It was the longest running number one song since "Love Is All Around" by Wet Wet Wet in 1994 (that song spent 15 weeks). It peaked at the top spot in the United Kingdom for ten weeks in a row from May 20 to July 29, 2007. It topped the charts in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Poland, Austria, Belgium, Norway and Switzerland at the same time.
"Umbrella" reached the number one spot in a number of countries.
Chris Brown performed an answer song with different lyrics, called "Cinderella."Ĭhart performance At the end of the video, Rihanna is again dancing with an umbrella while in a shower of sparks falling like rain.Ī number of remixes were made for the song. Later, she is painted silver and posing in several positions while nude. In the second verse, she is seen dancing with an umbrella in a different place. In the first chorus, Rihanna walks around en pointe while in the rain. Rihanna is then shown singing in a steamy place. The video features Jay-Z rapping in the beginning while in a rain of sparks. The video was released on May 11, and reached the number one spot for eight weeks. It premiered on April 26 at the website. The music video for "Umbrella" was directed by Chris Applebaum on April 13, 2007.
In the United Kingdom, the single was released as a digital download on May 14 and as a physical single on May 28. Although it was released officially on March 29, 2007, it was released in some parts of the United States on March 28. The song was first offered by Britney Spears but she turned it down. The songwriters of "Umbrella" offered the song to a number of labels before Rihanna finally accepted and recorded it.