Give It Up is a song sung by Elizabeth Gillies and Ariana Grande, (2010) at a Victorious special, Freak The Freak Out. "Give It Up" received mixed reviews from music critics, who complimented its aggressive lyrics and likened it to the music by American recording artist Britney Spears. Upon the release of the album, the song debuted on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 singles chart in the United States at number twenty three on the strength of digital downloads alone.
Background
"Give It Up" was written by Michael Corcoran, CJ Abraham and Dan Schneider , while the production was helmed by Corcoran and Abraham under their production names, Backhouse Mike and The Super Chris. It was selected as one of the twelve to thirteen songs that would be on the Victorious soundtrack to the Nickelodeon television series "Victorious", which was released on August 2, 2011. The song was first featured on the season one two-part episode Freak the Freak Out, which premiered on November 26, 2010. "Give It Up" was performed by Elizabeth Gillies and Ariana Grande, the two main cast members of the television show, on the soundtrack and in the two-part special. The performance features the two actresses reprising their roles as Jade West and Cat Valentine, signing on stage at a fictional karaoke restaurant in California. The song was played in the background during the iCarly episode "iLove You". It also played in the iCarly crossover special, "iParty with Victorious", in which the cast of Victorious were featured in the series counted only as an iCarly episode.
Composition
"Give It Up" is an up-tempo song that lasts for two minutes and forty five seconds. It is composed a pop song with urban and electropop characteristics. The song has an aggressive sound that features the use of keyboard effects. The overall sound of the song received to the musical stylings of American dance-pop singer Britney Spears. It received comparisons to the sound and lyrical content of “Lady Marmalade”, the 2001 song performed by recording artists Mýa, Pink, Christina Aguilera and Lil Kim for the Moulin Rouge soundtrack. The lyrics suggest building tension in a relationship while telling of a male without authoritative qualities.
Critical reception
Bob Hoose and Steven Isaac of Plugged In Online, in their review of the soundtrack, commented about the song, writing that it “puts the physically aggressive high heel on the other foot as the female singers push a boy to "come a little closer" ("At the end of the night/It's the same old story/But you never get it right/Give it up … Take a backseat, boy/'Cause now I'm driving").” [1]
Chart performance
Upon the release of Victorious, "Give It Up" charted on the |Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 at number twenty-three, along with the Victorious cast's version of I Want You Back, charting at number eight[2] based on the strength of digital downloads.
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Bubbling Under Hot 100[3] | 23 |
Credits and personnel
- Engineering and mixing
- Engineered at The Backhouse in Los Angeles, California
- Mixed at Rocket Carousel Studios in Los Angeles, California
- Personnel
- Vocals - Elizabeth Gillies, Ariana Grande
- Songwriting - Michael Corcoran, CJ Abraham, Dan Schneider
- Production - Backhouse Mike, The Super Chris
- Background vocals - Dena Chutnik
- Instruments - Michael Corcoran
- Keyboards - CJ Abraham
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Victorious, Sony Music Entertainment, Nick Records, Columbia Records.
Lyrics
Jade
Someday I'll let you in
Treat you right
Drive you o'utta your mind
Oooh
Cat
You never met a chick like me
Burn so bright
I'm gonna make you blind
Both
Always want what you can't have
Is it so bad if you don't get what you wanted
Make you feel good
As I whip you
Into shape, ya boy
Let's get it started!
Give it up
You can't win
Cause I know where you've been
Such a shame
You don't put up a fight
That's a game that we play
At the end of the night
It's the same old story
But you never get it right
Give it up
Come a little closer
Baby, baby
Come a little closer
Come a little closer
Baby, baby
Jade
So stop trying to walk away
No you won't ever leave me behind
(Noooo)
Cat
You better believe that I'm here to stay
(That's right)
Cause you're the shade and I'm the sunshine
(Ooooohh)
Both
Look at me boy
'Cause I got you
Where I want you
Isn't it so exciting?
Wanna shake you
Wanna break you
Take a backseat boy
Cause now I'm driving
Give it up
You can't win
Cause I know where you've been
Such a shame
You don't put up a fight
That's a game that we play
At the end of the night
It's the same old story
But you never get it right
Give it up
A oooh yeaaah
Ah oooho heeey
Hey yeah yeah yeaaaah
Come a little closer
Come a little closer
Baby, baby
Come a little closer
Come a little closer
Baby, baby
Come a little closer
Come a little closer
Baby
If you are my baby
Then I'll make you crazy tonight
Look at me boy
'Cause I got you
Where I want you
Isn't it so exciting?
Wanna shake you
When I break you
Take a backseat boy
Cause now I'm driving
Give it up
You can't win
Cause I know where you've been
Such a shame
You don't put up a fight
That's a game that we play
At the end of the night
It's the same old story
But you never get it right
Give it up
Ohhhh
YEAH!