Sound alike: David Guetta feat Jennifer Hudson "Night of my Life" and Rihanna "Only Girl (In the World)"

Club track producer of the moment David Guetta isn't the most original guy in the world. In fact you can often quite easily identify what classic he's pillaged to create a particular song. Usually, I'm willing to ignore these indiscretions because of the sole, shallow fact that his songs are catchy and make me want to dance like a fool. With this in mind you can imagine my excitement when I heard he'd teamed up with Ms Power-Pipes herself, Jennifer Hudson, on song called Night of your life.

Listen to Ellie Goulding cover Rihannah's "Only Girl (in the world)"

An organic makeover is given to Rihanna's Only girl (in the world) as folk-pop singer Ellie Goulding swaps the processed productions for a string quartet and piano.

As much as I love Ellie and acoustic versions of songs, I just don't think it works with Only girl as the original song gets so much of its clout from the music and not the vocal or lyrics. Therefore with the driving force behind the song removed the song falls apart.

Rihanna "Only Girl" X Factor 2010 (Full Version) Live Results Show 4

Rihanna Performing
Only girl on Xfactor

Rihanna performed a knock out version of Only girl on the British talent show the X-factor. The year spent touring has really done the singer good, improving both Rihanna's live voice as well as her stage presence.

I particularly liked the contrast created between the orchestral start and the fully electronic, single version that follows in the chorus.


Watch the video below:

Single Review: Rihanna - Only Girl (In The World) & lyrics

Insipid lyrics, a terrible middle eight that harks back to one of Rihanna’s weaker singles, and an uninspired production could have killed Rihanna’s comeback but, boy oh boy is all forgiven when the euphoric chorus of Only Girl hits. The combination of the impassioned vocals with the 1990s rave inspired synths makes for a heady mix, that lifts this song from potential mediocrity to a club banger that is bound to be a world wide hit.

Rhianna’s voice melds perfectly with the song and is sounding better than ever as delivers strong, clear, weighty vocals, and long sustained notes (an a4 and c5) at the close of the song.

Only girl (in the world) builds the hype for her new album Loud brilliantly and puts to rest the fear that she would do a U-turn after the lukewarm reaction to her last album Rated R and go back to tried and tested RnB sound of Good girl gone bad.

OVERALL: Brilliant single, one of the best of 2010; bring on the new album!