Rihanna’s “Where Have You Been” Surpasses 1 Billion Spotify Streams

Rihanna’s dance-floor anthem “Where Have You Been” officially crossed 1 billion streams on Spotify on November 30, 2025.

Originally released in 2012 as the third international single from her album Talk That Talk, it is her 17th career song to reach the milestone.

The song has experienced a long-tail resurgence across streaming platforms over the past decade—fueled by social media virality, dance challenges, and Rihanna’s sustained global influence.

“Where Have You Been” was crafted by an all-star team of hitmakers, with songwriting credits going to Ester Dean, Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald, Henry “Cirkut” Walter, Calvin Harris, and Geoff Mack. The track notably interpolates Mack’s classic 1959 composition “I’ve Been Everywhere.” Production was handled by Dr. Luke, Cirkut, and Calvin Harris, who merged electro house, techno, trance, and EDM into a thunderous, club-ready soundscape.

Recorded in 2011 at Eightysevenfourteen Studios and Eyeknowasecret Studio in Los Angeles, the track blends “hard, chilly synths,” a “monstrous bass,” and a soaring chorus designed for festival crowds. Rihanna’s vocals—recorded by Kuk Harrell and Marcos Tovar—cut through the mix with a mix of urgency and sensuality, embodying the song’s theme of searching for a lover who can fully satisfy her.

Chart Impact and Global Performance

Upon release, “Where Have You Been” became one of Rihanna’s biggest global hits of the 2010s. In the United States, it soared to No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 ([#5]), marking her 22nd Top 10 on the chart. It also hit: #1 on the US Dance Club Songs chart, #3 US Pop Songs, #12 Hot Latin Songs, #4 Latin Pop Songs and #9 Radio Songs Chart.

Internationally, the track reached #1 in Mexico on both Anglo Airplay and Mexican Airplay and the UK Dance Chart.

• Top 5 in France (#2), Denmark (#4), Czech Republic (#5), Israel (#2), New Zealand (#4)

• Top 10 in the UK Singles Chart (#6), Belgium (#6/#9), Norway (#8), Ireland (#8)

• Charting across more than 30 additional countries worldwide

Its staying power continued into the streaming era, even re-entering global charts in 2023 and 2025, including the Billboard Global 200 (#97 in 2025).

Certifications and Sales

“Where Have You Been” has sold 4 million in streams and sales equivalents in the United States becoming certified 4× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association Of America (RIAA). United Kingdom – 2× Platinum (1,200,000), Australia – 3× Platinum, Brazil – 2× Diamond, Italy and Germany – Platinum, Sweden and New Zealand – 2× Platinum and Gold in Spain.

Music Video: A Visual Turning Point

Directed by Dave Meyers, the music video for “Where Have You Been” marked a major evolution in Rihanna’s artistry—particularly her embrace of full choreography. Filmed over March 7–9, 2012, the video features intricate routines choreographed by Nadine “Hi-Hat” Ruffin, paired with sweeping cinematic visuals.

The video presents Rihanna in a series of striking personas and settings:

• A reptilian water creature emerging from a dark swamp

• A high-energy desert tribal dance sequence

• A sensual African-themed hut scene

• A mesmerizing visual in which Rihanna channels Hindu deity Shiva with multiple arms

• Neon, fire, and surreal nature backdrops that amplify the song’s intensity

Upon release, the video broke the record for most views in 24 hours at the time, earning 4.93 million first-day views. Critics praised its choreography, visual ambition, and Rihanna’s artistic reinvention. It went on to receive MTV VMA nominations for Best Choreography and Best Visual Effects, and won Best Dance Performance at the 2012 Soul Train Awards.

Live Performances and Cultural Influence

Rihanna showcased “Where Have You Been” on some of the world’s biggest stages, including:

• Saturday Night Live (2012)

• American Idol Season 11 finale

• Coachella 2012

• Radio 1’s Hackney Weekend

• Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show, where it was part of a medley with “Only Girl (In the World)”