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==Background== |
==Background== |
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| − | In late 2013, Ariana Grande began working on ''My Everything'' with producers from her previous album as well as new producers. It was announced on March 3, 2014 that Grande would be featured on the fifth single from Chris Brown's upcoming sixth studio album ''X'' titled "[[Don't Be Gone Too Long]]". The single was originally set for release on March 25, 2014, however was postponed due to Brown being sent to jail awaiting trail on assault charges. Grande had announced the songs delay on March 17, 2014 and two days later following the announcement Grande revealed due the songs delay, she would be releasing the first single from her upcoming sophomore studio album instead. After recording multiple songs for the album, Grande stated that she had chosen the first single from her album.<ref>[https://twitter.com/ArianaGrande/status/452269886044008448 Ariana's tweet about picking the first single]</ref> On April 15, 2014, it was officially announced that "Problem" would be the title of the lead single from the album.<ref>[https://twitter.com/ArianaGrande/status/456142567394926592 Confirming the name]</ref> Initially while recording songs for the album, after Grande had recorded "Problem" she "fell out of love" with the song and didn't want it to appear on her second album. However, following an album listening session with her management and record label, when "Problem" came on Grande said realized her love for the song and decided to keep it for the album. |
+ | In late 2013, Ariana Grande began working on ''My Everything'' with producers from her previous album as well as new producers. It was announced on March 3, 2014 that Grande would be featured on the fifth single from Chris Brown's upcoming sixth studio album ''X'' titled "[[Don't Be Gone Too Long]]". The single was originally set for release on March 25[[File:The_Listening_Sessions_-_ariana_grande_&_big_sean.png|thumb|left|202px|Big Sean and Ariana singing together]], 2014, however was postponed due to Brown being sent to jail awaiting trail on assault charges. Grande had announced the songs delay on March 17, 2014 and two days later following the announcement Grande revealed due the songs delay, she would be releasing the first single from her upcoming sophomore studio album instead. After recording multiple songs for the album, Grande stated that she had chosen the first single from her album.<ref>[https://twitter.com/ArianaGrande/status/452269886044008448 Ariana's tweet about picking the first single]</ref> On April 15, 2014, it was officially announced that "Problem" would be the title of the lead single from the album.<ref>[https://twitter.com/ArianaGrande/status/456142567394926592 Confirming the name]</ref> Initially while recording songs for the album, after Grande had recorded "Problem" she "fell out of love" with the song and didn't want it to appear on her second album. However, following an album listening session with her management and record label, when "Problem" came on Grande said realized her love for the song and decided to keep it for the album. |
==Promotion and release== |
==Promotion and release== |
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==Critical reception== |
==Critical reception== |
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| − | Upon release, "Problem" received positive reviews from critics. Mike Wass of ''Idolator'' described the song as "an odd blend of '90s pop and current urban trends (the trap-lite breakdown and a sax hook a la Jason Derulo's "Talk Dirty") but there's no denying that it's catchy." ''Entertainment Weekly'' called the song a "dramatic reinvention," and also notes, "The idea that Grande was collaborating with bad girl du jour Iggy Azalea prompted all kinds of speculation, and the result is more or less what everybody expected: Grande's enviable pipes are still the centerpiece, but she also invites a sax-drunk loop, sexy whisper tracks, and Azalea's Jay Z-referencing high-speed verse to the party as well." ''Music Times'' commented that "the saxophone-filled track continues the pattern set by Grande's 2013 debut album ''[[Yours Truly (album)|Yours Truly]]'' by being heavily influenced by the '90s R&B scene. This time, 'Problem' pulls from the funky, funky streets with a jazz-influenced riff. An overwhelming (but welcome) dose of saxophone leads the song before the more modern drum-filled beat drops." ''Pitchfork'' named it "Best New Track" saying the track "bears all the hallmarks of a future smash, as if the future wasn't actually right now." |
+ | Upon release, "Problem" received positive reviews from critics. Mike Wass of ''Idolator'' described the song as "an odd [[File:Wango_Tango_2014_-_Iggy_and_Ariana_.jpg|thumb|left|306px|Iggy Azalea and Ariana Grande at the "Problem" set.]]blend of '90s pop and current urban trends (the trap-lite breakdown and a sax hook a la Jason Derulo's "Talk Dirty") but there's no denying that it's catchy." ''Entertainment Weekly'' called the song a "dramatic reinvention," and also notes, "The idea that Grande was collaborating with bad girl du jour Iggy Azalea prompted all kinds of speculation, and the result is more or less what everybody expected: Grande's enviable pipes are still the centerpiece, but she also invites a sax-drunk loop, sexy whisper tracks, and Azalea's Jay Z-referencing high-speed verse to the party as well." ''Music Times'' commented that "the saxophone-filled track continues the pattern set by Grande's 2013 debut album ''[[Yours Truly (album)|Yours Truly]]'' by being heavily influenced by the '90s R&B scene. This time, 'Problem' pulls from the funky, funky streets with a jazz-influenced riff. An overwhelming (but welcome) dose of saxophone leads the song before the more modern drum-filled beat drops." ''Pitchfork'' named it "Best New Track" saying the track "bears all the hallmarks of a future smash, as if the future wasn't actually right now." |
==Commercial performance== |
==Commercial performance== |
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Revision as of 00:05, 13 August 2014
"Problem" is the first single off of Ariana Grande's second album, My Everything and was released on April 28, 2014. The song features recording artist Iggy Azalea.[1] Big Sean whispers part of the chorus but is not a featured artist. The song is about knowing you'd be better off without someone but you can't resist them and need them no matter what.[2]
Background
In late 2013, Ariana Grande began working on My Everything with producers from her previous album as well as new producers. It was announced on March 3, 2014 that Grande would be featured on the fifth single from Chris Brown's upcoming sixth studio album X titled "Don't Be Gone Too Long". The single was originally set for release on March 25
Big Sean and Ariana singing together
, 2014, however was postponed due to Brown being sent to jail awaiting trail on assault charges. Grande had announced the songs delay on March 17, 2014 and two days later following the announcement Grande revealed due the songs delay, she would be releasing the first single from her upcoming sophomore studio album instead. After recording multiple songs for the album, Grande stated that she had chosen the first single from her album.[3] On April 15, 2014, it was officially announced that "Problem" would be the title of the lead single from the album.[4] Initially while recording songs for the album, after Grande had recorded "Problem" she "fell out of love" with the song and didn't want it to appear on her second album. However, following an album listening session with her management and record label, when "Problem" came on Grande said realized her love for the song and decided to keep it for the album.
Promotion and release
The two different cover art images that Ariana asked her fans to choose from.
Grande first released promotional images from the single's photo shoot all throughout March 2014. On April 10, 2014, Grande asked her fans to choose between two new possible images to be used for the single's artwork release.[5] After the votes were tallied, she revealed the winning cover artwork through her Instagram account the next day with the hashtag #10daystilproblem, and revealed that Iggy Azalea would be assisting her on the track.[6] Grande began an online countdown to the song's release with promotional posters made by Jones Crow. All of the hashtags for the countdown to the song (#11DaysUntilProblem, #10DaysUntilProblem, etc.) trended on Twitter.[7][8] Grande released two teasers for the song; one features her singing the chorus and the other features Iggy rapping her part. he single was made available for pre-order on March 21, 2014. Following her debut performance of "Problem" at the Radio Disney Music Awards, the song was released at midnight to iTunes on April 28, 2014. Three hours after its release "Problem" shot to number one on the iTunes singles charts in over 30 countries.
Lyric Video
258px|thumb Grande filmed the lyric video for the song on April 10, 2014.[9] Grande edited the video with Jones Crow, the video's director, and finished it on April 13, 2014.[10] The video was released onto Ariana's Vevo channel on May 1. The video features Grande and Azalea performing in noir black-and-white clip behind pinwheel go-go filters.
Music Video
The official music video for "Problem" was filmed on the day after its release on April 29, 2014 with Nev Todorovic as the director, who has previously worked with Grande on her videos for "Right There" and "Almost Is Never Enough". On May 8, 2014, Grande previewed photos from the songs video shoot, which features Grande riding a motorcycle while Azalea rocks big blonde hair. The theme carries on the black, white and retro theme from that of the lyric video which is set to feature a cameo appearance by Big Sean. The official music video was released on May 30, 2014. The video shows Grande dancing with her backup dancers, interlacing with her hanging out with Azalea and Big Sean.
Critical reception
Upon release, "Problem" received positive reviews from critics. Mike Wass of Idolator described the song as "an odd
Iggy Azalea and Ariana Grande at the "Problem" set.
blend of '90s pop and current urban trends (the trap-lite breakdown and a sax hook a la Jason Derulo's "Talk Dirty") but there's no denying that it's catchy." Entertainment Weekly called the song a "dramatic reinvention," and also notes, "The idea that Grande was collaborating with bad girl du jour Iggy Azalea prompted all kinds of speculation, and the result is more or less what everybody expected: Grande's enviable pipes are still the centerpiece, but she also invites a sax-drunk loop, sexy whisper tracks, and Azalea's Jay Z-referencing high-speed verse to the party as well." Music Times commented that "the saxophone-filled track continues the pattern set by Grande's 2013 debut album Yours Truly by being heavily influenced by the '90s R&B scene. This time, 'Problem' pulls from the funky, funky streets with a jazz-influenced riff. An overwhelming (but welcome) dose of saxophone leads the song before the more modern drum-filled beat drops." Pitchfork named it "Best New Track" saying the track "bears all the hallmarks of a future smash, as if the future wasn't actually right now."
Commercial performance
Ariana holding the certification for "Problem" going platinum
Upon its release, the song reached the number one position on the US iTunes Store song chart in 37 minutes, breaking the previous record, which reached number one within 50 minutes. In the United States, "Problem" debuted at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and sold 438,000 copies in its first week. This was the fourth largest first week sales for a female and the tenth largest in general. It has since peaked at #2. The song has also sold over a million copies and has earned platinum certification. In other countries, it reached #10 in the Netherlands, #11 in Spain, #22 in Switzerland, #12 in Brazil, and debuted at #1 in New Zealand.
Videos
Promotional posters
Gallery
“deep breaths, tight chest, life, death” To view the Problem gallery, click here.
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Lyrics
Iggy:
Uh huh
It's Iggy Iggs
I got one more problem with you girl
Ariana:
Hey baby even though I hate ya
I wanna love ya
I want you
And even though I can't forget ya
I really want to
I want you
Tell me, tell me baby
Why can't you leave me
'Cause even though I shouldn't want it
I gotta have it
I want you
Head in the clouds
Got no weight on my shoulders
I should be wiser
And realize that I've got
Big Sean:
One less problem without ya
I got one less problem without ya
I got one less problem without ya
Ariana:
I got one less, one less problem
Big Sean:
One less problem without ya
I got one less problem without ya
I got one less problem without ya
Ariana:
I got one less, one less problem
I know you're never gonna wake up
I gotta give up
But it's you
I know I shouldn't never call back
Or let you come back
But it's you
Every time you touch me
And say you love me
I get a little bit breathless
I shouldn't want it
But it's you
Head in the clouds
Got no weight on my shoulders
I should be wiser
And realize that I've got
Big Sean:
One less problem without ya
I got one less problem without ya
I got one less problem without ya
Ariana:
I got one less, one less problem
Big Sean:
One less problem without ya
I got one less problem without ya
I got one less problem without ya
Ariana:
I got one less, one less problem
Iggy:
It's Iggy Iggs
What you got
Smart money bettin' I'll be better off without you
In no time I'll be forgettin' all about you
You sayin' that you know
But I really really doubt you
Understand my life is easy
When I ain't around you
Iggy Iggy
Too biggie to be here stressin'
I'm thinkin' I love the thought of you
More than I love your presence
And the best thing now
Is probably for you to exit
I let you go
Let you back
I finally learned my lesson
No half-steppin'
Either you want it or you just playin'
I'm listening to you knowin'
I can't believe what you're sayin'
There's a million you's baby boo
So don't be dumb
I got 99 problems
But you won't be one
Like what
Ariana:
One less, one less problem
One less, one less problem
Head in the clouds
Got no weight on my shoulders
I should be wiser
And realize that I've got
Big Sean:
One less problem without ya
I got one less problem without ya
I got one less problem without ya
Ariana Grande:
I got one less, one less problem
Big Sean:
One less problem without ya
I got one less problem without ya
I got one less problem without ya
Ariana:
I got one less, one less problem
Big Sean:
One less problem without ya
I got one less problem without ya
I got one less problem without ya
Ariana:
I got one less, one less problem
References
- ↑ Iggy's tweet about being on the track
- ↑ What Problem is about
- ↑ Ariana's tweet about picking the first single
- ↑ Confirming the name
- ↑ About choosing the cover art
- ↑ Cover art for 10 Day Countdown and actual cover for Problem
- ↑ #10DaysUntilProblem trending
- ↑ About the countdowns trending
- ↑ Status about shooting the lyric video
- ↑ Ariana's status about finishing the song