Rihanna changed everything with a whip crack. It was 2011. The music industry was still reeling from the transition into digital dominance, and then came "S&M." If you look at the S and M lyrics Rihanna belted out on that track, it wasn't just about the bedroom. Not really. It was a middle finger to the paparazzi. It was a loud, leather-clad response to the way the media had poked and prodded at her private life after a very public, very traumatic period in her career.
She likes the way it hurts.
That opening line alone sent shockwaves. It’s visceral. Stargate and Sandy Vee handled the production, but the words—penned by Ester Dean, Mikkel Eriksen, and Tor Erik Hermansen—crafted a double entendre that most people missed because they were too busy being scandalized. People hear "chains and whips" and they think "BDSM." Rihanna was thinking about the "sticks and stones" of the tabloid press.
The Real Meaning Behind the S and M Lyrics Rihanna Made Famous
Listen, the song is catchy. It’s a floor-filler. But the "S" and the "M" in the title actually stand for sadism and masochism, and while the imagery is heavy on the fetishism, the subtext is purely about the relationship between a celebrity and the public. "I may be bad, but I'm perfectly good at it," she sings. It's a reclamation of power. She’s basically saying that if the world is going to watch her every move and tear her apart, she might as well enjoy the spectacle.
She's the master. The media is the slave.
It’s a fascinating flip of the script. Most artists at that level try to hide their scars or play the victim. Rihanna leaned into the chaos. In the music video—which, let's be honest, got banned in about 11 countries—she literally walks a blogger on a leash. It’s not subtle. The S and M lyrics Rihanna used were a tool to highlight that her "naughtiness" was a commodity. If the public wanted a villain, she’d give them one in high fashion.
💡 You might also like: Black Bear by Andrew Belle: Why This Song Still Hits So Hard
Why the Song Got Banned (and Why It Didn't Matter)
The BBC actually renamed the track "Come On" for its Radio 1 daytime shifts. They were terrified of the word "sex" or any overt references to bondage. But you can't censor a vibe. Even with the title changed, the energy of the track remained. It was the lead single from Loud, an album that was intentionally bright, aggressive, and unapologetic.
- The song hit Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- It became her tenth chart-topper.
- It solidified her transition from the "Umbrella" girl to a pop icon who could handle adult themes without losing her grip on the charts.
The controversy was the fuel. Every time a parent-teacher association complained about the lyrics, another million people streamed it. That's just how the industry worked then, and frankly, how it still works now.
Breaking Down the Bridge and the Britney Remix
There's a specific moment in the song that always gets people: the bridge. "Pain is my pleasure, 'cause nothing could measure." It’s a bold statement for a pop song. It suggests a level of agency that goes beyond just "having fun." It’s about control.
Then came the remix.
When Rihanna brought Britney Spears onto the track, it felt like a cultural reset. Two women who had been absolutely dragged by the media for years, joining forces on a song about enjoying the "pain" of the spotlight? It was meta. It was brilliant. Britney’s verse added a softer, more nasal contrast to Rihanna’s gritty, confident delivery. If you look at the S and M lyrics Rihanna and Britney shared, the line "I love the smell of it" takes on a whole different meaning when you realize they're talking about the scent of a fresh scandal.
📖 Related: Billie Eilish Therefore I Am Explained: The Philosophy Behind the Mall Raid
Honestly, it's kind of dark when you think about it. We were all dancing to their trauma.
The Aesthetic of "Loud" and the Visual Impact
You can't talk about the lyrics without talking about the hair. That fire-engine red hair. It defined an era. Rihanna wasn't just singing these words; she was wearing them. The visual language of the "S&M" era was all about high-contrast colors and latex. It made the sexual metaphors feel more like a superhero costume than a cry for help.
Some critics at the time, like those from Rolling Stone, pointed out that the song felt a bit calculated. They weren't wrong. Pop music is calculated. But the way Rihanna sold it felt authentic to her brand of "Good Girl Gone Bad." She wasn't asking for permission anymore.
- The "whip" sounds in the production are synced to the beat.
- The repetition of "na na na" acts as a hypnotic hook that stays in your head for days.
- It bridged the gap between Euro-dance and American R&B in a way few songs had done before.
Legal Troubles and Plagiarism Claims
Not everything was smooth sailing. Photographer David LaChapelle sued Rihanna, claiming the music video's visuals—which mirrored the S and M lyrics Rihanna sang—ripped off his specific photographic style. He pointed to the pink background, the newspapers on the wall, and the overall "feel" of the set. They eventually settled out of court, but it added another layer to the song's "naughty" reputation. It was a song born in conflict and sustained by it.
The Legacy of the Track in 2026
Looking back from today's perspective, "S&M" feels almost quaint compared to some of the hyper-sexualized tracks we see now. But it paved the road. It gave female artists permission to be aggressive. Before this, pop stars were either "virgins" or "vamps." Rihanna decided to be the one holding the leash.
👉 See also: Bad For Me Lyrics Kevin Gates: The Messy Truth Behind the Song
The S and M lyrics Rihanna delivered are a masterclass in pop songwriting because they work on two levels. If you're at a club, it's a song about sex. If you're a student of media, it's a song about the parasitic relationship between stars and the press. That's why it still gets airplay. It’s smart.
The song taught us that you can take the "sticks and stones" thrown at you and build a throne out of them. It’s not just a song about leather; it’s a song about leather-thick skin.
Actionable Insights for Music Lovers and Creators:
- Analyze the Subtext: Next time you listen to a "controversial" pop hit, look for the secondary meaning. Often, artists use sexual metaphors to describe their relationship with fame or the industry.
- Study the "Loud" Era Production: If you are a producer, look at how Stargate used "industrial" sounds (like whips and chains) to reinforce the lyrical theme without making the track sound too niche for radio.
- Reclaim the Narrative: Use Rihanna's approach as a case study in PR. When the media defines you one way, leaning into that persona—and exaggerating it—can actually give you back control of your image.
- Check the Credits: Always look at the writers behind the hits. Ester Dean is a powerhouse who helped shape the sound of the 2010s; studying her melodic structures can improve your own songwriting.
The "na na na" might be simple, but the impact was anything but. Rihanna didn't just sing a song; she started a conversation that we're still having about where the line between private life and public performance actually sits.