Barbadian superstar Rihanna may be gearing up for a major box office moment with The Smurfs this summer, but her latest musical offering from the film isn’t striking the chord many expected. The new single “Friend of Mine”, penned and performed by the Fenty mogul for the animated feature, debuted at a surprising No. 72 on the UK’s Official Singles Chart — marking her lowest entry on the chart since 2016.
It’s a stark contrast to her typical chart-topping dominance. The last time Rihanna saw such a modest debut was with “Consideration” featuring SZA, which peaked at No. 88 nearly a decade ago. While “Friend of Mine” marks her return to solo music releases, the track has struggled to gain traction, despite anticipation from fans eager for new material.
Still, the release wasn’t without silver linings. The single earned Rihanna her 30th career placement on the Official Singles Sales chart and her 70th on the Downloads chart — a testament to her enduring popularity. It also fared better in the dance category, debuting at No. 19 on the Official Dance Singles Chart, securing her seventh entry there.
As The Smurfs movie prepares to hit theaters globally, the single’s lukewarm performance raises questions about the effectiveness of film-driven soundtracks in reigniting Rihanna’s music chart dominance. For now, fans and industry watchers alike will be waiting to see whether “Friend of Mine” gains steam or if Rihanna is simply saving her real musical comeback for a more opportune moment.
