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6. Rihanna - California King Bed
(written by Harr, Jackson, Renea, Delicata; 2010; Released May 2011; UK #8)
For me, Rihanna is nearly always at her strongest when she's melodramatic. Her slow work is often over looked as fluffy, but some of her strongest songs (notably Cold Case Love and Firebomb from Rated R) have been of the melancholy kiss-off ballad. California King Bed from Loud is no exception to this, using the metaphor to describe a relationship where physically she is close to someone, but emotionally they are far apart, Rihanna utilises her breathy vocal to excellent effect. It may not be her strongest single choice of all time, but you can feel every note.