The prompts for this week’s Song Lyric Sunday, hosted by Jim Adams, are Concern, Fear, Fret and Worry, courtesy of our friend Fandango from the blog This, That and The Other.
I have selected Disturbia by Rihanna.
The Song
This dance/pop track about being in a state of mental anguish was co-written by Rihanna’s boyfriend at the time Chris Brown, who also contributed backing vocals. The other co-writers were Andre Merritt and Robert Allen who together with Brown comprise his songwriting team, the Graffiti Artists. The trio also penned Brown’s hit “Forever.”
This was produced by Brian Kennedy who has also worked with Ciara (“My Love”), Jesse McCartney (“Runnin'”) and Menudo (“Inside Out”).
The video for this song was directed by acclaimed fashion photographer David LaChapelle. Among the other videos he has directed include “Dirrty,” “I’m With You” and “The Voice Within” all by Christina Aguilera.
This entered the Hot 100 at #18, the first single by the Barbadian singer to debut in the top half of the chart.
This dance-pop song was Rihanna’s fourth #1 hit on the Hot 100. It also topped the singles charts in a number of other countries, including Belgium, New Zealand and Turkey.
L.A. Reid – the head of Rihanna’s record company Def Jam, told MTV News that with this song, the Barbadian singer was taking control of her career. He explained that when Def Jam repackaged Rihanna’s Good Girl Gone Bad, the second single from the repackage was this song. Reid added: “It was the first time that Rihanna actually came to me and said, ‘Here’s the song I want to put out.’ She played me the song. That was her taking control, even on her last album. She understands what hits are, and she knows what she wants to say. She’s at that place where she can do it.”
The Lyrics
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
No more gas in the red
Can't even get it started
Nothing heard, nothing said
Can't even speak about it
All my life on my head
Don't want to think about it
Feels like I'm going insane
Yeah
It's a thief in the night
To come and grab you
It can creep up inside you
And consume you
A disease of the mind
It can control you
It's too close for comfort
Throw on your break lights
We're in the city of wonder
Ain't gonna play nice
Watch out, you might just go under
Better think twice
Your train of thought will be altered
So if you must falter be wise
Your mind is in Disturbia
It's like the darkness is the light
Disturbia
Am I scaring you tonight
Your mind is in Disturbia
Ain't used to what you like
Disturbia
Disturbia
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Faded pictures on the wall
It's like they talkin' to me
Disconnectin' your call
Your phone don't even ring
I gotta get out
Or figure this shit out
It's too close for comfort
It's a thief in the night
To come and grab you
It can creep up inside you
And consume you
A disease of the mind
It can control you
I feel like a monster
Throw on your break lights
We're in the city of wonder
Ain't gonna play nice
Watch out, you might just go under
Better think twice
Your train of thought will be altered
So if you must falter be wise
Your mind is in Disturbia
It's like the darkness is the light
Disturbia
Am I scaring you tonight
Your mind is in Disturbia
Ain't used to what you like
Disturbia
Disturbia
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Release me from this curse I'm in
I've been trying to maintain
But I'm struggling
You can't go, go, go
I think I'm going to oh, oh, oh
Throw on your break lights
We're in the city of wonder
Ain't gonna play nice
Watch out, you might just go under
Better think twice
Your train of thought will be altered
So if you must falter be wise
Your mind is in Disturbia
It's like the darkness is the light
Disturbia
Am I scaring you tonight
Your mind is in Disturbia
Ain't used to what you like
Disturbia
Disturbia
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum bum bum be-dum bum
Writer/s: Brian Kennedy Seals, Christopher Maurice Brown, Andre Darrell Merritt, Robert L. Allen
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind
Courtesy of Songfacts