Problem (Ariana Grande song)From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Problem"

Single by Ariana Grande featuring Iggy   Azalea

from the album My Everything

Released April 28, 2014

Format

CD single digital download

Recorded 2014; Conway Studios (Los Angeles), Wolf Cousins

Studios(Stockholm)

GenreDance-pop hip hop R&B

Length 3:13

Label Republic

Writer(s)Max Martin Savan Kotecha Ilya Salmanzadeh Amethyst Kelly Ariana Grande

Producer(s)Max MartinShellback Ilya

Ariana Grande singles chronology

"Santa Baby" (2013)

"Problem" (2014)

"Break Free" (2014)

Iggy Azalea singles chronology

"Fancy" (2014)

"Problem" (2014)

"No Mediocre" (2014)

"Problem" is a song recorded by American recording artist Ariana Grande, featuring guest vocals from Australian recording artistIggy Azalea. The song was released by Republic Records on April 28, 2014, as the lead single from Grande's second studio albumMy Everything (2014). The song was written by Azalea, Savan Kotecha, Ilya and Max Martin and the latter two co-produced it withShellback. "Problem" is an uptempo dance-pop, R&B and hip hop song which comprises a melody based on drums, saxophone loops and trumpets. The chorus features uncredited background vocals from American hip hop artist Big Sean. Lyrically, Grande has stated that the song is about "the feeling of being absolutely terrified to re-approach a relationship that's gone sour -- but you want to more than anything."

"Problem" received generally positive reviews from music critics; many appreciated its overall production for its inclusion of a saxophone loop, while others praised the song's throwback sound and '90s influence. The song debuted at number three on theBillboard Hot 100 selling 438,000 copies in its first week on sale, earning Grande her biggest digital song sales week ever. The song later peaked at number two, surpassing "The Way" as her biggest hit single in the United States. It also became Azalea's second-highest charting single in the US, after her own single "Fancy". "Problem" performed well internationally, debuting at the top of the charts in Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland and the United Kingdom and peaking within the top ten of the charts in most other territories, including Australia, Canada, Sweden, Denmark, and Greece. "Problem" also made British chart history upon its debut as the first song to top the charts in Britain based on both sales and streaming. It also topped the Billboard Pop and Rhythmic Songs airplay charts.

To promote the song, Grande performed at the 2014 iHeartRadio Music Awards, on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards. The song's accompanying music video was filmed the following day after its release with Nev Todorovic as the director and premiered on VEVO on May 30, 2014. The single has been certified double Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The music video won "Best Pop Video" at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards.

Contents

  [hide] 

1 Background 2 Development 3 Promotion and release 4 Composition 5 Critical reception

o 5.1 Awards 6 Commercial performance

o 6.1 North Americao 6.2 Europe and Oceania

7 Music video 8 Live performances 9 Cover versions 10 Formats and track listings

11 Charts and certificationso 11.1 Weekly chartso 11.2 Certifications

12 Radio and release history 13 See also 14 References 15 External links

Background[edit]

Following the release of Grande's debut studio album Yours Truly in September 2013, which was met with critical acclaim, Grande announced in October 2013 that she had already begun writing and working on her second studio album with previous producers from her debut album, including Harmony Samuels, Babyface, The Rascals and Tommy Brown.[1] Grande was initially aiming at releasing the album around February 2014.[2] In January 2014, recording sessions for the album had officially began and Grande confirmed she has been working with new producers Ryan Tedder, Savan Kotecha, Benny Blanco and Max Martin.[3][4] 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".[5] The single was originally set for release on March 25, 2014, however was postponed due to Brown being sent to jail awaiting trial on assault charges.[6] Grande had announced the songs delay on March 17, 2014 via twitter stating "My loves… so obviously some things have changed recently... So we have to delay the dbgtl countdown, some things are out of our control".[6] That same night she held a live stream to make up for the singles delay, where she previewed four new songs from her second album.[7] 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.[8][9] After recording multiple songs for the album, Grande stated that she had chosen the first single from her album.[10][11] On April 15, 2014, it was officially announced that "Problem" would be the title of the lead single from the album.[12] Grande then began an online countdown to the release of the song and later revealed that Australian rapper Iggy Azalea would accompany her on the track.[13]

Development[edit]"I fell in love with Iggy when I saw this video of her performing 'Work' live, and I just thought she was so original and I loved the way she pronounced her words... I thought we would make the perfect girl-power duo for 'Problem', so I'm very grateful that she did it with me."

— Grande, on her collaboration with Azalea.[14]

Grande had met Azalea at the 2013 MTV Europe Music Awards where they had presented an award together, and hung out at Katy Perry's after party in Amsterdam, where they expressed interest in working together.[15] They had originally planned for Azalea to appear on Grande's debut album in September 2013, however, it never panned out.[16] Once Grande began working on "Problem" she thought Azalea would be the perfect fit for the track to create "the perfect girl-power duo" for the song.[14][17] Azalea agreed to appear on the song and went in with producer Max Martin to write her own verse before recording it for the song.[17] Big Sean, who is featured in Grande's previous single "Right There", also appears on the song uncredited as a background vocalist in which he provides the whisper-like vocals of the chorus although he is not a featured artist.[18] 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.[19] However, following an album listening session with her management and record label, when "Problem" came on Grande said "What the hell is wrong with me? Holy shit!", realizing her love for the song and decided to keep it for the album.[19] Lyrically, the song is about "the feeling of

being absolutely terrified to re-approach a relationship that's gone sour -- but you want to more than anything."[20]

Promotion and release[edit]

Grande created online buzz in the weeks leading up to her single's release through social media. She first released promotional images from the single's photo shoot all throughout March 2014.[21] On April 10, 2014, Grande asked her fans to choose between two new possible images to be used for the single's artwork release.[22] 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.[23] The winning image, was the more seductive image of the pair, which shows Grande leaning back in a foldout chair, dressed in a black camisole, white thigh-highs and metal-tipped stilettos. Grande is also shown flipping through her hair while looking directly into the camera.[24] The song was released at midnight to iTunes on April 28, 2014.[25] The single was made available for pre-order on March 21, 2014.[26] Three hours after its release "Problem" shot to number one on the iTunes singles charts in over 30 countries.[27][28] The single made its world radio premiere On Air with Ryan Seacrest on April 28, 2014.[29] A remix of the song was released on May 16, 2014 entitled the "Young California Remix" and features an additional rap verse from American rapper Problem.[30][31] A Spanglish version of the song was also released featuring Colombian rapper J Balvin for the Hispanophone market, making it the second collaboration between the two artists.[32] In August 11, a remix version by DJ Boss in Drama was released in Brazil featuring Brazilian pop singer Gretchen.[33]

Composition[edit]

"Problem"

MENU

0:00

A 19 second sample of

"Problem", an

uptempo dance-pop song

with influences of R&B sub-

genres that lyrically, revolves

around an on again off again

relationship.

Problems playing this file? See media help.

Iggy Azalea wrote her verse, and is the third featured guest on one of Grande's singles.

Musically, "Problem" is an uptempo dance-pop song with influences of R&Bmusic[34][35][36] that incorporates elements of jazz, contemporary '90s R&B, hip-hop andfunk [36] [37]  which comprises the instruments like drums, saxophones and trumpets.[36] It runs for a duration of three minutes and fourteen seconds. The song was written by Grande, Azalea, Savan Kotecha, Ilya Salmanzadeh and Max Martin, and produced by the latter two along with Shellback [38] [39] According to the sheet music published by Alfred Publishing Co., Inc. on Musicnotes.com, "Problem" is composed in the key of G♯ minorand set in common time at a moderate tempo of 103 beats per minute. The melody spans the tonal range of G♯3 to E♭6, while the music follows the chord progression of Emaj7–F♯–B– Emaj7–F♯–G♯m.[40] The track opens with a dose of "jazzy saxophones" before the more modern "horn-heavy" "drum-filled beat drops".[37][41][42][43] The songs melody constantly builds toward something that "should be explosive", before Azalea brings it back down with her verse "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."[37][44] Azalea also makes a reference to the Jay-Z song "99 Problems" at the end of her verse "There's a million yous baby boo, so don't be dumb/ I got 99 problems but you won't be one." Additionally, Grande's notes serve as a metaphor for what the song is about.[43] She can’t get rid of her crush, who she knows isn’t good for her and can't help but fall in love quickly. As her "heart gets lighter and lighter", Grande sings "Head in the clouds/ got no weight on my shoulders/ I should be wiser and realize that I’ve got/ One less problem without you."[36][41][43] A writer from Rap-Updescribes the track as an "infectious horn-heavy jam" which features a "carefree" Ariana "declaring her independence" which also includes "an empowering verse from Iggy Azalea and a whispering Big Sean on the hook."[45] Several critics noted the reminiscences of the jazzy saxbreakdown influence demonstrated in "Problem", to that of Jason Derulo's 2013 single "Talk Dirty."[42]

Critical reception[edit]

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 but there's no denying that it's catchy."[35] 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."[46] 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."[37] In addition, 4Music said "Ariana's sweet-sounding vocals contrast brilliantly with Problem's sexy sax and Iggy's gritty rap."[47]

Pitchfork named it "Best New Track", saying that it "bears all the hallmarks of a future smash, as if the future wasn't actually right now."[48] In writing for MTV, Emilee Lindner praised the songs throwback sound, that Grande admits to striving for, while still keeping it fresh and modern stating "The song is so excitingly new but also decidedly so retro... The cranky sax, the whispered chorus, the airy harmonies and Iggy’s snarky feature all tied in with a juicy modern beat." Lindner continued by calling it "the freshest pop song of the moment", commending the songs production for its "more than a few unexpected throwbacks", comparing the saxophone loops to Jennifer Lopez's 2004 single "Get Right" saying "It’s the same notes over and over, but its attitude doesn’t let you zone out", while the whispers in the chorus echoes to the Ying Yang Twins’ 2005 single "Wait (The Whisper Song)."[49] In July 2014, Billboard listed the song as one of the "10 Best Songs of 2014 (so far)" saying that "the snappy R&B of Ariana Grande's breakout hit 'The Way' feels minimalist compared to the multi-faceted bubblegum of 'Problem'."[50]

Awards[edit]

"Problem" was nominated in four categories at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards, including Best Pop Video, Best Female Video, Best Collaboration, and Best Lyric Video, ultimately winning "Best Pop Video".[51][52] The song won at the 2014 Teen Choice Awards in the Choice Single: Female Artist category.[53] It was Grande's first time winning both aVMA and a TCA.[54][55]

Commercial performance[edit]

North America[edit]

On April 29, 2014, Billboard reported that "Problem" would most likely sell more than 300,000 copies in its first week of availability in the United States by the end of the tracking week of May 2, 2014,[56][57] as well as that the song could easily debut within the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 chart regardless of any added airplay or streaming points.[56] In addition to its sales, which accounted for the majority of its Hot 100 chart points debut, "Problem" already began receiving early radio support.[56][57] The song drew 293 first-day plays on 87 stations on the day of its release, according to Nielsen BDS. Pop Songs reporter KIIS Los Angeles led all stations with 17 first-day plays. Among all stations, "Problem" garnered 3.8 million in opening-day radio audience.[56][57] "Problem" officially debuted at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on the week ending in June 7, 2014, becoming her highest charting single to date and is Grande's second single to debut in the top ten, her first being "The Way", and her second top ten single overall.[58] It became the highest debuting song of 2014, and the highest debuting song since Eminem's "The Monster," featuring Rihanna, also began at number three the week ending November 16, 2013.[58] "Problem" boasted just 1.3% less points than John Legend's "All of Me", to claim the Hot 100's number one spot.[59] In its second week, "Problem" fell one spot to number four despite airplay and streaming honors, while switching spots with Azalea's own "Fancy", which features Charli XCX.[59] The following week, the song returned to its then peak position of number three,[60] before moving to its new peak at number two in its fourth week on the chart as Azalea's "Fancy" moved to the top of both the Digital and Hot 100 charts, boasting 28% more overall chart points than "Problem" to take the number one spot on the Hot 100. [58] In the week after the release of its music video, it still stayed at No. 2, even with a large airplay and streaming spike.[61]

On Billboard Pop Songs, the song debuted at number twenty-eight and reached number twenty-one in its second week on the chart.[62] It debuted at number twenty-four onBillboard Rhythmic Songs chart, it moved up eights places to number sixteen in its second week on the chart and has currently peaked at number six.[63] It eventually reached number one on both the Billboard Pop Songs and Rhythmic Songs charts, becoming Grande's first number one hit on both charts.[64] "Problem" just missed the entry into theBillboard Radio Songs  chart in its first week of availability. It officially entered in at number thirty on the chart, up 70% in audience impressions from 24 million to 41 million.[59][65] It rocketed fourteen spots to number sixteen in its second week, granting it the Hot 100's top Airplay Gainer award.[60] It reached the top ten of the Radio Songs chart at number ten in its third week on the chart, up 30% in audience impressions from 56 million to 73 million.[58] In addition to this, the track also debuted on the Streaming Songs chart at number nine in its first week and moved five spots to number four in its second week, with a weekly peak of 4.4 million and 6.5 million, respectively.[59][65] It has since peaked at number two in its third week on the chart.[60]

"Problem" debuted atop the Billboard Hot Digital Songs chart at number one, selling 438,000 copies in its opening week, thus earning Grande the highest first-week sales numbers of 2014 and also her biggest digital song sales week ever, breaking her previous record held by "The Way", which sold 219,000 digital copies for the week ending April 5, 2013.[59]It is Grande's first number one single on that chart. Overall, it is the overall 8th biggest debut for a digital song and is the 4th largest by a female artist, behind Taylor Swift's "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" (2012), Katy Perry's "Roar" (2013), and Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" (2011).[66] Further, at 20 years old, Grande became the youngest woman to debut with more than 400,000 downloads.[57] "Problem" also became the highest debut for a collaboration of only female soloists since "Give Me All Your Luvin'" byMadonna, Nicki Minaj and M.I. A. debuted at number thirteen on the chart following Madonna's Super Bowl XLVI Halftime Show performance in February 2012.[58] "Problem" spent a second week at number one on the Digital Songs chart with an additional 235,000 units sold, despite a 46% drop.[65] The song topped the chart again in its third week selling 248,000 units, before slipping one spot to number two in its forth week on the chart, despite a 15% growth of 284,000 units.[60] The song reached its first million sales mark in the United States on May 28, 2014.[67] On May 29, 2014, it was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, becoming Grande's second song to be certified platinum.[68] As of August 2014, "Problem" has since sold 2,800,000 copies in the United States.[69]

In Canada, "Problem" debuted at number three on the Canadian Hot 100 on May 17, 2014, becoming her first top ten single in that country.[70] In its second week on the chart the song dropped twelve places to number fifteen.[71] In its 3rd week the song rose back to the top 10 at number six.[72] In its fourth week the song rose even higher to number 4.[73]"Problem" was the first song to top the weekly Billboard Twitter Top Tracks chart on June 12, 2014.[74]

Europe and Oceania[edit]

In the United Kingdom, "Problem" debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart on July 6, 2014 ― for the week ending date July 12, 2014 ― becoming Grande's fourth charting single and first chart-topper in Britain and Azalea's seventh and first respectively. According to the Official Charts Company, "Problem" made British chart history upon its debut as the first song to top the charts in Britain based on both sales and streaming, with a combined ‘chart sales’ figure of 113,000.[75] In the Belgian Ultratop 50, "Problem" peaked at number twenty six in Flanders and number forty in Wallonia.[76][77] It also debuted at number twenty two in Switzerland, becoming Grande's first charting single in that country.[78] It also appeared in Netherlands at number ten,[79] in Spain at number eleven,[80] in Austria at number thirty one, in Germany at number twenty five and in Brazil at number eighty seven.[81][82]

In New Zealand, "Problem" made its first chart appearance on the New Zealand Singles Chart on the issue dated May 5, 2014. It debuted at the number-one spot on the chart,

becoming the highest debut of the week, making it Grande's first single to top the charts in New Zealand, first top debut and her second top forty single.[83] In its second week on the chart, the song dropped two spots to number three being replaced by the songs featured artist Iggy Azalea, whose single "Fancy" featuring Charli XCX took over the top spot.[84][85] In Azalea's native Australia, "Problem" gave Grande her first first top ten hit after it debuted at number four on the Australian Singles Chart,[86] and eventually ascended to number two in its second week on the chart.[39] It stayed in the top two for two consecutive weeks, Grande’s previous best effort on the chart was "The Way" which peaked at number thirty seven in April 2013 and also becomes her second Top forty effort there.[39][85][86]