Rihanna, Kanye West & Paul McCartney’s “FourFiveSeconds”: 16 Impressive Stats Regarding The Song Going Top 10

Robbie Daw | February 11, 2015 2:05 pm

You know what they say about that Rihanna reign, don’t you?

The Barbadian beauty recently hopped back into the spotlight thanks to her all-star collab with Kanye West and Paul McCartney, “FourFiveSeconds.” The powerhouse trio performed the guitar-driven pop-soul number, the lead single from RiRi’s upcoming eighth album, at the Grammys, giving it a last minute boost before Billboard cut off its chart data on Sunday night.

So what exactly did said boost accomplish? Well, “FourFiveSeconds” jumps from #15 on the Hot 100 to #6 this week, marking no less than the following:

With regards to Sir Paul…

:: Paul McCartney’s first solo (meaning non-Beatles and non-Wings) Top 10 hit in the States in 29 years. His last one was 1986’s “Spies Like Us,” from the Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd film of the same name.

:: Paul McCartney’s first solo Top 40 hit in the States in 26 years. Macca last dented the upper region of the Hot 100 in 1989, with the Elvis Costello co-write “My Brave Face.”

:: Paul McCartney’s highest-charting solo single in the States in 31 years, since his rather fantastic 1984 Give My Regards To Broad Street soundtrack ballad “No More Lonely Nights” peaked at #6. Dig that David Gilmour guitar work!

:: Paul McCartney’s overall highest-charting single in the States in roughly 20 years. Prior to this, The Beatles’ Anthology singles “Free As A Bird” and “Real Love” peaked at #6 (1995) and #11 (1996), respectively.

:: Paul McCartney’s highest-charting non-Beatles collaboration in the States since 1983, when Michael Jackson pair-up “Say Say Say” went to #1.

With regards to ‘Ye…

:: Kanye West’s highest-charting overall single in four years, when he featured on Katy Perry’s 2011 chart-topper “E.T.”

:: Kanye West’s highest-charting single as a lead artist in four years, when he and Jay Z’s “Niggas In Paris” climbed to #5.

:: Kanye West’s third collaboration with Rihanna to land in the Top 20. Previously, “Run This Town” (also with Jay Z) made it to #2 in 2009 while “All Of The Lights” peaked at #18 in 2011.

:: Kanye West’s second collaboration with Paul McCartney to make the Top 40 in 2015. Prior to “FourFiveSeconds,” the Rihanna-less “Only One” charted at #35.

And, of course, with regards to RiRi…

:: Rihanna’s 21st Top 10 single as a lead artist.

:: Rihanna’s 26h Top 10 single overall, including her features on T.I.’s “Live Your Life” (2008), Jay Z’s “Run This Town” (2009), Eminem’s “Love The Way You Lie” (2010 ) and “The Monster” (2013), and Drake’s “Take Care” (2012).

:: Rihanna’s highest-charting collaboration since early last year, when the Grammy-winning “The Monster” with Eminem climbed to #1.

:: Rihanna’s third collaboration to hang out in the Top 40 over the past 12 months. In addition to “The Monster,” her duet with Shakira, “Can’t Remember To Forget You,” slinked its way to #15 in 2014.

:: Rihanna’s highest-charting single as a lead artist since “Stay” peaked at #3 in 2013.

:: Rihanna’s eighth of eight lead singles to land in the Top 10. Prior to this, “Pon de Replay” peaked at #2 (2005), “SOS” peaked at #1 (2006), “Umbrella” peaked at #1 (2007), “Russian Roulette” peaked at #9 (2009), “Only Girl In The World” peaked at #1 (2010), “We Found Love” peaked at #1 (2011) and “Diamonds” peaked at #1 (2012).

:: Last but not least, “FourFiveSeconds” marks an impressive 10 years of Rihanna in the Top 10 — a stretch that began way back in 2005 with “Pon de Replay,” the lead single from her debut LP Music Of The Sun!

Did we miss any important stats with regards to these three pop titans and their latest smash? Let us know below!

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