"Successful" (stylized in all lowercase) is the seventh track from Ariana Grande's fourth studio album, Sweetener. It was released through Republic Records on August 17, 2018.
Background
Grande confirmed the song and its position in the Sweetener track listing on June 2, 2018, on Twitter.[1] On June 7, 2018, Grande confirmed on Twitter that the song is about "girls feeling good about their own individual success / celebrating each other / flexing [...]".[2] On June 23, Grande posted lyrics of the song on her Twitter account.[3]
Live performances
Grande debuted "Successful" live on August 20, 2018 at The Sweetener Sessions, and is a regular part of the setlist of Grande's Sweetener World Tour, which began on March 18, 2019.
Trivia
Lyrics
[Intro]
Yeah, yeah, mmm, oh, yeah
Yeah, ooh, ooh, yeah
[Verse 1]
I just got some real good news from work, boy (It's a surprise, surprise)
You can't imagine what I'm 'bout to say (It's a surprise, surprise)
It's so hard to hold back, baby (It's a surprise, surprise)
I'm so excited, I can hardly wait (It's a surprise, surprise)
Listen, bae
[Pre-Chorus]
Tonight, I'm a baller, babe (Tonight, I'm a baller, baby)
Even way beneath it, oh woah (Even way beneath me)
What else is there to say, boy? (What else is there to say, boy?)
Say, bae, you should play with me, babe
[Chorus]
Yeah, it feels so good to be so young
And have this fun and be successful, yee
I'm so successful, yeah
And, girl, you too, you are so young
And beautiful and so successful (oh woah, babe)
Yeah, I'm so successful, yee
[Verse 2]
This ain't nothing ordinary for me (It's a surprise, surprise)
We ain't goin' to your favorite place (It's a surprise, surprise (yeah, yeah))
You keep asking, "What is so special?" (It's a surprise, surprise)
You really wanna know? You'll have to wait (It's a surprise, surprise)
[Pre-Chorus]
Tonight, I'm a baller, babe (Tonight, I'm a baller, baby)
Even way beneath it, oh woah (Even way beneath me)
What else is there to say, boy? (What else is there to say, boy?)
Say, bae, you should play with me, babe
[Chorus]
Yee, it feels so good to be so young
And have this fun and be successful, mmmm (I, I, I)
I'm so successful
And, girl, you too, you are so young (so young)
And beautiful and so successful (woah, babe)
Yeah, I'm so successful (yeah, yeah, yeah)
[Bridge]
Let me put my hands over your eyes (your eyes, mmm, yeah, mmm)
(It's a surprise, surprise, it's a surprise, surprise)
Boy, are you ready (ready) for your surprise (surprise)?
(It's a surprise, surprise, it's a surprise, surprise)
Mmm ah, oh, I'ma give it to ya (Mmm)
Mmm ah, oh, I'ma give it to ya (Oh, yeah)
Do you like it, babe? (Do you like it, babe?)
Does it give you chills? (Does it give you chills?)
Does it make you feel? (Does it make you feel cold?)
Yeah
[Pre-Chorus]
(Oh, oh, oh, woah)
Tonight, I'm a baller, babe, mhm, boy (Tonight, I'm a baller, baby)
Even way beneath it, oh woah (Even way beneath me)
What else is there to say, boy? Oh woah (What else is there to say, boy?)
Say, bae, you should play with me, babe
[Chorus]
Yeah, it feels so good to be so young
And have this fun and be successful
I'm so successful, yeah
And, girl, you too, you are so young (so young)
And beautiful and so successful (and so successful), yeah
I'm so successful, yeah, yeah
[Outro]
Mmm, mmmmm, mmm, oh yeah, oh yeah