A Girl Like Me (Rihanna Album) - Singles

Singles

"SOS" was released as the album's lead single March 27, 2006, as a physical maxi single. The maxi single included both the radio edit and instrumental versions of "SOS", as well as the album track "Break It Off", which features Jamaican reggae singer Sean Paul. "SOS" contains a sped up sample of "Tainted Love", which was originally written by Ed Cobb in 1965 and popularised by English synthpop duo Soft Cell, when they released their cover version in 1981. It received positive reviews from music critics, especially for it's energy and Rihanna's vocal performance. It peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, and became the singer's first number one single on the Hot 100. It also peaked at number one of the US Hot Dance Club Play chart and US Pop Songs chart, as well as number two on the UK Singles Chart. Two music videos, an official version and a Nike promotional version, were directed by Chris Applebaum.

"Unfaithful" was released as second single from A Girl like Me on June 20, 2006. Written by American singer Ne-Yo, Mikkel S. Eriksen and Tor Erik Hermansen, the song was originally titled "Murderer" and was inspired by the works of American rock band Evanescence. It garnered a mixed response from critics; many praised its powerful balladry, but some criticized the lyrics. The single peaked at number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart as well as at number two on the UK Singles Chart. The song's accompanying music video was directed by Anthony Mandler, and features Rihanna in a love triangle in which she struggles to choose between her husband and her romantic interest, and regrets having cheated on the former. Rihanna performed the song at the 2006 MOBO Awards, and it has been included on the set lists of her arena tours: Good Girl Gone Bad Tour (2007–09), Last Girl on Earth Tour (2010–11), and the Loud Tour (2011).

"We Ride" was released as the third single from the album; the song was sent to US mainstream and rhythmic radio stations to be added to their playlists on August 21, 2006. It was written by Makeba Riddick, Mikkel S. Eriksen and Tor Erik Hermansen, while production of the song was handled by Eriksen and Hermansen under their production team name, Stargate. "We Ride" was well received by critics, many of whom praised it as a good cruising song. It failed to chart on the US Hot 100, but managed to top the US Hot Dance Club Play chart and peaked at number 34 on the US Pop Songs chart. It failed to match the success of the album's previous singles, peaking within the top twenty of the singles charts in Ireland, Slovakia and the United Kingdom. It's accompanying music video was directed by Mandler, who had previously directed the music video for "Unfaithful". According to Rihanna, the video for "We Ride" is not as "out there" as the video's for "SOS" and "Unfaithful" were, as she wanted to do something less provocative to re-connect with people her own age.

"Break It Off" was released as the album's fourth and final single; it was released first in the United States on November 13, 2006, and internationally over four months later on February 27, 2007. The song was written by Donovan Bennett, Sean Paul Henriques (better known as Sean Paul), K. Ford and Rihanna, and it was recorded in Jamaica where Rihanna joined Paul on vacation. The garnered a positive reaction from critics, who hailed it as one of the album's highlights and a return to her dancehall roots. "Break It Off" managed to attain more chart success compared to the previous single "We Ride", and peaked at number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number six on the US Pop Songs chart. Aside from the US charting, the only singles chart the song made an appearance on was in Belgium, where it attained a peak position of number 10. No music video for the song was shot, although Rihanna performed the song at the Radio One Big Weekend in 2007, after her third studio album Good Girl Gone Bad had been released, and performed "Break It Off" as part of set list with other songs from all three of her albums. It was also included on the Good Girl Gone Bad Tour.