Composition and lyrics Where Have You Been

have been dance-pop, techno, , dance song, blends elements of r&b, hip hop , house together. incorporates elements of trance music noted mark graham vh1, song features sweeping, trance-ish transition bowl on dancefloor denizens in clubs on world. randell roberts los angeles times noted rihanna wants music bang, , continuing mine connection between r&b, hip-hop , house. jon caramanica new york times stated song on poppier side of house music. instrumentation composed of buzzy, burping electronics , hard, chilly synths. features monstrous bass , according graham make want trade in factory-installed car speakers top-of-the-line sound system.

in unashamedly sexual song, rihanna sings desire , wish find man able satisfy , please in way possible, singing have been li-i-i-i-i-fe (sic). according robert copsey digital spy, when rihanna performs line instrumental changes strobing trance section ends in synth-squelching breakdown. andy kellam allmusic likened song s chorus of adele rolling in deep . caramanica likened tone of rihanna s vocals of english singer siouxsie sioux performs lines been everywhere, man/ looking someone/ can please me,/ hiding me yeah/ somewhere in crowd? have been lasts duration of 4 minutes , 3 seconds, , composed in key of c minor using common time , moderate dance groove of 128 beats per minute; follows chord progression cm–a♭–cm–a♭ time signature of 4/4. rihanna s vocal range spans on 1 octave low note of b♭3 high note of c5 on song.