Rihanna wanted Avril Lavigne to sing on ‘Loud’.

The Barbadian singer samples Avril’s 2002 ballad ‘I’m With You’ on her track ‘Cheers (Drink to That)’ on her latest album, and said she originally wanted the Canadian pop punk star to sing on the track, but by the time she had heard it, it was already too late.

She explained to MTV: “I asked whether she could appear, but when I heard the track it was already embedded in the music, so the producers already had it that way.

“But it would have sounded the same. I’m just glad that we could use her sample, because it became such a huge part of the instrumental that if it were not in the song, it would change the whole vibe of it.”

While Avril’s ‘I’m With You’ was a lonely track – which sees the main character looking for love on a cold, rainy night – Rihanna’s song goes in a completely different direction.

She added: “‘Cheers’ is one of my favourite songs. It makes you feel like celebrating. It gives you a great feeling inside like you want to go out and have a drink. People can’t wait for the weekend.”

‘Loud’ is available now.