Unveiling the Hidden Collaboration: Rihanna, Taylor Swift, and Calvin Harris in 'This Is What You Came For
The recent release of the Michael Jackson biopic "Michael" has brought the King of Pop back into the spotlight, but current pop icons like Rihanna and Taylor Swift are still making waves in the music industry. Rihanna and Swift actually collaborated on a song in 2016 that became a top 10 Billboard hit, although their partnership was initially kept under wraps.
On April 29, 2016, Calvin Harris released "This Is What You Came For" featuring Rihanna, a successful EDM/pop track that topped the US Billboard Dance charts and reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. This wasn't the first time Rihanna and Harris had worked together, as they had previously collaborated on hits like "Where Have You Been" and "We Found Love."
What many may not know is that Taylor Swift co-wrote "This Is What You Came For," a fact that was not revealed until later. Swift's involvement in the song was initially kept secret, but she later disclosed her writing credit in a 2020 interview with Paul McCartney for Rolling Stone. The songwriting credits became a point of contention after Swift and Harris ended their relationship, with Harris disputing the extent of her involvement.
Despite the controversy, Swift is also credited with providing backing vocals on the track, so you can actually hear her voice alongside Rihanna's when you listen to the song. Check it out on your favorite streaming platform to hear Swift's contribution for yourself.