Rihanna returns with new Smurfs single ‘Friend of Mine,’ marking her first release in 3 years

After a three-year hiatus from music, Rihanna makes a comeback with the upbeat disco song "Friend Of Mine," which is the soundtrack from the upcoming animation Smurfs. On Monday, May 14, the Barbadian songstress took to her X account to share the information about her newly released single.

The shared post was captioned:

"New #SmurfsMovie trailer featuring 'Friend Of Mine' from the Smurfs soundtrack out Friday. Pre-save now."

Rihanna also posted a teaser of the single alongside a preview of the cartoon on X, formerly Twitter.

In the clip, the mother of two is spotted wearing a blue sweatshirt and studio headphones over her beaded braids as she voices the lead character, Smurfette.

Friend of Mine dropped on Friday, May 16, accompanied by a mushroom-inspired music video. The first scene of the music video shows Rihanna walking into a colorful, gigantic mushroom while holding an enormous white flower.

Rihanna was attired in a matching black leather jacket and pants, complemented by black pumps and diamond jewelry. Maintaining a minimalist aesthetic, Ri opted for a neutral-toned makeover.

In the following scenes, Smurfette and a lineup of other Smurfs could be seen dancing synchronously to the upbeat track playing in the background.

Friends of Mine reflects themes of Friendship, inexplicable familiarity, and déjà vu. The chorus holds the essence of the song:

"Ooh, I think the word here is 'déjà-vu"

Just met you tonight, but you feel like a friend of mine

Feel like a friend of mine, feel like a friend of mine

Feel like a friend of mine, feel like a friend of mine

How can something so familiar be so brand new?

Just met you tonight, but you feel like a friend of mine."

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Everything to know about Paramount's upcoming musical comedy animation, Smurfs with Rihanna

Smurfs is a highly anticipated animated musical comedy inspired by the comic series "The Smurfs" by Belgium-born writer Pierre Culliford. This 2025 remake would feature a host of Hollywood's A-listers, including Rihanna, Octavia Spencer, James Corden, and the Emmy Award-winning actor Nick Offerman.

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The yet-to-be-released animation has a storyline that explores the mysterious captivity of Papa Smurf by two evil wizards, Gargamel and Razamel. The cartoon's protagonist, Smurfette, will have to work closely with a team of Smurfs to rescue Papa Smurf from the hands of these wicked wizards.

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Smurf was previously scheduled to premiere on December 20, 2024, but was rescheduled for July 18, 2025.