In 2017,Rihanna took an extended hiatus from music after the release of her eighth studio albumAnti (2016) and several collaborations, including "Wild Thoughts" withDJ Khaled, "Lemon" withN.E.R.D., "Loyalty" withKendrick Lamar, and her latest collaboration, "Believe It", withPartyNextDoor.[6] Following the birth of the singer's first child on May 13, 2022, Rihanna said she was working on new music.[7][8]
In October 2022, it was reported that the singer had recorded two songs for the soundtrack to the upcoming sequel to theMarvel Studios 2018 filmBlack Panther (2018), titledBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022).[9] On October 26, Rihanna announced the song which became her first solo single release since "Love on the Brain" (2016).[10][11] In addition to "Lift Me Up", Rihanna recorded the track "Born Again".[12]
According toClash, "Lift Me Up" is an "emotive"R&B ballad that "speaks from the heart".[13] Produced bySwedish composerLudwig Göransson, who composed the movie's score,[14] the song acts as a tribute to the lateChadwick Boseman, who playedT'Challa, the titular protagonist inBlack Panther; Boseman died on August 28, 2020.[6][15] The song was written by Rihanna, Göransson,Ryan Coogler andTems.[16] The latter spoke about the meaning and creative process of the song:[17]
After speaking with Ryan and hearing his direction for the film and the song, I wanted to write something that portrays a warm embrace from all the people that I've lost in my life. I tried to imagine what it would feel like if I could sing to them now and express how much I miss them. Rihanna has been an inspiration to me so hearing her convey this song is a great honor.
The song is performed in the key ofA major with atempo of 89 beats per minute incommon time. It follows a chord progression of A–Bm–E, and Rihanna's vocals span from G♯3 to E5 in the song.[18][19]
Spencer Kornhaber ofThe Atlantic described the song as "gorgeous" and stated that it "is built around her vocals and reasserts her ownership of her now-ubiquitous sound."[20]Harper's Bazaar's Bianca Betancourt thought Rihanna might earn her first nomination ofBest Original Song at theAcademy Awards for "Lift Me Up".[21]Dylan Green ofPitchfork described the singer's voice as "matured, with a burnished, mahogany sheen" capable of keeping "the ballad afloat, selling every crescendo and note of anguish", however also described it as a "generic entry for theBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack".[22]The Guardian's Shaad D'Souza was not particularly impressed with the song's lyrical content, writing that it is "light and frankly anonymous, a far cry fromAnti's bright, world-weary, highly emotional lyrics" believing that it is not Rihanna's true comeback record. However, the journalist appreciated the production and sounds, describing them as "a soft, swaying ballad built around a lovely arpeggiating harp and serene strings", although "there is little of the heft and power of Tems songs such as 'Free Mind' or 'Damages'."[23] Ed Potton ofThe Times rated the track 2 stars out of five, and wrote that even though it is "flawlessly sung over subtle strings by Rihanna", it is "forgettable" and "bland", adding that it "sounds like the result of a committee meeting — well meant, inoffensive, entirely devoid of individuality."[24]
In the United States, "Lift Me Up" debuted with nearly eight million streams, and 10,000 digital downloads on October 28, 2022, recording another 6.9 million streams and 6,000 digital downloads over the next two days, according toLuminate Data.[43] The single ended up debuting at number two on the USBillboard Hot 100 chart (blocked by "Anti-Hero" byTaylor Swift), it garnered a 48.1 million radio audience, 26.2 million streams, and 23,000 digital downloads in its opening first week, and marked Rihanna's first top-10 entry since "Wild Thoughts" in 2017. "Lift Me Up" is Rihanna's 32nd top 10, as well as her highest debut, tied with the 2010Eminem collaboration "Love the Way You Lie" which also entered the chart at number two.[44] "Lift Me Up" further debuted at number three on theDigital Songs Sales chart—Rihanna's 36th top-ten song on the chart. Simultaneously, the song started at number six on theRadio Songs chart, becoming only the fourth top-ten debut since the chart's establishment in 1998. The single topped theHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs andHot R&B Songs charts, marking Rihanna's eighth and sixth number-one songs on the charts, respectively.[44]
In the United Kingdom, "Lift Me Up" debuted at number three on theOfficial Singles Chart, marking that week's highest entry on the chart. Simultaneously, it became Rihanna's first top-5 single in five years and her highest-placing solo single in the UK in a decade, following "Diamonds" (2012).[45] Furthermore, it became Rihanna's 31st top-10 and 50th top-40 song in the UK.[46] The song debuted at number three on theIrish Singles Chart as well.[47] In Australia, "Lift Me Up" debuted at number five on theARIA Singles Chart.[48]
The song's music video was released on October 28, 2022, via Rihanna's official YouTube channel.[49] The video is directed byAutumn Durald Arkapaw, the cinematographer ofBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever, and it depicts Rihanna on an empty beach interspersed with short scenes from the film.[50][51]
Rihanna performed "Lift Me Up" for the first time during the95th Academy Awards on March 12, 2023. The performance featured a full band, string section, and backup vocalists, while Rihanna was standing on a central platform that elevated in the middle of the rendition. Lyndsey Havens ofBillboard called the performance "soaring" and wrote, "'Lift Me Up' came to life as Rih sang with palpable passion to honor the late Chadwick Boseman."[52] According to Julia MacCary ofVariety, many people watching the performance in the audience or at home "were struck by the power and emotiveness of her live vocals."[53]The New York Times' Nicole Sperling declared the performance alongsideLady Gaga's the "Best Pop Superstar Performance" of the night. She stated, "The soaring ballad benefited from the deft stage design, and Rihanna's vocals brought down the house."[54]
^abSamuels, Keithan (November 8, 2022)."Rihanna's 'Lift Me Up' Debuts at No. 1 on Multiple Billboard Charts".Rated R&B.Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. RetrievedNovember 8, 2022."Lift Me Up" has garnered more than 40 million streams on Spotify since it was released Oct. 28 via Rihanna's Westbury Road Entertainment imprint, in partnership with Roc Nation, Def Jam Recordings and Hollywood Records.
^Murray, Robin (October 28, 2022)."Rihanna's 'Lift Me Up' Is A Moving Salute To Chadwick Boseman".Clash. RetrievedOctober 28, 2022.A moving salute to the life and legacy of Chadwick Boseman, it serves as a reminder of just how emphatic a vocalist Rihanna truly is – an exquisite vocal turn, it's an emotive R&B ballad that speaks from the heart.
^Fenty, Robyn; Coogler, Ryan; Openiyi, Temilade; Göransson, Ludwig (October 28, 2022)."Lift Me Up".Musicnotes.com.Archived from the original on October 31, 2022. RetrievedOctober 31, 2022.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic.Note: Select 6. týden 2023 in the date selector. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic.Note: Select 44. týden 2022 in the date selector. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic.Note: Select 48. týden 2022 in the date selector. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic.Note: Select 44. týden 2022 in the date selector. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
