Rihanna's 'Kiss It Better' Resurges

"Kiss It Better" was released as the third single from Rihanna's eighth studio album, *Anti*, on March 30, 2016. The song, a synth-rock and R&B power ballad, was written by Jeff Bhasker, John Glass, Teddy Sinclair, and Rihanna. *Anti* marked a creative turning point for Rihanna, incorporating elements of pop, R&B, dancehall, soul, and alternative music. The album was released on January 28, 2016, after Rihanna departed from Def Jam Recordings. Despite peaking at number 62 on the Billboard Hot 100, "Kiss It Better" received critical acclaim and a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Song in 2017. Critics lauded its 1980s-inspired sound, emotional depth, and Rihanna's vocal performance. The single is now certified 4x Platinum by the RIAA. The song's music video, directed by Craig McDean, premiered on March 31, 2016, and was inspired by dadaism and surrealism. It was shot in black and white and features Rihanna in various poses with silks. "Kiss It Better" closed out the setlist for Rihanna's Anti World Tour. *Anti* debuted at number 27 on the Billboard 200, selling 16,000 album-equivalent units in its first week. However, it topped the chart for two non-consecutive weeks and was the first album by a black woman to spend 500 weeks on the Billboard 200. By 2021, *Anti* had sold 11 million album-equivalent units. As of January 2023, "Kiss It Better" was certified 3x multi-platinum by the RIAA. The album *Anti* has also received multi-platinum certifications in several countries, including France and Denmark.