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About

Genius Annotation

“Stay” is the second single off of Rihanna’s seventh studio album Unapologetic. It features guest vocals from Mikky Ekko and was written by Ekko and Justin Parker.

With this gorgeous piano ballad, Rihanna puts a vulnerable spin on the Brown situation, repeating another theme of the album – failing to resist true love. She inspires melancholy and raw emotion with this track, and never fails to convey her honesty with her lyrics and her delivery.

Chartwise, “Stay” was incredibly successful, moving over 10 million units all together, making it Rih’s third most successful single after “Love the Way You Lie” with Eminem and “We Found Love” with Calvin Harris.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

Translations
Genius Answer
What did Rihanna say about "Stay"?
Genius Answer

After the song was nominated for a Grammy, Rihanna expressed how happy she was, especially for Mikky, whom this song was a first “real single” for.

I think it’s really exciting, especially for Mikky. This is his first real single and this is the first time the world has really had a chance to see him and hear his artistry, and he’s nominated for a Grammy! That really speaks to his talent. He wrote an amazing song. That’s one of my favorite songs I’ve ever sang and performed.

Mikky Ekko told Gigwise:

[“Stay”] had become so special to me as well, and knowing what the track means to me and what I think it means to her too, it really worked. It speaks to such an intimate side of her that is so rare and so far removed from what people think of her.

How much has the song sold in the US?
Genius Answer

According to HeadlinePlanet the song has sold seven million copies in the US as of March 16th, 2018.

Live Performance
Alternative Covers
Credits
Featuring
Additional Production
Additional Engineering
Vocal Engineer
Mixing Engineer
Vocal Producer
Video Director
Recorded At
NightBird Studio & Westlake Studios (Los Angeles, CA)
Release Date
November 19, 2012
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