Ariana Grande’s ‘My Everything’ Turns 3: A Look Back At A Career-Changing Album
The 'Side to Side' singer's brilliant second album gave us plenty hits - and changed her life forever...
At this point, Ariana Grande is a household name and bonafide superstar, with one of the best voices in the industry and a personality so warm it almost seems wrong for a pop star. However, in 2014 many were still writing her off as another child actress trying to break into music.
Her 2013 debut Yours Truly is a stellar, R&B album that teased her fun pop sensibilities and showcased her incredible vocal range that was immediately compared to the greats, from Mariah Carey to Christina Aguilera. The songs still hold up four years later and some of them are among her best.
It was celebrated by critics and faired well on the charts but was somewhat overlooked by the public, although it served as the perfect introduction to set her up for its career-defining follow-up, My Everything.
It's Iggy Iggs!
I got one more problem with you girl
One less one less!
Problem
Hey baby even though I hate ya!
I wanna love ya
I want you!
And even though I can't forgive you
I really want ta
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
One less problem without ya!
I got!
One less problem without ya!
I got!
One less problem without ya!
I got one less, one less problem
One less problem without ya
I got!
One less problem without ya!
I got!
One less problem without ya!
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 ever 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
One less problem without ya!
I got!
One less problem without ya!
I got!
One less problem without ya!
I got one less, one less problem
One less problem without ya
I got!
One less problem without ya!
I got!
One less problem without ya!
I got one less, one less problem
It's Iggy Iggs!
Uh!
What you got?
Smart money bettin'
I'll be better off without you
In no time
I'll be forgettin' all about you
You saying that you know
But I really really doubt you
Understand my life is easy
When I ain't around you
Iggy Iggy
To 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-stepping
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!
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 (I've got)
One less problem without ya!
I got!
One less problem without ya!
I got!
One less problem without ya!
I got one less, one less problem
One less problem without ya
I got!
One less problem without ya!
I got!
One less problem without ya!
I got one less, one less problem
One less problem without ya
I got!
One less problem without ya!
I got!
One less problem without ya!
I got one less, one less problem
Second album campaigns come with the dreaded sophomore curse that can go one of two ways: if underwhelming, it deflates the hype built from a newcomer’s promising debut or, in this case, it cements the artist’s status as a force to be reckoned with.
Christina Aguilera proved she wasn’t an industry puppet with Stripped, Britney Spears shot down the ‘one-hit-wonder’ critics when she released Oops!, and Ariana Grande showed the world how to make excellent, exciting pop music without sacrificing a voice as extraordinary as hers.
So, how exactly did she start to dominate pop? One word: ‘Problem’.
Without being dramatic, Ariana’s career literally changed with the 11-second sax instrumental opening of ‘Problem’. We should also give credit to Iggy Azalea for the “It’s Iggy Iggz” ad-lib, the first of many earworms within the irresistibly catchy single.
The horn-heavy track was her boldest (and most uptempo) pop release yet, with every line sounding like a new hook thanks to the countless melodies her voice brings. The Big Sean whisper. The insane ad-libs throughout the final chorus. The themes of independence and female empowerment. It's gold.
‘Problem’ set the Ariana standard: meaningful, big pop with major R&B influences delivered with effortless, out-of-this-world vocals. And the world ate it up.
The lead single was her first UK number one single and peaked at number two in the U.S., where it’s now 9x platinum. The ‘60s-styled video - which birthed her signature high-ponytail and thigh-highs look - won the MTV VMA (her first!) for Best Pop Video.
It was the perfect campaign launch and kicked off one of the most immaculate single runs in pop history, followed by ‘Break Free’, ‘Love Me Harder’ and ‘One Last Time’. There was also a little song called ‘Bang Bang’ with Nicki Minaj and Jessie J in between, which just happened to become her second UK number one single despite being a bonus track on the deluxe edition.
Incredible.
Whether she was empowering the LGBTQ+ community with the Zedd-produced EDM banger ‘Break Free’ or duetting with The Weeknd on the truly gorgeous synth-pop song ‘Love Me Harder’, Ariana proved she could comfortably master any sound and made a mark with her musical versatility.
I should have said it before
Tried to hide it, fake it
I can't pretend anymore
I only want to die alive
Never by the hands of a broken heart
I don't wanna hear you lie tonight
Now that I've become who I really am
This is the part when I say I don't want you
I'm stronger than I've been before
This is the part when I break free
'Cause I can't resist it no more
This is the part when I say I don't want you
I'm stronger than I've been before
This is the part when I break free
'Cause I can't resist it no more
You were better, deeper
I was under your spell
Like a deadly fear I am, babe
On the highway to Hell
I only want to die alive
Never by the hands of a broken heart
I don't wanna hear you lie tonight
Now that I've become who I really am
This is the part when I say I don't want you
I'm stronger than I've been before
This is the part when I break free
'Cause I can't resist it no more
This is the part when I say I don't want you
I'm stronger than I've been before
This is the part when I break free
'Cause I can't resist it no more
No more, baby, oh
Thought of your body, I came alive
It was lethal, it was fatal
In my dreams it felt so right
But I woke up every time, oh baby
This is the part when I say I don't want you
I'm stronger than I've been before
This is the part when I break free
'Cause I can't resist it no more
This is the part when I say I don't want you (This is)
I'm stronger than I've been before
This is the part when I break free
'Cause I can't resist it no more
My Everything expertly blends its most tender moments - including the fantastic ‘Best Mistake’ and ‘Just a Little Bit of Your Heart’ - in amongst the bouncier and sassier bops, like the obvious highlight ‘Break Your Heart Right Back’.
I’d say it should have been a single but the same could be said for almost every song on the album, which really is bursting with potential hits. The consistent highs is the reason the album has been so successful; its replay value has made the album the most streamed album by a female artist EVER on Spotify with over 2 BILLION streams.
Two Billion. With a capital B. Yes, I know. It’s mind-blowing.
Ariana made history several times with My Everything (she is the second female lead artist to have three Top 10 singles on Billboard’s Hot 100 at once, for one) but what makes it such a special album is how timeless and universal the music is.
You don’t have to look any further than ‘One Last Time’ to prove its longevity, a song that re-emerged in the wake of the tragedy that occurred during Ariana’s Manchester concert in May this year. The song was quickly adopted by the public as a tribute to the victims of the bombing and has been a comfort to many ever since, evident by its recent chart success and the fact it’s still played daily on the radio.
In 2017 we are well aware of how incredible Ariana Grande - both the person and the pop star - is, and many of us have My Everything to thank for giving us the music that made us fall in love with her in the first place.
I know I should've fought it at least I'm being honest
Feel like a failure, cause I know that I failed you
I should've done you better cause you don't want a liar
And I know, and I know, and I know
She gives you everything, but boy, I couldn't give it to you
And I know, and I know, and I know
That you got everything, but I got nothing here without you
So one last time
I need to be the one who takes you home
One more time
I promise after that, I'll let you go
Baby, I don't care if you got her in your heart
All I really care is you wake up in my arms
One last time
I need to be the one who takes you home
I don't deserve it, I know I don't deserve it
But stay with me a minute, I'll swear I'll make it worth it
Can't you forgive me? At least just temporarily
I know that this is my fault, I should have been more careful
And I know, and I know, and I know
She gives you everything, but boy, I couldn't give it to you
And I know, and I know, and I know
That you got everything, but I got nothing here without you
So one last time
I need to be the one who takes you home
One more time
I promise after that, I'll let you go
Baby, I don't care if you got her in your heart
All I really care is you wake up in my arms
One last time
I need to be the one who takes you home
I know I should've fought it, at least I'm being honest
Just stay with me a minute, I swear I'll make it worth it
Cause I don't want to be without you
So one last time
I need to be the one who takes you home
One more time
I promise after that, I'll let you go
Baby, I don't care if you got her in your heart
All I really care is you wake up in my arms
One last time
I need to be the one who takes you home
One last time
I need to be the one who takes you home
Words: Ross McNeilage
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WATCH ARIANA GRANDE'S 'INTO YOU' BELOW
I can barely breathe
And all I wanna do
Is to fall in deep
But close ain't close enough
'Til we cross the line, yeah, yeah
So name a game to play
And I'll role the dice, hey
Oh, baby, look what you started
The temperature's rising in here
Is this gonna happen?
Been waiting and waiting for you
To make a move
(Woo, ooh, ooh)
Before I make a move
(Woo, ooh, ooh)
So baby, come light me up
And maybe I'll let you on it
A little bit dangerous,
But baby, that's how I want it
A little less conversation, and
A little more touch my body
'Cause I'm so into you
Into you
Into you
Got everyone watchin' us
So baby, let's keep it secret
A little bit scandalous
But baby, don't let them see it
A little less conversation and
A little more touch my body
'Cause I'm so into you
Into you
Into you
Oh, yeah
This could take some time, hey
I made too many mistakes
Better get this right, right, baby
Oh, baby, look what you started
The temperature's rising in here
Is this gonna happen?
Been waiting and waiting for you to make a move
(Woo, ooh, ooh)
Before I make a move
(Woo, ooh, ooh)
So baby, come light me up
And maybe I'll let you on it
A little bit dangerous
But baby, that's how I want it
A little less conversation, and
A little more touch my body
'Cause I'm so into you
Into you
Into you
Got everyone watchin' us
So baby, let's keep it secret
A little bit scandalous
But baby, don't let them see it
A little less conversation and
A little more touch my body
'Cause I'm so into you
Into you ('Cause I'm so into you)
Into you
Tell me what you came here for
'Cause I can't, I can't wait no more
I'm on the edge with no control
And I need, I need you to know
You to know, oh
So baby, come light me up
And maybe I'll let you on it
A little bit dangerous
But baby, that's how I want it
A little less conversation, and
A little more touch my body
'Cause I'm so into you
Into you
Into you
Got everyone watchin' us
So baby, let's keep it secret
A little bit scandalous
But baby, don't let them see it
A little less conversation and
A little more touch my body
'Cause I'm so into you
Into you
Into you
So come light me up
So come light me up, my baby
A little dangerous
A little dangerous my baby
A little less conversation and
A little more touch my body
'Cause I'm so into you
Into you
Into you