“Love on the Brain” has a 1950’s doo-wop sound that is similar to other contemporary songs like Amy Winehouse’s “Wake Up Alone” and Beyoncé’s “Superpower.” The chord progression, guitar line, and organ are reminiscent of Al Green’s “For the Good Times.”
[Verse 1]
And you got me like, oh
What you want from me? (What you want from me?)
And I tried to buy your pretty heart, but the price too high
Baby, you got me like, oh, mmm
You love when I fall apart (Fall apart)
So you can put me together and throw me against the wall
[Pre-Chorus]
Baby, you got me like, I, woo, I
Don't you stop loving me (Loving me)
Don't quit loving me (Loving me)
Just start loving me, oh (Loving me)
[Chorus]
And, babe, I'm fist-fighting with fire
Just to get close to you
Can we burn something, babe?
And I'll run for miles just to get a taste
Must be love on the brain
That's got me feeling this way (Feeling this way)
It beats me black and blue, but it fucks me so good
And I can't get enough
Must be love on the brain, yeah
And it keeps cursing my name (Cursing my name)
No matter what I do, I'm no good without you
And I can't get enough
Must be love on the brain
[Verse 2]
Baby, keep loving me
Just love me, yeah
Just love me
All you need to do is love me, yeah
Got me like, ow
I'm tired of being played like a violin
What do I gotta do to get in your motherfuckin' heart?
[Pre-Chorus]
Baby, like, I, woo I
Don't you stop loving me (Loving me)
Don't quit loving me (Loving me)
Just start loving me, ooh (Loving me)
[Chorus]
And, babe, I'm fist-fighting with fire
Just to get close to you
Can we burn something, babe?
And I'll run for miles just to get a taste
Must be love on the brain
That's got me feeling this way (Feeling this way)
It beats me black and blue, but it fucks me so good
And I can't get enough
Must be love on the brain, yeah
And it keeps cursing my name (Cursing my name)
No matter what I do, I'm no good without you
And I can't get enough
Must be love on the brain
[Click here to learn more about the making of "Love on the Brain"]
Love on the Brain was written by Joseph Angel & Fred Ball & Rihanna.
Love on the Brain was produced by Fred Ball & Kuk Harrell.
Rihanna released Love on the Brain on Thu Jan 28 2016.
Yes, but Vibe’s review of the song said her voice sounded “whiney” in the beginning of the song, and there is also all-tenor backup vocals, so it could be easy to mistake the vocals for many parts of this song, as belonging to someone other than Rihanna.
There are all-tenor backup vocals, as well, but as for the lead vocals, those belong to Rihanna. A writer for Slate magazine commented that this was a song “designed as a showcase for [her] vocal versatility.”
She starts out singing high and sweet, then drops into her chest to show off the lower pa...
According to HeadlinePlanet the song has sold three million copies in the US as of March 16th, 2018.
“Love on the Brain” peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the chart week of March 25, 2017. It spent a total of 31 weeks on the chart, and is the third longest-charting song from the album.
On November 4, 2021, “Love on the Brain” was certified 5x multi-platinum by the RIAA.