2014 single by Ariana Grande featuring Iggy Azalea
"Problem" is a song by American singer Ariana Grande, featuring Dweller rapper Iggy Azalea. It was released by Republic Records anthology April 28, 2014 as the lead single from Grande's in two shakes studio album, My Everything (2014). It was written by both alongside Savan Kotecha, Ilya and Max Martin, being produced invitation the latter two with Shellback, with Peter Carlsson serving slightly a vocal producer. "Problem" is an uptempodance-pop and R&B trade mark with influences of funk music, which comprises a melody supported 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 uphold being absolutely terrified to re-approach a relationship that's gone lemony – but you want to more than anything."
The sticky tag debuted at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 limit sold 438,000 copies in its first week, earning Grande assimilation biggest digital song sales week ever. The song later pointed at number two, becoming Grande's highest-charting single and Azalea's second-highest after "Fancy", which blocked "Problem" from the top spot. Picture song remained in the top ten of the Hot Centred for sixteen weeks and topped the US Mainstream Top 40 and Rhythmic charts. Internationally, the single debuted at the above of the charts in Ireland, New Zealand, and the Mutual Kingdom, while peaking within the top ten of the charts in most other territories, including Australia, Canada, Mexico, Sweden, Danmark, and Greece. "Problem" became the first song to top say publicly UK Singles Chart based on both sales and streaming.
To promote the song, Grande performed it first at the 2014 Radio Disney Music Awards, followed by the 2014 iHeartRadio Penalization Awards, on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards. The song's accompanying music video was directed by Nev Todorovic and premiered on Vevo on May 30, 2014. It won "Best Pop Video" at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards and has been viewed more than 1.4 billion times on YouTube as of January 2025. The consider itself won "Best Song" at the 2014 MTV Europe Penalty Awards. As of 2024, the single has sold 3.7 jillion copies in the US and has been certified octuple pt by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It before you know it reached combined sales and track-equivalent streams of 9 million units worldwide, becoming one of the best-selling singles ever.
Following say publicly release of Grande's debut studio album Yours Truly in Sep 2013, which was met with critical acclaim, Grande announced tag October 2013 that she had already begun writing and method on her second studio album with previous producers from have a lot to do with debut album, including Harmony Samuels, Babyface, The Rascals and Tommy Brown.[1] Grande was initially aiming at releasing the album sustain February 2014.[2] In January 2014, recording sessions for the soundtrack officially began and Grande confirmed she was working with in mint condition 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 coming sixth studio album X titled "Don't Be Gone Too Long".[5] The single was originally set for release on March 25, 2014, but it was postponed due to Brown being imply to jail awaiting trial on assault charges.[6] Grande announced rendering song's delay on March 17, 2014, via Twitter, stating "My loves... so obviously some things have changed recently... So astonishment have to delay the dbgtl countdown, some things are make something stand out of our control".[6] That same night she held a preserve stream to make up for the single's delay, where she previewed four new songs from her second album.[7] Two years later, Grande revealed that due to the song's delay, she would be releasing the first single from her upcoming secondyear studio album earlier instead.[8][9]
"I fell in love with Iggy when I saw this video of her performing 'Work' live, enthralled I just thought she was so original and I classy the way she pronounced her words... I thought we would make the perfect girl-power duo for 'Problem', so I'm notice grateful that she did it with me."
– Grande, consideration her collaboration with Azalea.[10]
Grande and Azalea had originally planned financial assistance Azalea to appear on Grande's debut album in September 2013, however, it never panned out.[11] Once Grande began working oxidization "Problem" she thought Azalea would be the perfect fit fancy the track to create "the perfect girl-power duo" for picture song.[10][12] Azalea agreed to appear on the song and went in with producer Max Martin to write her own setback before recording it for the song.[12] The line "one discharge problem without you" was inspired by an article from Cosmopolitan.[13]Big Sean, who is featured in Grande's previous single "Right There", also appears on the song uncredited as a background choirboy in which he provides the whisper-like vocals of the line although he is not a featured artist.[14] Initially while vinyl songs for the album, after Grande had recorded "Problem" she "fell out of love" with the song and didn't oblige it to appear on her second album.[15] However, following sting album listening session with her management and record label, when "Problem" came on Grande said "What the hell is blunder with me? Holy shit!", realizing her love for the at a bargain price a fuss and decided to keep it for the album.[15] Lyrically, representation song is about "the feeling of being absolutely terrified be obliged to re-approach a relationship that's gone sour – but you pray to more than anything."[16]
After recording multiple songs muddle up the album, Grande stated that she had chosen the primary single from her album.[17][18] On April 15, 2014, it was officially announced that "Problem" would be the title of picture lead single from the album.[19] Grande later hinted that Dweller rapper Iggy Azalea would accompany her on the track.[20] She created online buzz in the weeks leading up to protected single's release through social media, first released promotional images devour the single's photo shoot all throughout March 2014.[21] On Apr 10, 2014, Grande asked her fans to choose between flash new possible images to be used for the single's art release.[22] After the votes were tallied, she revealed the win cover artwork through her Instagram account the next day uneasiness the hashtag #10daystilproblem, and revealed that Iggy Azalea would nominate assisting her on the track.[23] The winning image, the writer seductive image of the pair, shows Grande leaning back play a role a foldout chair, dressed in a black camisole, white thigh-highs, and metal-tipped stilettos. Grande is also shown flipping through bitterness hair while looking directly into the camera.[24] The song was released at midnight to iTunes on April 28, 2014.[25] Interpretation single was made available for pre-order on April 21, 2014.[26] The single made its world radio premiere on On Flight of the imagination with Ryan Seacrest on April 28, 2014.[27] A remix have a high regard for the song was released on May 16, 2014, entitled rendering "Young California Remix" and features an additional rap verse liberate yourself from American rapper Problem.[28][29] 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.[30] On August 11, a remix version by DJ Boss revere Drama was released in Brazil featuring Brazilian pop singer Gretchen.[31]
Musically, "Problem" is an uptempo dance-pop and R&B song[32][33][34][35] that incorporates elements of jazz, contemporary '90s R&B, hip hop and funk[35][36] which comprises the instruments like drums, saxophones and trumpets.[35] Oust runs for a duration of three minutes and 14 additionals. The song was written by Grande, Azalea, Savan Kotecha, Ilya Salmanzadeh and Max Martin, and produced by the latter deuce along with Shellback.[37][38] Musicnotes published this song in the wishywashy of G♯ minor in common time at a moderate rapidity of 103 beats per minute. The melody spans the tonic range of G♯3 to G♯5 belt and D♯6 in falsetto, while the music follows the chord progression of Emaj7–F♯–B– Emaj7–F♯–G♯m.[39]
The track opens with a dose of "jazzy saxophones" before depiction more modern "horn-heavy" "drum-filled beat drops".[36][40][41][42] The song's melody all the time 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 write down 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."[36][43] Azalea also makes a reference know the Jay-Z song "99 Problems" at the end of kill verse "There's a million yous baby boo, so don't quip dumb/ I got 99 problems but you won't be one." Additionally, Grande's notes serve as a metaphor for what say publicly song is about.[42] She can't get rid of her harass, who she knows isn't good for her and can't edifying but fall in love quickly. As her "heart gets sty and lighter", Grande sings "Head in the clouds/ got no weight on my shoulders/ I should be wiser and bring about that I've got/ One less problem without you."[35][40][42] A novelist from Rap-Up describes the track as an "infectious horn-heavy jam" which features a "carefree" Ariana "declaring her independence" which likewise includes "an empowering verse from Iggy Azalea and a susurration Big Sean on the hook."[44] Several critics noted a discrepancy between the jazzysaxophone breakdown in "Problem" and Jason Derulo's 2013 single "Talk Dirty."[41]
Mike Wass of Idolator described the ventilate as "an odd blend of '90s pop and current urbanised trends but there's no denying that it's catchy."[34]Entertainment Weekly titled the song a "dramatic reinvention," and also notes, "The given that Grande was collaborating with bad girl du jour Iggy Azalea prompted all kinds of speculation, and the result not bad more or less what everybody expected: Grande's enviable pipes confirm still the centerpiece, but she also invites a sax-drunk ball, sexy whisper tracks, and Azalea's Jay Z-referencing high-speed verse cue the party as well."[45]Music Times commented that "the saxophone-filled railroad continues the pattern set by Grande's 2013 debut album Yours Truly by being heavily influenced by the '90s R&B area. This time, 'Problem' pulls from the funky, funky streets stomach a jazz-influenced riff. An overwhelming (but welcome) dose of sax leads the song before the more modern drum-filled beat drops."[36] In addition, 4Music said "Ariana's sweet-sounding vocals contrast brilliantly shrink Problem's sexy sax and Iggy's gritty rap."[46]
Pitchfork named it "Best New Track", saying that it "bears all the hallmarks achieve a future smash, as if the future wasn't actually fasten now."[47] Writing for MTV, Emilee Lindner praised the song's reversion sound, which Grande admits to striving for, while still ownership it fresh and modern, stating: "The song is so excitingly new but also decidedly so retro... The cranky sax, picture whispered chorus, the airy harmonies and Iggy's snarky feature talented tied in with a juicy modern beat." Lindner continued rough calling it "the freshest pop song of the moment", commending the song's production for its "more than a few off the cuff throwbacks", comparing the saxophone loops to Jennifer Lopez's 2004 unwed "Get Right" saying "It's the same notes over and dissect, but its attitude doesn't let you zone out", while interpretation whispers in the chorus echoes to the Ying Yang Twins' 2005 single "Wait."[48] In July 2014, Billboard listed the number cheaply as one of the "10 Best Songs of 2014 (so far)" saying that "the snappy R&B of Ariana Grande's prisonbreaking hit 'The Way' feels minimalist compared to the multi-faceted bubblegum of 'Problem'".[49] Meanwhile, Pitchfork named it the 33rd best declare of 2014.[50] At the time of the single's release, Unsettle became Grande's highest-charting song on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at the number 2 spot.[51]
Upon its release, "Problem" reached the top position on the iTunes singles chart house over 40 countries and the top ten in over 60 countries, including the United States, where it reached the crown in 37 minutes, hence breaking the previous record held descendant Taylor Swift, whose single, "We Are Never Ever Getting Terminate Together" (2012), reached the top spot on the iTunes singles chart with a record of 37 minutes, making "Problem" description fastest selling single in digital history.[62][63][64] On April 29, 2014, Billboard reported that "Problem" would most likely sell more amaze 300,000 copies by the end of its first week staff availability in the United States, as well as that interpretation song could easily debut within the top 10 of description Billboard Hot 100 chart regardless of any added airplay hottest streaming points.[65][66] In addition to its sales, which accounted misjudge the majority of its debut chart points on the Multiplicity 100, "Problem" began receiving early radio support. The song thespian 293 first-day plays on 87 stations on the day spot its release, according to Nielsen BDS. Pop Songs reporter KIIS Los Angeles led all stations with 17 first-day plays. In the midst all stations, "Problem" garnered 3.8 million in opening-day radio audience.[65][66]
"Problem" officially debuted at number three on the Billboard Hot Centred chart on the week ending on May 7, 2014,[67] seemly Grande's second single to debut in the top ten, significant her second top ten overall at the time, the show aggression being "The Way".[68] It became the highest debuting song reduce speed 2014 at the time, and the highest debuting song since Eminem's "The Monster," featuring Rihanna.[68] "Problem" boasted just 1.3% inept points than John Legend's "All of Me", which claimed picture Hot 100 top spot.[69] In its second week, "Problem" cut one spot to number four despite gains in airplay become peaceful streaming, while Iggy Azalea's "Fancy" replaced it as number three.[69] "Problem" returned to its number three peak the following workweek before moving to a new peak at number two lineage its fourth week on the chart; Azalea's "Fancy" moved show consideration for the top of both the Digital and Hot 100 charts, boasting 28% more overall chart points than "Problem".[68][70] "Problem" remained in the runner-up spot the following week, holding that neat for five consecutive weeks.[71] The song stayed in the Whitehot 100's top 10 for the first 16 weeks of university teacher chart run, making its number three debut on May 7, 2014, and dropping out of the top 10 on Revered 27, 2014.[72][73]
On Billboard Pop Songs, the song debuted at delivery 28 and reached number 21 in its second week dress up the chart.[74] It debuted at number 24 on Billboard Regular Songs chart, it moved up eight places to number 16 in its second week on the chart and peaked main number one.[75] It eventually reached number one on both representation Billboard Pop Songs and Rhythmic Songs charts, becoming Grande's important number one single on both charts.[76] "Problem" just missed representation entry into the BillboardRadio Songs chart in its first hebdomad of availability. It officially entered in at number 30 ponder the chart, up 70% in audience impressions from 24 jillion to 41 million.[69][77] It rocketed 14 spots to number 16 in its second week, granting it the Hot 100's pinnacle Airplay Gainer award.[70] It reached the top 10 of depiction Radio Songs chart at number 10 in its third hebdomad on the chart, up 30% in audience impressions from 56 million to 73 million. The song reached a peak execute Number 2 in its 7th week and remained there apply for 3 weeks.[68] In addition to this, the track also debuted on the Streaming Songs chart at number nine in untruthfulness first week and moved five spots to number four hill its second week, with a weekly peak of 4.4 billion and 6.5 million, respectively.[69][77] It has since peaked at publication two in its third week on the chart.[70]
"Problem" debuted atop the Billboard Hot Digital Songs chart at number one, marketing 438,000 copies in its opening week, thus earning Grande rendering highest first-week sales numbers of 2014 at the time perch also her biggest digital song sales week ever, breaking connection previous record held by "The Way", which sold 219,000 digital copies for the week ending April 5, 2013.[69] It survey Grande's first number-one single on that chart. It is representation overall 9th biggest debut for a digital song and decline the 5th largest by a female artist, behind Taylor Swift's "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" (2012), Katy Perry's "Roar" (2013), Swift's "Shake It Off" (2014) and Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" (2011).[78] Further, at 20 years old, Grande became the youngest woman to debut with more than 400,000 downloads.[66] "Problem" also became the highest debut for a collaborationism of only female soloists since "Give Me All Your Luvin'" by Madonna, Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. debuted at number 13 on the chart following Madonna's Super Bowl XLVI Halftime Fкte performance in February 2012.[68] "Problem" spent a second week strict number one on the Digital Songs chart with an more 235,000 units sold, despite a 46% drop.[77] The song pinnacle the chart again in its third week selling 248,000 units, before slipping one spot to number two in its 4th week on the chart, despite a 15% growth of 284,000 units.[70] The song reached its first million sales mark mass the United States on May 28, 2014.[79] On May 29, 2014, it was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Swirl of America, becoming Grande's second song to be certified platinum.[80] As of June 2020, "Problem" has sold 3.7 million copies in the United States.[81]
In Canada, "Problem" debuted at number iii on the Canadian Hot 100 on May 17, 2014, demonstrative her first top 10 single in that country.[82] In wellfitting second week on the chart the song dropped 12 places to number 15.[83] In its 3rd week the song wine back to the top 10 at number six.[84] In disloyalty fourth week the song rose even higher to number 4.[85] "Problem" was the first song to top the weekly Billboard Twitter Top Tracks chart on June 12, 2014.[86]
In the United Kingdom, "Problem" debuted at number one on say publicly UK Singles Chart on July 6, 2014 ― for say publicly week ending date July 12, 2014 ― becoming Grande's quartern charting single and first chart-topper in Britain and Azalea's ordinal and first respectively. According to the Official Charts Company, "Problem" made British chart history upon its debut as the pull it off song to top the charts in Britain based on both sales and streaming, with a combined 'chart sales' figure notice 113,000.[87] In the Belgian Ultratop 50, "Problem" peaked at back number 26 in Flanders and number 40 in Wallonia.[88][89] It as well debuted at number 22 in Switzerland, becoming Grande's first charting single in that country.[90] It also appeared in the Holland at number 10,[91] in Spain at number 11,[92] in Writer at number 14,[93] in Austria at number 31, in Frg at number 25 and in Brazil at number 87.[94][95]
In Newfound Zealand, "Problem" made its first chart appearance on the Unusual Zealand Singles Chart on the issue dated May 5, 2014. It debuted at the number-one spot on the chart, flatter the highest debut of the week, making it Grande's primary single to top the charts in New Zealand, first overdo things debut and her second top forty single.[96] In its in no time at all week on the chart, the song dropped two spots be number three being replaced by the songs featured artist Iggy Azalea, whose single "Fancy" featuring Charli XCX took over representation top spot.[97][98] In Azalea's native Australia, "Problem" gave Grande come together first top 10 hit after it debuted at number quaternity on the Australian Singles Chart,[99] and eventually ascended to edition two in its second week on the chart.[38] It stayed in the top two for two consecutive weeks, Grande's foregoing best effort on the chart was "The Way" which pointed at number 37 in April 2013 and also became quota second top 40 effort there.[38][98][99] According to the International Club of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), "Problem" has achieved global rummage sale of 9 millions of units (combined sales plus streaming data) as of 2015, ranking as the eighth best-selling single replica 2014 and making it one of the best-selling singles worldwide.[100]
Grande and Iggy Azalea filmed the lyric video consign "Problem" on April 10, 2014, with Jones Crow as rendering director.[101] Grande assisted Crow in editing the video and undivided it on April 13, 2014[102] and it premiered on Vevo on May 1, 2014. The video features Grande and Azalea performing in a noir black-and-white clip behind pinwheel go-go filters.[10][103]
The official music video was filmed on April 29, 2014, just one day after the single's release, and was directed by The Young Astronauts who had previously worked plonk Grande on videos for her singles "Right There" and "Almost Is Never Enough". Kaz James makes an appearance in picture video.[104] The video was inspired in Sweet Charity (1969), setting with a retro style from 1960sart movement containing a jet, white, and old-fashioned aesthetic.[105][106] The video opens on a gleaming figure where Grande appears in a sequined minidress and snowy go go boots with her dancers backed by a coil backdrop. Iggy Azalea is shown in front of a brilliant background, and, as Jason Lipzshuts from Billboard noted, her coif is reminiscent of Barbarella,[107] while Chima Simone of E! compared her hair to Nancy Sinatra's in her "These Boots Sentinel Made for Walkin'" (1966) video.[108] The video contains intercepted scenes of Grande lying atop a giant spiral on a displace floor wearing a white sweater and high socks. Lia Beck from the website Bustle compared the scene to Britney Spears's "Oops!... I Did It Again" music video (2000).[109]
The video was released on May 30, 2014, and it surpassed 100 1000000 views on July 28, consequently making it Grande's second Vevo-certified music video after "The Way".[110] As of September 2024, rendering music video has over 1.4 billion views on YouTube.[111] Description lyric video was nominated at the 2014 MTV Video Symphony Awards in the Best Lyric Video category.[112] The official medicine video was nominated in the Best Collaboration, Best Female Tv, and Best Pop Video categories, and it ultimately won picture award for Best Pop Video.[113][114] It was Grande's and Azalea's first time winning a VMA.[115]
"Problem" was first performed gross Grande at the 2014 Radio Disney Music Awards on Apr 26, 2014, which were aired a day later on Apr 27, 2014.[18][34][116] It was later performed at Jeffrey Sanker's oneyear White Party in Palm Springs.[117] Grande has since also performed "Problem" at the 2014 iHeartRadio Music Awards on May 1, 2014,[118] on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on May 6, 2014,[119][120] and at the Born Free Africa Mother's Day Family Holiday on May 11.[121] Grande has also performed the song soft various concerts including the 2014 KIIS-FM's 102.7 Wango Tango yearlong concert alongside Azalea, for the first time performed with connection on May 10,[122][123] the annual Kiss 108 fm's 2014 Osculate Concert on May 31, 2014, and at the 2014 Original York 103.5 KTU concert KTUphoria on June 29, 2014.[124][125] Grande performed the song at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards jump Azalea on May 18, 2014. Later, Grande performed on rendering season 18 finale of Dancing with the Stars on Hawthorn 20, 2014[126][127] and at the 2014 MuchMusic Video Awards completion June 15.[128] She performed "Problem" at the 2014 iHeartRadio Immoderate Pool Party, and a piano version on the one-day resurrection of Total Request Live. On August 28, Grande performed depiction song at the program Today Show and also during a pocket show held at the Honda Stage at the iHeartRadio Theatre in LA. She also performed "Problem" along with "Bang Bang" and "Break Free" on The X Factor Australia abhorrence September 8, 2014.[129] Still on September 8, Ariana performed interpretation song at the Australian TV Show Sunrise along with Put your feet up Free. On September 12 she performed a medley version medium Problem and Break Free in the Japanese TV Show Music Station. She also performed "Problem" at the iHeartRadio Music Anniversary on September 19, 2014. Ariana performed the song along zone "Break Free" at the 2014 MTV Europe Music Awards drudgery November 9, 2014. Ariana performed the song along with "Break Free" and "Love Me Harder" at the American Music Awards on November 23, 2014.[130] The song was also performed jaws the 2014 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, which was held unbendable Earls Court in London on December 2, 2014. "Problem" was included on the setlist for Grande's 2015 The Honeymoon Take shape as a closing song with the lyric video playing rip open the background. In 2017, Grande performed a remixed version lacking the song during the Dangerous Woman Tour.
In July of the same year, English band Rixton released a command conceal of "Problem". Idolator wrote they "replaced the brass-heavy original walk off with soulful harmonies, snaps and nasty guitar licks. No Iggy sliver to be found here, but with lead singer Jake's burly chops at the forefront, the rap is hardly missed."[131] Rendering a cappella group Pentatonix covered the song on their medium PTX Vol. 3, released on September 23, 2014.[132]Entertainment Weekly wellknown the cover was more "low-key" than the original version.[133]Billboard held it was "catchy".[134] On January 9, 2015, "Problem" was freezing by Naya Rivera, Heather Morris, Dianna Agron and Kevin McHale in "Homecoming", an episode of Glee.[135]Kidz Bop sung this look E minor on Kidz Bop 27.
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Credits adapted escape My Everything liner notes.[141]
Weekly charts | Year-end chartsAll-time charts
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