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''You wouldn't let any… -stead—''
  
''You wouldn't let any… -stead—''
 
Now he shooting his shot like drive-by (by)
  
Now he shooting his shot like drive-by (by)
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Why you had to make me go call up my side guy? (guy)
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W-w-why you had to make me go call up my side guy? (guy)
 
''You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—''
  
''You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—''
 
Ca-ca-can't let an f-boy eff up my nice vibes
  
Ca-ca-can't let an f-boy eff up my nice vibes

Revision as of 10:43, 24 December 2019

"The Light Is Coming" (stylized in all lowercase) is the third track from Ariana Grande's fourth studio album, Sweetener. It features rapper Nicki Minaj.[3] The song was released as the album's first promotional single through Republic Records on June 20, 2018.[1]

It was placed at #3 on Slant magazine's list "The 25 Best Singles of 2018".[4]

A live version of this song is featured on the Sweetener World Tour Live album which was released on December 22, 2019.

Background

Grande confirmed the song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on May 1, 2018.[5]

On May 7, 2018, Grande confirmed via Twitter that "The Light Is Coming" will be the next song released from the album[6] and one week later she teased some of the lyrics on Twitter. On May 20, 2018, Grande opened the 2018 Billboard Music Awards with "No Tears Left To Cry". At the end of her performance, the title "The Light Is Coming" was displayed. On May 27, 2018, Grande shared a snippet of the song on her Instagram and Twitter accounts, which revealed that it features rapper Nicki Minaj.[3] On May 29, 2018, Grande posted a clip of her rehearsing the song.[7]

On June 2, 2018, Grande performed part of the song at Wango Tango.[8]

Music video

The official music video was filmed on May 25, 2018.[9]

On June 4, 2018, Grande confirmed on Twitter that the music video for the track has already been shot.[10] A 5-second-snippet was posted by Grande on her social media accounts on June 19, 2018.[11]

It was premiered exclusively on Reebok's website on June 20, 2018.[12][13] The music video was directed by Dave Meyers who worked with Grande on her music video for "No Tears Left To Cry".[14]

Live performances

Grande debuted the song on June 2, 2018, at Wango Tango as a snippet. It is a regular part of the setlist of Grande's Sweetener World Tour, which began on March 18, 2019.

Trivia

  • The song is Grande's fifth collaboration with Minaj, after "Bang Bang" (My Everything, 2014), "Get On Your Knees" (The Pinkprint, 2014), "Side To Side" (Dangerous Woman, 2016) and "Bed" (Queen, 2018).[15]
  • In her interview with The FADER, Grande revealed that she auditioned eight different rappers for the song before turning to Minaj.[2]
  • In an interview with British Vogue, it was revealed that English rapper Skepta was going to be featured on Grande's album Sweetener. It is believed that Skepta was originally one of the choices for "The Light Is Coming".[16]
  • "You wouldn't let anybody speak for this and instead" is a sample from a CNN clip of a man shouting at a senator from a Town Hall in 2009.[17] On June 25, 2018, Grande said that the reason of putting that line is "about people and their loud ass opinions making them deaf to others, and the light."[18]

Videos

Gallery

Photo shoot

Lyrics

[Intro: Nicki Minaj]
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
Ayo, trophy wife, out you won me
Until you had to find out it's one me
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
No-n-now you benched, aww, your bum knee
Now I'm the bad guy, call me Chun-Li (ooh)
You wouldn't let any… -stead-
'Cause you was slippin', yep, you clumsy
And everything I peeped, can't just unsee
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
Sips tea, and it's unsweet
R-respect bad gyal when mi done speak (now, now)
You wouldn't let any… -stead—
Now he shooting his shot like drive-by (by)
W-w-why you had to make me go call up my side guy? (guy)
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
Ca-ca-can't let an f-boy eff up my nice vibes
Yo Ariana, come let me give you a high five!

[Hook: Ariana Grande]
-stead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—

[Verse 1: Ariana Grande]
"What did she say?", "What did he say?"
You don't listen 'cause you know everything
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
You don't even need dreams
Tellin' everybody, "Stay woke, don't sleep"
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—

[Refrain: Ariana Grande]
Ah, gonna break that shit down
You don't wait, tell 'em wait another round
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
Ah, guess you're way above it now
And that's your way to love it now
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—

[Pre-Chorus: Ariana Grande]
How can they tell you shit that you've been through?
They are so confused, who cares about their rationale?
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
If it ain't your view
That's the bottom line
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—

[Chorus: Ariana Grande]
Know-it-all (know-it-all)
Give you a box of chances, every time you blow it all (blow it all)
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
As if it were shade, you would just throw it all (throw it all)
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
It's like you're trying not to glow at all (glow at all)
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
Know-it-all (know-it-all)
You wouldn't let anybody speak and ins—

[Hook: Ariana Grande]
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole, -tole, -t-t-tole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole
You wouldn't let anybody s- -stead—
Th-th-the-the light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole, -tole, -tole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The l- the light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole, -tole, -t-t-tole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
Th-th-the-the light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole, -tole, -tole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The l- the light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—

[Verse 2: Ariana Grande]
Why do we have chemistry? (ayy yeah)
With a need for speed (ayy yeah)
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
Doin' things that trouble clings (ayy yeah)
To and burns off our wings
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—

[Refrain: Ariana Grande]
Ah (Ah), gonna break that shit down (ayy yeah)
You don't wait, tell 'em wait another round (ayy yeah)
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
Ah (Ah), guess you're way above it now (ayy yeah)
And that's your way to love it now
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—

[Pre-Chorus: Ariana Grande]
How can they tell you shit that you've been through?
They are so confused, who cares about their rationale?
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
If it ain't your view
That's the bottom line
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—

[Chorus: Ariana Grande]
Know-it-all (know-it-all)
Give you a box of chances, every time you blow it all (blow it all)
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
As if it were shade, you would just throw it all (throw it all)
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
It's like you're trying not to glow at all (glow at all)
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
Know-it-all (know-it-all)
You wouldn't let anybody speak and ins—

[Hook: Ariana Grande]
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole, -tole, -t-t-tole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole
You wouldn't let anybody s- -stead—
Th-th-the-the light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole, -tole, -tole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The l- the light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—

[Outro: Ariana Grande]
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole, -tole, -t-t-tole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and ins—

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 [1]
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Fader - Ariana Grande
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Twitter - Snippet of Nicki Minaj's verse on 'The Light Is Coming'
  4. ↑ Slant Magazine - The 25 Best Singles of 2018
  5. ↑ Ariana Grande Reveals Title of Fourth Album: 'Sweetener'
  6. ↑ Twitter - @ArianaGrande
  7. ↑ Twitter - 'The Light is Coming' snippet #2
  8. ↑ Twitter - Ariana performing part of "The Light Is Coming"
  9. ↑ Instagram Ariana Grande - "taken in between intense, deep sobs of fear / laughter bc we were sitting in eight billion insect nests. it’s a long story. tell u later. i..."
  10. ↑ Twitter - Ariana Today Net - "Ariana & Nicki Minaj have already shot the music video for #TheLightIsComing!"
  11. ↑ Twitter - Ariana Grande - hello twenty four hours until you can preorder sweetener and hear / see ‘the light is coming’ 🌫☁️💡🍦🌬☁️🌩⚡️🌩🥂☁️♡ 🌪☁️
  12. ↑ Twitter - Ariana confirming the release of the music video
  13. ↑ Reebok - tlic
  14. ↑ Bless, There's a New Ariana Grande Video, and it's BEAUTIFUL
  15. ↑ Twitter - Nicki Minaj
  16. ↑ Twitter - Ariana Grande confirmed with a like that there are only 3 collaborations on #Sweetener. Could her collaboration with Skepta and Dua Lipa be part of a separate project?
  17. ↑ Who Is The Man Sampled On Ariana Grande’s ‘The Light Is Coming’?
  18. ↑ Twitter - Ariana about the sample in the song
Sweetener
August 17, 2018 • 47:25 • Republic Records
Songs
Released Better Off • Blazed • Borderline • Breathin • Everytime • Get Well Soon • God Is A Woman • Goodnight N Go • No Tears Left To Cry • Pete Davidson • Raindrops (An Angel Cried) • R.E.M. • Successful • Sweetener • The Light Is Coming
Unreleased 1st Unknown Sweetener Outtake • 100 • Bad To You • Clarity • Clouds • Cocoon • Daydream On Occasion • End Up With You • Ever Been • Got Her Own • Hate That You Made Me Love You • I Don't Wanna Lie • I Love Me • Keep It Cute • Man Of Steel • More • My Way • Nobody • Ok Now • On Top Of Everything • Pretty Girls Like Trap Music • Rush Delivery • Sex • Shnack • Sober • South Africa • Strong Enough • Treadmill • Wifee • You
Artists
Ariana Grande • Ali Tamposi • Bia • Beyoncé • Chaka Khan • Dua Lipa • Camila Cabello • Charlie Puth • Imogen Heap • Jennifer Hudson • Kelly Rowland • Lucky Daye • Missy Elliott • N.E.R.D. • Nicki Minaj • Normani • Pharrell Williams • Quavo • Rita Ora • Skepta • Starrah • SZA • T-Pain • Victoria Monét
Tour
Sweetener World Tour • The Sweetener Sessions
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