 " Unfaithful " received mixed to positive reviews from most music critics . Kelefa Sanneh from The New York Times described " Unfaithful " as " a profoundly ludicrous – but not disagreeable – pop lament " . Quentin B. Huff from PopMatters commented that , " ' Unfaithful ' is a well @-@ intentioned ballad informed by dramatic piano and strings " . Slant Magazine 's Sal Cinquemani stated , " The melodramatic , string @-@ laden ballad ' Unfaithful ' is , if nothing else , an ambitious second single for an artist like Rihanna , and with lyrics like ' I don 't want to be a murderer / Our love , his trust / I might as well take a gun and put it to his head , ' it earns bonus points just for being so fucking weird " . 
