More importantly, the Deluxe tracks had a second life. "Sex With Me" went viral on TikTok years later, and "Love on the Brain" (standard track) became a wedding staple. The album is consistently ranked by Rolling Stone and Pitchfork as one of the best albums of the 2010s. Ten years later, the Rihanna - ANTI -Deluxe- -2016-Album- sounds timeless. It doesn't sound like 2016. It sounds like a classic record from 1973 that was beamed into the future. In an era of 10-second TikTok songs and generic pop lyrics, ANTI is a full meal. The Deluxe tracks, specifically, capture the "no f*cks given" attitude that modern pop stars try to mimic but fail to achieve.
This is the strangest and most beautiful Deluxe exclusive. It is a 1-minute, 28-second reinterpretation of Florence + The Machine’s "Only If For a Night." Rihanna pitched the vocals down, added heavy 808 bass, and an air raid siren. It sounds like the end of the world at a gothic disco. Why is it called "Goodnight Gotham"? A nod to Batman? To the dark city she feels trapped in? It closes the Deluxe edition not with a resolution, but with a haunting, ambiguous echo. Visual Aesthetics and Legacy The cover art for the Rihanna - ANTI -Deluxe- -2016-Album- is iconic. Shot by Roy Nachum, it features a childhood photo of Rihanna wearing a crown, with a black bar covering her eyes (a symbol of blindness to prejudice). The embossed braille on the physical cover translates to a poem about being "anti-everything." Rihanna - ANTI -Deluxe- -2016-Album-
"Sex With Me," "Kiss It Better," "Love on the Brain." Skip: Nothing. Even the interludes are essential. Verdict: Essential. The last great rockstar album of the streaming era. Have you listened to the Rihanna - ANTI -Deluxe- -2016-Album- recently? Drop a comment below with your favorite deep cut. More importantly, the Deluxe tracks had a second life
This imagery is perfect for the Deluxe edition. By adding three extra tracks, Rihanna isn't giving you leftovers; she's giving you more keys to the kingdom. "Sex With Me" and "Goodnight Gotham" are the songs you show to friends to prove you understand Rihanna on a deeper level. Despite the unconventional rollout (it went platinum within 24 hours of release due to a Samsung sponsorship that gave away 1 million copies for free), the Rihanna - ANTI -Deluxe- -2016-Album- eventually charted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. It has since been certified 3x Platinum. Ten years later, the Rihanna - ANTI -Deluxe-