“Stay” by Rihanna (ft. Mikky Ekko)

Rihanna’s “Stay” speaks about a person who needs a level of certainty in a dysfunctional relationship. The narrator depicts her willingness to be with this man, but is tired of the uncertainties in the relationship.

She asks him to tell her if he’s really into this so they can stop the cycle of breakups and makeups. At the same time, she doesn’t really understand why she loves him or feels like she cannot live without him, but this is the very reason why she wants him to stay. It seems the reason behind the unstable relationship is that both of them are selfish. They are both in the dark because neither of them wants to admit that they are wrong. She realizes this and in the end acknowledges that she needs him to be complete.

What Rihanna and Mikky Ekko have said about this collabo

Rihanna has mentioned that the song is very emotional and personal to her, almost like she’s telling a story of how she feels to herself. Mikky Ekko, also tells Gigwise that the track is special to him and exposes an intimate part of Rihanna.

Facts about “Stay”

• This song was released on January 7, 2013, and was the second single to be released from Rihanna’s Unapologetic album. FYI, Unapologetic was the seventh studio album of Rihanna’s career.
• “Stay” served as Rihanna’s first collaboration with American singer Mikky Ekko.
• Mikky Ekko wrote this song with support from songwriters Elof Loelv and Justin Parker.
• The trio, in collaboration with Kuk Harell, produced the track which appeared in the top five on over two dozen different charts across the world. It was number one in the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Canada, Israel, and Denmark.
• In 2013, “Stay” peaked at number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100. This made it Rihanna’s 24th Hot 100 top ten song, an achievement which was formerly held by the late Whitney Houston.
• It won the award for Song of the Year at the iHeartRadio Music Awards in 2014.
• After selling almost five million downloads in the US, the song was certified four-times platinum in December 2013. Till date, it remains one of Rihanna’s most successful singles.
• According to Mikky Ekko, working with Rihanna on the track was the “most intense experience” of his life considering the speed at which they had to work to get it done for her record.

Rihanna along with Mikky Ekko performing “Stay” live at the 2013 Grammy Awards