Rihanna’s secret songwriting weapon doesn’t want to be famous

Several of Rihanna’s most influential songs were co-written by the same movie star. The movie star in question has no interest in becoming famous through her songwriting. Here’s a look at the musical genius who has written hits for some of the most important divas of our time.

Several Rihanna songs were written by an actor from the “Pitch Perfect” films

Ester Dean is a songwriter who has written hits for megastars such as Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, Selena Gomez and Katy Perry. She has written more hits for Rihanna than anyone else. Rihanna singles she has written include “Rude Boy,” “What’s My Name?”, “S&M,” “You da One,” and “Where Have You Been.” Dean is also a singer herself, has released several songs and played a singer in the Pitch perfect Movies.

In a 2015 interview with Time, Dean was asked if she writes her songs with specific artists in mind. “I’ve always written songs for myself,” she said. “I never started writing for other people unless someone literally put me in the studio for Rihanna. I just write what I feel and my own story. Nicki and I hit it off because I wrote songs about the love in my life and we felt connected by the same thing. That’s how songs work – it’s just about whether that person is living the same truth as you.”

Ester Dean said her songs were “part of a machine”

Dean was asked if it was strange that fans were harassing her through her appearances in the Pitch perfect Films, but not through the numerous hits she has written. “I’m just part of a machine,” she explained. For Rihanna, she is like a stylist or make-up artist.

“Her brand is her brand because she knows how to pick a song, she knows how to put on a show. I’m part of the success,” Dean added. “But when they see me, I love that they know me for who I am. I don’t want them to know me as a Rihanna song. That wouldn’t mean anything.”

There is an interesting connection between Dean’s songwriting and her role in the original Pitch perfect. Dean sang “S&M” in the film. It’s unlikely that many fans of the film knew that they were watching the co-writer of “S&M” cover the song in front of them. The decision to have Dean sing “S&M” almost feels like an inside joke, whether it was intended that way or not.

3 songs by Ester Dean became No. 1 hits for Rihanna

So far, three of the songs Dean has written for Rihanna have hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100: “Rude Boy,” “What’s My Name?” and “S&M.” “Rude Boy” topped the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks, “What’s My Name?” for one week, and “S&M” for one week.

“Rude Boy” appeared on Rihanna’s darkest album Rated R. This album reached number 4 on the Billboard 200 and stayed on the charts for 45 weeks. “What’s My Name?” and “S&M” appeared on the album LoudThis record reached number 3 on the Billboard 200 and remained on the charts for a total of 78 weeks.

Dean is one of the most important people behind Rihanna’s career and she is completely happy about it.