It is 2011. You’re likely wearing neon, probably thinking about a Blackberry, and definitely hearing a specific, gravelly "Yeah-e-yeah" blast through every car window in the neighborhood. That sound—the unmistakable sample of Avril Lavigne’s "I'm With You"—served as the backbone for one of the most resilient party tracks of the decade. When people search for cheers i drink to that lyrics, they aren't just looking for words to a song; they are looking for a specific mood that Rihanna managed to bottle up in Loud.
Honestly? It shouldn't have worked. Mixing a moody, rainy-day pop-rock ballad with a Caribbean-infused dance-pop beat sounds like a disaster on paper. But it did. It worked so well that the song peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100, and over a decade later, it’s still the go-to caption for every celebratory Instagram story or late-night round of shots.
The Avril Connection and the "Cheers" Hook
Most people don't realize that "Cheers (Drink to That)" is basically a giant collaborative salute. The song was produced by the duo The Runners. They took Avril Lavigne’s melancholic "Yeah-yeah" from her 2002 hit and turned it into a battle cry. Rihanna once mentioned in an interview with MTV that she was surprised by the sample herself but loved how it felt like a celebration.
The lyrics aren't deep. They aren't meant to be.
They’re about the weekend. They’re about forgetting a 9-to-5 that drains your soul. When Rihanna sings about "life's too short to be sittin' round miserable," she isn't just reciting lines; she’s tapping into a universal desire to just stop worrying for three minutes and forty-eight seconds.
Why the "Ray-Ban" Line Matters
"Put on your shades and a pinstripe," she sings. It's such a specific image. It evokes a certain era of celebrity culture where the paparazzi were everywhere and the only defense was a pair of dark lenses. The cheers i drink to that lyrics mention "don't let the bastards get you down," which is actually a cheeky nod to the pseudo-Latin phrase Illegitimi non carborundum.
It’s a middle finger. A stylish one.
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A Breakdown of the Lyrics That Defined an Era
Let’s look at the structure. It’s messy in the best way.
"Toast to the homecoming queen," she says. Is it a literal queen? Probably not. It’s anyone who feels like they’ve made it through the week. The song moves fast. It’s got a stuttering rhythm that mimics the feeling of a crowded bar.
People often mishear the bridge. They think she's just making noise, but she's actually setting a scene. "I drink to that," she repeats. It’s a call and response. In a live setting, this is where the crowd takes over. If you’ve ever been to a Rihanna show (back when she was still touring regularly), this was the moment the energy shifted from "watching a performance" to "being in a club."
The song references Jameson. Specifically, "clinking glasses" and the "spirit of the night." It’s an unapologetic endorsement of nightlife culture. While some critics at the time felt the song was a bit too commercial, fans disagreed. It felt authentic to Rihanna’s "bad gal" persona that was just beginning to fully bloom during the Loud era.
The Cultural Weight of the "Loud" Era
To understand why we are still searching for these lyrics, you have to understand the context of the album. Loud followed the much darker, moodier Rated R. Rihanna had just come out of a very public, very traumatic period. Loud was her reclaiming her joy. The bright red hair wasn't just a fashion choice; it was a signal.
"Cheers (Drink to That)" was the sixth single from that album. Usually, by the sixth single, an album is dying out. Not this one.
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It felt like the final exclamation point.
The music video—which is basically a home movie of her homecoming tour in Barbados—cemented the song’s legacy. It showed her drinking, laughing, and being human. It made the lyrics feel less like a studio product and more like a personal mantra. When she sings "I'm a rise up like the sun," it feels earned.
Semantic Variations and Misheard Lyrics
You’ve probably seen people type "cheers to the freaking weekend" into search bars. That’s the most famous line, but it’s actually the opening of the chorus. Some people also search for "the drink to that song with the girl yelling," which is a hilariously accurate way to describe the Avril Lavigne sample.
The term "freaking" was actually a point of contention for radio play. There are clean versions, but they never quite hit the same. The slight edge of the original version is what gives it its staying power.
Why We Still Sing It in 2026
It’s about escapism.
We live in an era of constant notifications and global stress. The simplicity of the cheers i drink to that lyrics offers a mental break. There is no political message. There is no complex metaphor to untangle. It is just:
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- Life is hard.
- The weekend is here.
- Drink to that.
It’s a formula that doesn't age. You could play this song at a wedding in 2040 and people will still know exactly when to raise their glasses.
Expert Take: The Production Value
Technically, the song is a masterpiece of layering. If you listen closely with good headphones, there’s a lot of "room noise" in the track. It sounds like there are people talking in the background. This was intentional. It creates an atmospheric "live" feeling even in a studio recording. The drums are loud, the synth is bright, and Rihanna’s vocals are intentionally unpolished. It sounds like she’s having fun, which is surprisingly hard to fake in a vocal booth.
How to Use "Cheers" Energy in Your Own Life
If you’re looking up these lyrics because you’re planning a party or making a video, keep the vibe authentic. The song isn't about perfection. It’s about the messy, loud, "shades-on-at-night" kind of fun.
Next Steps for the Ultimate "Cheers" Vibe:
- Check the Credits: Go back and listen to Avril Lavigne’s "I'm With You" right after "Cheers." It’s wild to see how a sad song provided the bones for a party anthem.
- The "Loud" Deep Dive: Don't just stop at this single. Tracks like "Man Down" and "Fading" show the incredible range Rihanna had during this specific year.
- Create the Atmosphere: If you’re hosting, wait until about two hours into the night to drop this track. It’s a "peak" song, not a "warm-up" song.
- Memorize the Bridge: Everyone knows the chorus. If you want to impress, learn the "pinstripe" verse. That’s where the real rhythm of the song lives.
The legacy of the song is simple: it reminds us that celebration is a necessity, not a luxury. Whether you’re a fan of the "Yeah-e-yeah" or just need a reason to toast, these lyrics remain the gold standard for the "freaking weekend."
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