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←Replaced content with ''''Russian Roulette''' is a song released in 2002 by Tomoyasu Hotei.'
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'''Russian Roulette''' is a song released in 2002 by Tomoyasu Hotei.
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{{Infobox single <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Songs -->
| Name = Russian Roulette
| Cover = Rihanna - Russian Roulette.jpg
| Artist = [[Rihanna]]
| Album = [[Rated R (Rihanna album)|Rated R]]
| Released = {{Start date|2009|11|3}}<br/><small>(see [[#Release history|release history]])</small>
| Format = [[Music download|Digital download]], [[CD single]]
| Recorded = 2009
| Genre = [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]],<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jjfyxztaldte|title=Russian Roulette » Overview|publisher=[[All Music]]|accessdate= 2010-01-02}}</ref> [[Pop music|pop]]<ref name=latimes091020/><ref name="blackbook">{{cite web|url=http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/rihannas-russian-roulette-the-perfect-comeback/11884|title=Rihanna’s “Russian Roulette”: The Perfect Comeback|last=Guha|first=Rohin|date= October 21, 2009|publisher=[[BlackBook Magazine]]|accessdate= October 21, 2009}}</ref>
| Length = 3:47
| Label = [[Def Jam Recordings|Def Jam]]<ref name="billboard091020"/>
| Producer = [[Chuck Harmony]]
| Writer = [[Ne-Yo|S. Smith]], [[Chuck Harmony|C. Harmon]]
| Certification =
| Chronology = [[Rihanna]]
| Type = singles
| Last single = "[[Run This Town]]"<br />(2009)
| This single = "'''Russian Roulette'''"<br />(2009)
| Next single = "[[Hard (song)|Hard]]"<br />(2009)
}}

"'''Russian Roulette'''" is a song performed by [[Barbados|Barbadian]] singer [[Rihanna]].<ref name=rollingstone091020>{{cite web|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/10/20/rihanna-teams-with-ne-yo-for-ominous-rated-r-single-russian-roulette/|title=Rihanna Teams With Ne-Yo For Ominous “Rated R” Single “Russian Roulette”|date=October 20, 2009|publisher=Rolling Stone|accessdate=October 21, 2009}}</ref> Written and produced by [[Ne-Yo]] and [[Chuck Harmony]], the song serves as the lead single from Rihanna's fourth studio album ''[[Rated R (Rihanna album)|Rated R]]''.<ref name=latimes091020>{{cite web|date=October 20, 2009|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/10/rihanna-reveals-russian-roulette.html|title=Rihanna reveals new single, 'Russian Roulette'|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|publisher=[[News Corporation]]}}</ref><ref name="billboard091020">{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/news/rihanna-s-new-album-is-rated-r-1004024248.story#/news/rihanna-s-new-album-is-rated-r-1004024248.story|title= Rihanna's New Album Is 'Rated R'|date=October 20, 2009|publisher=[[Billboard.com]]|accessdate=October 21, 2009}}</ref><ref name=rollingstone091020/><ref name=mtv091021>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1624350/20091021/rihanna.jhtml|title=Rihanna May Have Released 'Russian Roulette' For 'Shock Value,' Producer Says|last=Vena|first=Jocelyn|date=October 21, 2009|publisher=MTV|accessdate=October 21, 2009}}</ref> It premiered on radio October 20, 2009.<ref name=bbc091021>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/music/newsid_10000000/newsid_10002400/10002471.stm|title=Rihanna track gets worldwide premiere|last=Cochrane|first=Greg|date=October 20, 2009|publisher=BBC|accessdate=October 21, 2009}}</ref>

The lyrics metaphorically refer to the game of love in which you take chances even though anyone can get hurt. In an interview with Fuse, Rihanna called the song "poetry" and not literally about a game of [[Russian roulette]].

==Background==
On October 15, the phrase "The Wait Is Ova. Nov 23 09" was posted on Rihanna's official website,<ref name=mtv091013>{{cite web
|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1623762/20091013/rihanna.jhtml
|title=Is Rihanna Releasing A New Album On November 25?|date=October 13, 2009|publisher=MTV|accessdate=October 14, 2009
}}</ref> and was joined the next day by a countdown timer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1624128/20091019/rihanna.jhtml|title=Is Rihanna Releasing A New Single Tomorrow?|last=Vena|first=Jocelyn|date=October 19, 2009|publisher=MTV|accessdate=October 19, 2009}}</ref>

== Composition ==
According to the sheet music published in Musicnotes.com by [[Sony/ATV Music Publishing]], the song is set in the [[time signature]] of common time, with a slow [[tempo (music)|tempo]] of 80 [[beats per minute]]. It is written in the key of [[F-sharp minor]] with Rihanna's [[vocal range]] spanning from the note F{{music|sharp}}<sub>3</sub> to the note C{{music|sharp}}<sub>5</sub>.<ref name="musicnotes">{{cite web|title=Russian Roulette: Digital Sheet music|work=''Musicnotes.com''|publisher=[[Sony/ATV Music Publishing]]|accessdate=2010-05-25}}</ref> The chords follow in this order: F{{music|sharp}}m–D–Bm–C{{music|sharp}}, and then for the chorus F{{music|sharp}}m–D–E–Bm.<ref name="freehandmusic">{{cite web|url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0080535|title=Russian Roulette Sheet Music - Rihanna - Shaffer Smith |work=''freehandmusic.com''|publisher=[[Sony/ATV Music Publishing]]|accessdate=2010-03-10}}</ref>

==Critical reception==
Upon release, "Russian Roulette" received positive reviews for Rihanna's vocal performance and choice of lyrics. Todd Martens of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' described "Rihanna's command performance" as "[a] midtempo song without overbearing production, the single belongs all to Rihanna, and she makes the best of it -- a bit icy, a tad fearless, with the vocal strength to keep the orchestral flourishes at bay."<ref>{{cite news
|title=Rihanna reveals new single, 'Russian Roulette'
|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/10/rihanna-reveals-russian-roulette.html
|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]
|last=Martens|first=Todd
|date=October 20, 2009
|accessdate=2009-10-20
}}</ref> [[MTV News]] stated "it retains the same sort of attitude and atmosphere that has made Rihanna such a definitive artist."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newsroom.mtv.com/2009/10/20/rihanna-russian-roulette-poll/ |title=Is Rihanna’s ‘Russian Roulette’ A Keeper? The Oh Snap! Poll » MTV Newsroom |publisher=Newsroom.mtv.com |date=2009-10-20 |accessdate=2009-10-25}}</ref> Simon Vozick-Levinson of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' said that Rihanna took some risks with this track, and "those risks absolutely pay off. Rihanna is in fine vocal form throughout, and Ne-Yo’s songwriting is economical and evocative per usual."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://music-mix.ew.com/2009/10/20/rihanna-russian-roulette/|title=The Truth Behind Rihanna's "Extreme" Album Cover|publisher=Heyman Hustle - Crave Online|first=Hollywood|last=Charlie|date=2010-09-22|accessdate=2010-09-22}}</ref>

==Chart performance==
The song debuted on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] at #100 on November 7, 2009, and gained its peak just two weeks later of #9, becoming [[Rihanna]]'s twelfth Top 10 hit in the country but serves as Rihanna's lowest charting lead single. It also debuted on the US ''Billboard'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]] and peaked at 49. It made its debut at Number 36 on the US ''Billboard'' [[Pop Songs]], and climbed to 23 the next week. It peaked at Number 9 on the [[Canadian Hot 100]]. The song debuted in Australia at 11 on the [[ARIA Charts|ARIA Singles Charts]] on the week of November 16, 2009, "Russian Roulette" entered the [[UK Singles Chart]] at #6 on November 29, 2009. The following week, it rose to #2, giving Rihanna her 11th top five hit and her 11th top 10 hit in the country.
It has sold over 3 million copies worldwide. <ref>rihannadaily.com</ref> It was certified [[List of music recording sales certifications|Silver]] in the [[UK]] on February 12, 2010, after selling over 200,000 copies.

To date, the single has moved over 3 million digital downloads and has charted within the top ten in most international markets including the United States, Australia, United Kindgom, Canada, Germany, and France. The song has reached number one in Norway, Slovakia, Switzerland as well as on the UK R&B chart.

[[Miguel Karam]] released a remix of the song as DJ Party Slayer; labeled "Leader of The Pack Remix", it achieved major success in [[Lebanon]] topping the Party World Remixes Charts, peaking at #29 on the Party World International Singles Charts and #3 on the Party World Digital Singles Sales Charts.

==Music video==
[[File:RussianRoulette.JPG|thumb|Right|225px|Screenshots of the video for Russian Roulette]]
The director of the video is [[Anthony Mandler]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2009/11/02/tracklisting-rihanna-rated-r/ |title=Tracklisting: Rihanna – ‘Rated R’ |publisher=Rap-Up.com |date= |accessdate=2009-11-13}}</ref> Filming of "Russian Roulette" started on October 23, 2009.
Filming took two full days.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rihannanow.com/videos.htm |title=RIHANNA: Videos |publisher=Rihannanow.com |date= |accessdate=2009-12-01}}</ref> The video premiered on ABC's ''[[20/20]]'' on November 13, 2009.<ref>http://www.rap-up.com/2009/11/13/video-rihanna-russian-roulette/</ref> The video features Rihanna in different situations. First Rihanna is in a room where strange men are trying receive information from her. Then Rihanna remembers sitting at a table with her love interest ([[Jesse Williams (actor)|Jesse Williams]]), in the woods where a car runs her over, and underwater where she is being "shot". At the end of the video her love interest dies, from being shot. The video is nominated for Best Female Video in the [[MTV Japan Video Music Awards]] 2010.<ref>[http://www.singersroom.com/news/5542/Rihanna-Chris-Brown-Share-MTV-Japan-Music-Award-Nominations "Rihanna, Chris Brown Share MTV Japan Music Award Nominations]. April 5, 2010. Singersroom.com.</ref>

==Track listing and Formats==
;Promo CD single / German CD Single<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amazon.de/Russian-Roulette-2-Track-Rihanna/dp/B002UCRELO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1258133696&sr=1-1 |title=Russian Roulette (2-Track): Rihanna: Amazon.de: Musik |publisher=Amazon.de |date= |accessdate=2009-11-13}}</ref> / UK CD Single
# "Russian Roulette" (Main) — 3:48
# "Russian Roulette" (Instrumental) — 3:48
# "Russian Roulette" (Remix) (Feat. [[Kardinal Offishall]]) - 4:18

;Remixes
* "Russian Roulette" ([[Tony Moran]] & Warren Rigg's Club Mix) - 10:30
* "Russian Roulette" (Tony Moran & Warren Rigg's Dub) - 11:22
* "Russian Roulette" (Tony Moran & Warren Rigg's Radio Edit) - 4:29

==Charts and certifications==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
===Charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (2009)
!Peak<br/>Position
|-
{{singlechart|Australia|7|artist=Rihanna|song=Russian Roulette}}
|-
{{singlechart|Austria|2|artist=Rihanna|song=Russian Roulette}}
|-
{{singlechart|Belgium (Flanders)|5|artist=Rihanna|song=Russian Roulette}}
|-
{{singlechart|Belgium (Wallonia)|3|artist=Rihanna|song=Russian Roulette}}
|-
{{singlechart|Billboardcanadianhot100|9|artist=Rihanna|artistid=658897}}
|-
|{{singlechart|Czech Republic|1|artist=Rihanna|song=Russian Roulette|year=2010|week=08}}
|-
{{singlechart|Denmark|6|artist=Rihanna|song=Russian Roulette}}
|-
{{singlechart|Dutch40|7|artist=Rihanna|song=Russian Roulette}}
|-
{{singlechart|Finland|3|artist=Rihanna|song=Russian Roulette}}
|-
{{singlechart|France|4|artist=Rihanna|song=Russian Roulette}}
|-
|France ([[SNEP]] Digital)<ref>http://www.chartsinfrance.net/charts/titres-telechargement.php,archive514</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|3
|-
{{singlechart|Germany|2|artist=Rihanna|song=Russian Roulette (Premium 2-Track)}}
|-
{{singlechart|Ireland|5|artist=Rihanna|song=Russian Roulette (Premium 2-Track)|year=2009|week=53}}
|-
{{singlechart|Italy|6|artist=Rihanna|song=Russian Roulette}}
|-
{{singlechart|New Zealand|9|artist=Rihanna|song=Russian Roulette}}
|-
{{singlechart|Norway|1|artist=Rihanna|song=Russian Roulette}}
|-
|Romania ([[Romanian Top 100]])<ref>[http://www.cotidianul.ro/black_eyed_peas_numarul_unu_in_preferintele_romanilor_video-113300.html# Black Eyed Peas, numarul unu in preferintele romanilor]</ref>
|align="center"|3
|-
{{singlechart|Slovakian|1|artist=Rihanna|song=Russian Roulette|year=2009|week=50}}
|-
{{singlechart|Spain|6|artist=Rihanna|song=Russian Roulette}}
|-
{{singlechart|Sweden|4|artist=Rihanna|song=Russian Roulette}}
|-
{{singlechart|Switzerland|1|artist=Rihanna|song=Russian Roulette}}
|-
{{singlechart|UKchartstats|2|artist=Rihanna|song=Russian Roulette|songid=34656}}
|-
|[[UK R&B Chart]]
|align="center"|1
|-
|{{singlechart|Billboardhot100|9|artist=Rihanna|song=Russian Roulette|artistid=658897}}
|-
{{singlechart|Billboarddanceclubplay|1|artist=Rihanna|song=Russian Roulette|artistid=658897}}
|}
{{col-2}}

===Certifications ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Country
! [[List of music recording sales certifications|Certifications]]
|-
|[[Australian Recording Industry Association|Australia]]
|Gold<ref>http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupageshttpwww.aria.com.aupageshttpwww.aria.com.aupagesARIACharts-Accr.htm</ref>
|-
|[[International Federation of the Phonographic Industry|New Zealand]]
|Gold<ref>http://www.radioscope.net.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=77&Itemid=61</ref>
|-
|[[International Federation of the Phonographic Industry|Switzerland]]
|Gold<ref>http://swisscharts.com/awards.asp?year=2010</ref>
|-
|[[British Phonographic Industry|United Kingdom]]
|Silver<ref>http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx</ref>
|}
{{col-end}}

===Chart procession and succession===
{{start box}}
{{s-bef| before = "[[Monday Morning (Melanie Fiona song)|Monday Morning]]" by [[Melanie Fiona]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Schweizer Hitparade|Swiss Singles Chart]] [[List of number-one hits of 2010 (Switzerland)|number one single]]| years = January 17, 2010 – January 23, 2010}}
{{s-aft|after= "[[Tik Tok (song)|Tik Tok]]" by [[Kesha]]}}

{{s-bef|before = "[[Whatcha Say]]" by [[Jason Derülo]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[UK R&B Chart|UK]] [[List of number-one R&B hits of 2009 (UK)|R&B number one single]]|years=December 6, 2009 – December 26, 2009}}
{{s-aft|rows=|after ="[[Meet Me Halfway]]" by [[Black Eyed Peas]]}}

{{s-bef|before= "[[Why Don't You Love Me (Beyoncé Knowles song)|Why Don't You Love Me]]" by [[Beyoncé Knowles]]}}
{{s-ttl|title= U.S. [[Hot Dance Club Songs|''Billboard'' Hot Dance Club Songs]] [[List of number-one dance singles of 2010 (U.S.)|number-one single]]|years = February 20, 2010 - February 27, 2010}}
{{s-aft|after = "[[Telephone (song)|Telephone]] by [[Lady Gaga]] featuring Beyoncé Knowles}}
{{end box}}

==Radio and release history==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
===Radio add dates===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Country
!Date
!Format
|-
|Worldwide
|October 20, 2009
|[[Radio|Radio premiere]]<ref name=bbc091021>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/music/newsid_10000000/newsid_10002400/10002471.stm|title=Rihanna track gets worldwide premiere|last=Cochrane|first=Greg|date=October 20, 2009|publisher=BBC|accessdate=October 21, 2009}}</ref>
|-
|United States
|October 27, 2009
|[[Top 40]], [[Rhythmic]] and [[Urban contemporary|Urban]] Radio<ref>http://gfa.radioandrecords.com/publishGFA/GFANextPage.asp?sDate=10/27/2009&Format=9</ref><ref>http://gfa.radioandrecords.com/publishGFA/GFANextPage.asp?sDate=10/27/2009&Format=1</ref><ref>http://gfa.radioandrecords.com/publishGFA/GFANextPage.asp?sDate=10/27/2009&Format=5</ref>
|}
{{col-2}}

===Release history===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Country
!Date
!Format
!Label
|-
|United States<ref>http://www.universalmusic.ru/en/artists/344/news/1125/</ref>
|November 3, 2009
|[[Music download|Digital download]]
|rowspan="3"|[[Def Jam]]
|-
|Germany<ref>http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B002UCRELO/ref=s9_simh_gw_p15_i1?pf_rd_m=A3JWKAKR8XB7XF&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=00SN9E52817HBSTM0RN8&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=463375193&pf_rd_i=301128</ref>
|November 13, 2009
|rowspan="2"|[[CD single]]
|-
|France<ref>http://www.amazon.fr/Russian-Roulette-Rihanna/dp/B002V0LVNW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1268129710&sr=8-2</ref>
|November 30, 2009
|}
{{col-end}}

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{Rihanna singles}}

[[Category:2009 singles]]
[[Category:UK R&B Singles Chart number-one singles]]
[[Category:Music videos directed by Anthony Mandler]]
[[Category:Rihanna songs]]
[[Category:Pop ballads]]
[[Category:Songs about suicide]]
[[Category:Songs with feminist themes]]
[[Category:Songs written by Ne-Yo]]

[[de:Russian Roulette (Lied)]]
[[et:Russian Roulette]]
[[es:Russian Roulette]]
[[fr:Russian Roulette]]
[[hr:Russian Roulette]]
[[it:Russian Roulette (brano musicale)]]
[[mk:Russian Roulette]]
[[nl:Russian Roulette]]
[[pl:Russian Roulette]]
[[pt:Russian Roulette (canção)]]
[[ro:Russian Roulette (cântec)]]
[[ru:Russian Roulette (песня)]]
[[uk:Russian Roulette (пісня)]]

Revision as of 00:08, 12 June 2010

Russian Roulette is a song released in 2002 by Tomoyasu Hotei.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Russian_Roulette_(Rihanna_song)&oldid=367518180"