Rihanna drops new song for The Smurfs soundtrack

Rihanna’s New Song Launches

On May 16, 2025, Rihanna released “Friend of Mine,” her first original song since 2022’s “Lift Me Up.” The upbeat track is part of The Smurfs movie soundtrack. She also voices Smurfette in the film, set to hit theaters July 18, 2025.

The song dropped alongside a music video featuring clips from the movie. Available on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, it marks Rihanna’s return to music, this time aimed at kids and family audiences.

Song Details and Sound

Friend of Mine” is about three and a half minutes long with a synth-pop beat. It was produced by Jon Bellion, f a l l e n, and Pete Nappi. The lyrics are simple and fun, with lines like “Just met you tonight, but you feel like a friend of mine.”

The song matches the playful style of The Smurfs film. Its rhythm and melody were made for dancing and appeal to young listeners and fans of animated musicals.

Rihanna as Smurfette

Rihanna voices Smurfette in The Smurfs movie, announced at CinemaCon 2023. In trailers, Smurfette is shown as “the coolest Smurf in the village.” Rihanna’s character leads the Smurfs on their big adventure.

This gave her creative input beyond her voice role. Smurfette is one of the most important characters, and Rihanna’s role helps shape the story and energy of the film.

How the Song Was Promoted

Rihanna promoted “Friend of Mine” with a music video on May 16, 2025, showing movie scenes and her voiceover. She shared it on Instagram and X, where she has over 150 and 108 million followers.

The song was sent to radio and added to kid-focused playlists. Her posts got millions of likes and views, helping push the track into trending lists across streaming and social platforms.

Digital Platforms and Views

The official music video on Rihanna’s YouTube channel has accumulated 6.8 million views. Other versions, like the instrumental visualizer (38K views) and radio edit visualizer (31K views), are also available.

The song was added to various curated playlists, including kids’ and family music sections. On iTunes, it debuted at #89 on May 16, 2025, peaking at #38 by May 18, 2025. It also charted on the UK Official Singles Chart at #72 by May 29, 2025, and #19 on the Official Dance Singles Chart.

About the New Smurfs Movie

The 2025 Smurfs movie is a musical adventure, releasing on July 18. Directed by Chris Miller, the story follows Smurfette leading a rescue mission into the real world to save Papa Smurf. He’s been taken by Gargamel and Razamel, the villains.

The cast features John Goodman as Papa Smurf, plus James Corden, Sandra Oh, and Nick Offerman. Fully animated, the movie includes original songs and action scenes designed to entertain kids and longtime Smurfs fans.

Rihanna’s Music Comeback

Before “Friend of Mine,” Rihanna hadn’t released an original song since “Lift Me Up” in October 2022. That ballad, written for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, marked her first solo track in six years.

Since then, she has focused on her Fenty brand. Her return with a kids’ soundtrack song was unexpected but welcomed. The release also fueled interest in her long-awaited ninth album.

Producer Ludwig Göransson’s Role

Ludwig Göransson helped shape “Friend of Mine.” He’s known for scoring Black Panther and The Mandalorian. He previously worked with Rihanna on “Lift Me Up,” which was nominated for an Oscar.

Göransson also produced Childish Gambino’s “This Is America.” His experience with both film scores and hit records adds depth and polish to the Smurfs soundtrack.

“Lift Me Up” Background

Released on October 28, 2022, “Lift Me Up” was Rihanna’s first solo song in six years. Written for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, it honored Chadwick Boseman. The song was co-written with Tems and produced by Göransson.

It earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song. Unlike the fun tone of “Friend of Mine,” “Lift Me Up” was a slow, emotional ballad. Together, the songs show Rihanna’s range in soundtrack music.

Where the Smurfs Started

The Smurfs were created by Belgian artist Peyo in 1958 as comic book characters. They became popular in the U.S. through the 1981–1989 cartoon. Later, they appeared in live-action/CGI films like The Smurfs (2011) and The Smurfs 2 (2013).

In 2017, Smurfs: The Lost Village became the first fully animated reboot. The 2025 film follows that path, continuing the franchise with modern voices like Rihanna and fresh songs to reach new and returning audiences.

Soundtrack and Artists Involved

The Smurfs soundtrack features more than Rihanna. Other artists include DJ Khaled, Cardi B, and DESI TRILL. Their song “Higher Love” came out in February 2025 to preview the music.

Released by Sony Music, the soundtrack includes different genres and artists. This mix helps the film appeal to both kids and adults. It also gives the soundtrack a strong commercial push, making it more than just background music.

Rihanna’s Role as Producer

Rihanna worked as an executive producer on The Smurfs, first revealed at CinemaCon 2023. She helped guide the movie’s story, music, and design choices. Her involvement gave her more control than just being a voice actor.

With her Fenty brand and past film work, she brought experience to the job. As a producer, she made sure the movie matched her vision and connected with today’s families. It also let her take a new leadership role in entertainment.

Recap of 2017’s Smurf Film

Smurfs: The Lost Village came out on April 7, 2017. It was the first fully animated film in the series and focused on Smurfette discovering a hidden village. Directed by Kelly Asbury, it had a $60 million budget and earned $197 million worldwide.

Reviews were mixed, with a 40% Rotten Tomatoes score and 47 on Metacritic. The film moved away from live-action and focused on a colorful, child-friendly look. It set the stage for the 2025 reboot.

Rihanna’s Return to Kids’ Animation After 10 Years

The 2025 Smurfs movie marks Rihanna’s return to children’s animation a full decade after her last family film. In 2015, she voiced the character Tip in DreamWorks’ animated film Home, which grossed over $386 million worldwide.

She also performed original songs for that soundtrack, including “Towards the Sun” and “Dancing in the Dark.” The Smurfs project continues her pattern of combining voice acting with music contributions, marking her second major animated film and her first since becoming a mother in 2022.

Smurfs’ First TV Series by Hanna-Barbera

The first Smurfs animated television series aired from 1981 to 1989. Produced by Hanna-Barbera, the show ran for nine seasons on NBC. It introduced the Smurfs to American audiences and expanded the franchise beyond Europe.

The cartoon featured over 250 episodes and included classic characters like Papa Smurf, Smurfette, Brainy Smurf, and Gargamel. The series became one of the most popular Saturday morning cartoons of the 1980s.

Meanwhile, fans are curious about are Rihanna and A$AP Rocky finally planning to tie the knot?, as recent reports suggest the couple may be moving toward marriage after years together.

Rihanna Builds the Fenty Brand

Rihanna began her Fenty business ventures with Fenty Beauty in September 2017. The makeup brand became known for offering 50 shades of foundation, promoting inclusivity. In 2018, she launched Savage X Fenty, a lingerie brand that focused on body positivity.

In 2019, Rihanna started a luxury fashion line called Fenty under LVMH, which paused operations in 2021. These business steps came before her work on the Smurfs movie and show her success in areas beyond music and acting, including global beauty and fashion markets.

Building on her influence in fashion, Rihanna takes the reins as the new face of J’Adore Dior, becoming the latest ambassador for the iconic fragrance.

Is Rihanna’s ‘Friend of Mine’ the surprise hit of 2025? Drop your take below!

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.