"Ever Been" (stylized in all lowercase; also know as "Berry Gordy" and "Starshot") is an unreleased song by Ariana Grande that was intended for her fourth studio album, Sweetener. The song was originally recorded by Jennifer Hudson and Kelly Rowland, but was scrapped and later pitched to Ariana. Pharrell Williams re-recorded a reworked final version for the movie's soundtrack Atlantis.
Background[]
On August 20, 2017, a fan had tweeted about the song, teasing some of the lyrics on their Twitter.
Four years later on September 12, 2021, the first snippet of the song surfaced in a Discord server. The second snippet leaked on November 1, 2022.
The third and fourth snippets leaked on February 16, 2023. Later that same day, the song leaked. A month later, the demo leaked on March 28, 2023.
On August 28, 2023, a writer's references of Kelly Rowland and Jennifer Hudson demo was leaked alongside Grande’s final original file for this song. Some of the lyrics from the writers reference are different from Grande’s final version for the song.
The reworked final that was intended for the movie soundtrack of "Atlantis" by Pharrell Williams leaked on October 23, 2023. The lyrics of his version for the movies soundtrack were completely changed, compared to original previous version of the song.
Audios[]
- Original Demo (Kelly Rowland and Jennifer Hudson) - (
listen) - Demo (Ariana's Version) - ( listen)
- Final Version - (
listen) - Reworked Final (Pharrell Williams) - ( listen)
Trivia[]
- The song was titled "Starshot" by insiders before the real title was confirmed.
- A fan had tweeted lyrics of Ever Been on August 20, 2017, saying that it was the best track on her new album. It could have also been apart of the early tracklist for Sweetener.
- The song’s chorus features background vocals from Pharrell Williams on the final version.
- This song sounds similar to "Successful".
- Ariana's demo of this song uses the same instrumental, adlibs, and outro as Jennifer Hudson and Kelly Rowland's original demo.
Gallery[]
Lyrics[]
[Intro]
Five, six, seven, eight
Haha (We gotta make the album)
Okay (You have to)
Okay I'm ready, I'm ready
Okay (Haha)
Should we sing with her or without?
Without
[Chorus: Ariana Grande, Pharrell Williams, Both]
Baby, I can't believe
I'm better than I've ever been
Uh, oh, uh, oh
Baby, I can't believe (Hey!)
I'm better than I've ever been
Uh, oh, uh, oh (Ooh!)
Oh, boy, it seems (Uh!, Uh!)
I'm better than I've ever been (Hey!)
Uh, oh, uh, oh (Uh!)
Oh, boy, it seems (Uh!)
I'm better than I've ever been (Hey!)
Uh, oh, uh, oh
[Verse 1]
My ass was moving
You was moving around it
Afraid he was listening, forget how it sounded
It's my addiction when you kiss where my mouth is
If heaven is listening, oh yes, thank you I found it
[Pre-Chorus]
You're turning me on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on (Me on, me on, me, yeah)
You turning me on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on (Me on, baby)
[Chorus: Ariana Grande, Pharrell Williams, Both]
Baby, I can't believe
I'm better than I've ever been (Woo!)
Uh, oh, uh, oh
Baby, I can't believe (Hey!)
I'm better than I've ever been
Uh, oh, uh, oh
Oh, boy, it seems
I'm better than I've ever been
Uh, oh, uh, oh
Oh, boy, it seems
I'm better than I've ever been
Uh, oh, uh, oh
[Verse 2]
Oh, how you forgetting
What you left the ground with?
I'll have you look up, to show you who you are down with
You are the sun, with all the planets around it
If heaven is listening, thank you, thank you I found it
[Pre-Chorus]
You're turning me on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on (Me on, ooh, baby, oh-on)
You turning me on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on (On, me on, ooh, yeah, yeah)
[Chorus: Ariana Grande, Pharrell Williams, Both]
Baby, I can't believe (Baby)
I'm better than I've ever been
Uh, oh, uh, oh
Baby, I can't believe (Hey!)
I'm better than I've ever been (Ever been)
Uh, oh, uh, oh
Oh, boy, it seems
I'm better than I've ever been (Better than I've ever been before)
Uh, oh, uh, oh
Oh, boy, it seems
I'm better than I've ever been
Uh, oh, uh, oh
[Bridge]
But I can remember
Nothing's ever been this exciting (Exciting, it's so exciting)
And every morning is a gift with you beside me (So exciting, boy)
And I just wanna thank you, ah, ah (Ah-ah)
Wanna celebrate? (Ah-ah)
There's a party going up in my room (Ah-ah) (Yeah)
Like an elevator (Ah-ah)
[Chorus: Ariana Grande, Pharrell Williams, Both]
Baby, I can't believe
I'm better than I've ever been (Uh!)
Uh, oh, uh, oh
Baby, I can't believe (Hey!)
I'm better than I've ever been
Uh, oh, uh, oh (Here we go)
Oh, boy, it seems
I'm better than I've ever been
Uh, oh, uh, oh
Oh, boy, it seems (Hey!)
I'm better than I've ever been
Uh, oh, uh, oh
[Outro]
Life is so much better since I'm with you
So much better than before
Hittin' levels didn't think I'd get to
This the stratosphere for sure
Oh, babe
Better than I've ever been
Than I've ever been
Better than I've ever been
Than I've ever been
Better than I've ever been
Than I've ever been
Better than I've ever been
Than I've ever been
E-ever been
Ever been
E-ever been
Ever been
Ever been
E-ever been
Ever been
[Chorus]
You see, one day I'll be
Bigger than Berry Gordy
Uh, uh, uh, uh
You see, one day I'll be (Hey!)
Bigger than Berry Gordy
Uh, uh, uh, uh (Oooh!)
You see, one day I'll be (Uh!, Uh!)
Bigger than Berry Gordy (Hey!)
Uh, uh, uh, uh (Uh!)
You see, one day I'll be (Uh!)
Bigger than Berry Gordy
Uh, uh, uh, uh
[Verse 1]
I got out the caddy with the tip all around it
When I put my fist out, everybody go pound it
The sterling with ranch, I'll have the money compounded
I'm keeping my dream and I don't care if you clown it
[Pre-Chorus]
One day I'll get on, get on, get on, get on, get on, get on, get on
One day I'll get on, get on, get on, get on, get on, get on, get on
[Chorus]
You see, one day I'll be
Bigger than Berry Gordy
Uh, uh, uh, uh
You see, one day I'll be (Hey!)
Bigger than Berry Gordy
Uh, uh, uh, uh
You see, one day I'll be
Bigger than Berry Gordy
Uh, uh, uh, uh
You see, one day I'll be
Bigger than Berry Gordy
Uh, uh, uh, uh
[Verse 2]
Seven cities down we'll be like the motown scene
That's a dream but you got to build it
What's your plan? I will be known as a local hit machine
But that's still a dream
[Pre-Chorus]
One day I'll get on, get on, get on, get on, get on, get on, get on
One day I'll get on, get on, get on, get on, get on, get on, get on
[Chorus]
You see, one day I'll be
Bigger than Berry Gordy
Uh, uh, uh, uh
You see, one day I'll be (Hey!)
Bigger than Berry Gordy
Uh, uh, uh, uh
You see, one day I'll be
Bigger than Berry Gordy
Uh, uh, uh, uh
You see, one day I'll be
Bigger than Berry Gordy
Uh, uh, uh, uh
[Verse 3]
This thing I'm holding 'bout music and dance
It plays at all times, it keeps us entranced
I know you can't see it, but this is my chance
This is my card and it's sirloin is grand
Come on, wack 'em up to the rooftop just to bring me down
When you come up to here to be free
So will you think that is funny when one of your days are so loud? So don't laugh at my dream
[Chorus]
You see, one day I'll be
Bigger than Berry Gordy
Uh, uh, uh, uh (Uh!)
You see, one day I'll be (Hey!)
Bigger than Berry Gordy
Uh, uh, uh, uh
(Here we go)
You see, one day I'll be
Bigger than Berry Gordy (Hey!)
Uh, uh, uh, uh
You see, one day I'll be
Bigger than Berry Gordy
Uh, uh, uh, uh