RomanNavy

But seriously who cares about songwriting
Whitney & Elvis never penned a single word for their songs and look how legendary they are.
Rather have some professional write some amazing lyrics for her than some cringe worthy kindergarten poet some artists put out.

Originally posted by M A R C

I don't understand the huge fuss about her not writing her own songs. Elvis is a legend and he didn't write any of his songs.

Yeah, they have their performance skills to make up for it. So have a lot of jazz players. But what does Rihanna have? Is she a legendary performer? No. A legendary singer? No. She should be a least a songwriter then. If she's not... What do you guys stan for when you listen to her? Listening to her occasionally I may understand. But stan for her songs? You're stanning for somebody else's work.

Originally posted by Ferrer

I care about songwriting. I think it adds genuine heart to the song when the person singing it actually had a say in the lyrics. No offense but Rihanna sounds like a soulless hit machine to me. I like artists who participate actively in the process of creating their songs.

This.

Originally posted by GreasyBruce

No shade, I like a lot of her music, but in the music industry you can change a few words or request that the song be a bit different in some aspect, or add a couple harmonies that weren't in the original music sheet and it counts as a writing credit.

Writing credits do not mean that you are an actual songwriter though. Songwriters are people who write entire songs, who are able to create art in the form of a song from scratch, without someone else literally writing an entire song for them and then just coming in and changing a couple of things. In the industry both things are considered "songwriting" as far as credits and royalties go, but it does not mean they are the same in practical terms or what is commonly understood by most people as songwriting. This applies to many other pop stars too.

Considering the fact that Rihanna has co-writers on every single track she has a credt in, puts out albums every year while also touring and promoting full time (leaving her little to time write songs from scratch), and has never really spoken about songwriting, it's not ludicrous to assume she might have just changed a few things (also check out the demo for Rude Boy by Ester Dean which is up on YouTube...which is exactly the same as the original, yet Rihanna has a credit on it).

Exactly.

Originally posted by mannybillionz

Nnnnfffskll

So we're comparing Rihanna to Whitney and Elvis now Nobody cared that Whitney didnt write her own music , why? Because she was a powerhouse vocalist. They didn't care that much about Elvis' lack of songwriting either , why ? Because at least he knew how to play a few instruments and performed like a rock star. They both had saving graces , whats Rihanna's? Her ***** pat dance

Thank you.

[J a y]

Half of whom claim so aren't aware Rihanna isn't her name.

[MikeFenty]

Originally posted by GeezusHaberdash

http://singersroom.com/content/2011-...ter-Speaks-Up/

???

That explains why she has credits on all her songs.

[Chemical X.]

Originally posted by GreasyBruce

Money of course A large amount of royalties from each album sold go to the songwriters, more so than the performers of the music. Considering she's been selling 3-5m albums each year since 2007 (the end cycle of the album she released the last year + the first months of the new album) that's a lot of $$$.

But why wouldn't she take credits on her biggest sellers or her music with the biggest hit potential? She has no credits on her best-selling albums and songs. I'm not saying that she has no incentive to make slight changes to the demos she receives, but I also don't think she's flat-out lying. Does she indulge in standard industry practices? I wouldn't doubt it. But to act as if she's never been involved with the process of her music is untrue imo.

[RudeBoyy]

Why do people insist the rude boy demo isn't missing half the second verse and half the bridge. Listen again cuz...

[Penny.]

ive literally always wondered the same thing
she has writing credits on so many songs & yet everyone here is always trying to drag her for not writing her own songs
she just keeps proving everyone wrong tho

[Dark Miracles]

Where are people getting these songwriting credits for the Unap songs from? She is nowhere in the songwriting credits in the album BOOKLET.

[Giliap]

Originally posted by halcyonday

Beyonce teas

not the first post.

[Minny]

you need to stop grasping for straws, Rihanna isn't a songwriter, and that's fine. not everyone has to be

[ABEL-o-matic]

Originally posted by RomanNavy

I just don't understand why Rih haters like Manny or 99% of the hive care about whether Rihanna wrote her songs or not. She's still the best selling digital artist in the US and the biggest selling female in the UK. Her vocals add something very pleasant, special and heavenly to a track and looking at the receipts the rest of the world agrees.

Let them be. If they say Rihanna hasn't made a single impact in the industry, then so be it.
She's only 26 years old, let's wait when she's 36 and has no living records to break anymore but her own.