"California King Bed" is a song performed by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna from her fifth studio album, Loud (2010). The song was released as the album's fifth single on May 13, 2011 through Def Jam. The song was written by Andrew Harr, Jermaine Jackson, Priscilla Renea and Alex Delicata, and was produced by Harr and Jackson under their stage name The Runners. Musically, "California King Bed" is a down-tempo ballad, which incorporates elements of rock music.
"California King Bed" received positive reviews from music critics, who praised Rihanna's vocal performance. The song managed to peak at number thirty-seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 after several weeks of fluctuating on the chart. However, the song achieved moderate success internationally, peaking at number one in Poland and Slovakia, while reaching the top five in Australia, Austria, Germany and New Zealand.
An accompanying music video, directed by long time collaborator Anthony Mandler, portrays Rihanna singing about how she is desperate for her love interest to show her his real feelings. The creative director designed an eighteen feet long custom made bed for the video. The song was performed for the first time at the ACM Awards, along with Sugarland front woman Jennifer Nettles, as well as on American Idol, and NBC's Today show. The song is also included on the set-list of the Loud Tour (2011).
Background and release[]
In 2024, Priscilla Renea revealed to Complex that she wrote the song in ten minutes while browsing furniture online. She also mentioned that the song was originally intended to be pitched to Kelly Clarkson.[1]
On March 1, 2011, Rihanna asked fans to help her choose the next single from Loud using Twitter, saying that she would film a music video within the next couple of weeks. After an influx of suggestions, the singer said she had narrowed the options down to four songs: "Man Down", "California King Bed", "Cheers (Drink to That)" and "Fading". On March 12, she confirmed that "California King Bed" had been selected as the next international single. However, the releases were switched, and "Man Down" was sent to rhythmic and urban radio stations in the United States on May 3 – before the May 13 release of "California King Bed" – making "Man Down" and "California King Bed" the fifth and sixth singles from Loud. The song was released digitally on May 13, 2011, through digital download via iTunes. In the United States, it was first serviced to adult contemporary radio stations on May 16, 2011, and later to contemporary hit radio on May 30, 2011. Later, after their impact on radio, the song was also issued on CD single format in Europe and also as an extended play (EP) digital with nine remixes from the original track.
Music video[]
Main article: California King Bed (music video)
Lyrics[]
Chest to chest, nose to nose
Palm to palm, we were always just that close
Wrist to wrist, toe to toe
Lips that felt just like the inside of a rose
So how come when I reach out my finger
It feels like more than distance between us?
In this California king bed
We're ten thousand miles apart
I've been California wishing on these stars
For your heart on me, my California king
Eye to eye, cheek to cheek
Side by side, you were sleeping next to me
Arm in arm, dusk to dawn with the curtains drawn
And a little last night on these sheets
So how come when I reach out my fingers
It seems like more than distance between us?
In this California king bed
We're ten thousand miles apart
I've been California wishing on these stars
For your heart on me, my California king
Just when I felt like giving up on us
You turned around and gave me one last touch
That made everything feel better
And even then my eyes got wetter
So confused wanna ask you if you love me
But I don't wanna seem so weak
Maybe I've been California dreaming
In this California king bed
We're ten thousand miles apart
California wishing on these stars
For your heart on me, my California king
My California king
In this California king bed
We're ten thousand miles apart
I've been California wishing on these stars
For your heart on me, my California king