Umbrella — Rihanna ft. Jay-Z (2007)

"Umbrella" transformed Rihanna from pop star to global phenomenon, spending ten consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart in 2007. The hypnotic chorus, built around the repeated "ella, ella" hook, incorporates a recorded rainfall effect that cost $12,000 to produce. This track won a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration in 2008 and has sold over 6.7 million copies worldwide. "Umbrella" spent seven weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. While undeniably a massive pop success, some listeners might find its minimalist production and repetitive hook less musically complex than other entries on this list.