Interview: Rihanna

OMM: Are you sick of singing 'Umbrella'?

RIHANNA: No, and thank God. I don't think I'll ever tire of it because it means so much to me. Every time I hear the first bars it feels brand new. I do get tired of singing my other songs.

What do you think about when you're singing it?

At first, I tried to channel the emotions of the lyrics as best I could. Now when I perform it, I'm just blown away when the whole audience is singing the words back to me. So I have to just concentrate on remembering them and not get distracted!

Is it true that Britney Spears and Mary J Blige turned it down?

I don't know if they turned it down or whether the decision was made that it wasn't the song for them. Then the decision was made to pass it on to me and I'm eternally glad about that. I feel it belongs to me; 'Umbrella' is mine.

Do you know that when 'Umbrella' was number one we had the worst floods for years in this country - it rained non-stop all summer. Care to offer an apology?

I heard that! People were grilling me about it and I was like, 'What? It's a coincidence!' But actually, I think it was the other way round: the bad weather helped my song stay on top.

What's the best advice that Jay-Z has ever given you?

The one that rings true is: 'Keep good people around you, because if you have a strong circle then it's hard for negativity to get in.' As you grow as an artist, it's hard to tell if a person has your best interests at heart.

What other than reggae did you listen to as a child?

Celine Dion and Mariah Carey - day and night. I was about seven years old when I discovered I had a voice and I told my Mum: 'I wanna do this for real.'

What's Christmas like back home in Barbados?

The whole family go to church first thing. Then we come home and eat, eat, eat.