| "Russian Roulette" | ||||
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| Single by Rihanna | ||||
| from the album Rated R | ||||
| Released | October 20, 2009 | |||
| Recorded | 2009 | |||
| Studio | Roc the Mic (New York City) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:47 | |||
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| Rihanna singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Russian Roulette" on YouTube | ||||
"Russian Roulette" is a song recorded by Barbadian singer Rihanna for her fourth studio album, Rated R (2009). It premiered on radio stations worldwide on October 20, 2009, and was released as the album's lead single on October 26 by Def Jam Recordings. Written and produced by Ne-Yo and Chuck Harmony, "Russian Roulette" is a pop, pop-rock and R&B ballad that contains dark, morbid, and tense atmospheric elements in its composition. Lyrically, the single is about an abusive romantic relationship that ended abruptly. Music critics noted the lyrical theme to be a response to the domestic violence case between Rihanna and her former boyfriend, singer and rapper Chris Brown.
"Russian Roulette" received acclaim from critics; with many praising Rihanna's vocal performance and the song's lyrics. It reached the top-ten in over twenty countries worldwide including number one in the Czech Republic, Israel, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, and Switzerland. The song reached number two on the UK Singles Chart and number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. "Russian Roulette" also topped the UK R&B and US Dance Club Songs charts. It was certified two-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) denoting sales of over two million copies in the United States alone.
The song's music video was shot by director Anthony Mandler, a frequent collaborator of Rihanna's, and depicts her playing a game of the titular Russian roulette with her love interest played by American actor Jesse Williams. Other scenes include Rihanna in the woods where she is run over by a car, in a gas chamber, in a padded cell, and shots being fired at her underwater. The singer performed "Russian Roulette" on several occasions including on the sixth series of The X Factor, on the Late Show with David Letterman and also included it on the setlist of the Last Girl on Earth Tour (2010–11). English singer George Michael performed a cover of "Russian Roulette" during his Symphonica Tour (2011–12).