"Problem"'s problem isn't a production problem and anyone who thinks it's good as any of the first album's singles has a problem. Also it has an Iggy Azalea problem and should instead have Problem.
― The Reverend, Monday, 30 June 2014 20:36 (nine years ago) link
it's definitely as good as "right there"
― le goon (J0rdan S.), Monday, 30 June 2014 20:40 (nine years ago) link
i think it's clearly one of her best songs and a 10/10 as full as full pop crossovers go
― le goon (J0rdan S.), Monday, 30 June 2014 20:41 (nine years ago) link
did you hear the actual Problem version of the song? https://soundcloud.com/yngca/youngcalifornia-remix-ariana-grande-problem-feat-problem-iggy-azalea
― some dude, Monday, 30 June 2014 20:44 (nine years ago) link
"problem"s problems, from least to most irritating: the chintzy trumpet, iggy azalea, the unforgivable whispering
7/10 but could've so easily been 9/10
― lex pretend, Monday, 30 June 2014 20:45 (nine years ago) link
the whispering is great what is wrong with you
― le goon (J0rdan S.), Monday, 30 June 2014 20:47 (nine years ago) link
it's like a 6/10, I don't care much for the tune tbh, but the beat is great
― The Reverend, Monday, 30 June 2014 20:48 (nine years ago) link
that's a a sax, not a trumpet
― The Reverend, Monday, 30 June 2014 20:51 (nine years ago) link
and damn, Problem kinda goes off on that yay
The whispering sort of squanders a great build up. Everything after the second verse and chorus feels like space filler.
― Greer, Monday, 30 June 2014 20:52 (nine years ago) link
yeah i get what they're going for with the dynamics but it feels awkward and stitched together to me. especially when Ariana vamps over the whispering.
someone on twitter heard the instrumental in a radio ad without having heard the song and described the beat as a Macklemore/C+C Music Factory mashup -_______-
― some dude, Monday, 30 June 2014 21:04 (nine years ago) link
i think it's a fun curveball and a bit of a risky maneuver for a song clearly plotted as ariana's world domination
― le goon (J0rdan S.), Monday, 30 June 2014 21:10 (nine years ago) link
it seemed pretty inevitable and unsurprising to me. i mean "talk dirty" et al are still blanketing the radiowaves.
― dyl, Monday, 30 June 2014 21:32 (nine years ago) link
i still like it though.
"problem" is like roar where i can totally point out all the bits and pieces its taking from different previous hits but by the umpteenth spin who gives a fuck
― da croupier, Monday, 30 June 2014 21:39 (nine years ago) link
i also appreciate that none of the hooks from it that get stuck in my head have anything to do with iggy azalea
― da croupier, Monday, 30 June 2014 21:42 (nine years ago) link
Yeah except "Roar" is the most garbage-ass garbage on earth
― The Reverend, Monday, 30 June 2014 21:47 (nine years ago) link
wait did we expel the majority of katy perry's other singles to another planet?
― da croupier, Monday, 30 June 2014 21:53 (nine years ago) link
i like "Problem" a lot, there's like nothing at its center but they threw a bunch of ideas in a blender and mixed so fast you don't notice
― rap steve gadd (D-40), Monday, 30 June 2014 21:54 (nine years ago) link
"Problem," "Fancy," and "Roar" are the Scalia, Thomas, and Alito of current pop -- I hear them and want to drive my car into what's left of the Everglades.
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 30 June 2014 21:54 (nine years ago) link
wait do you prefer the reggae lite dudes
― da croupier, Monday, 30 June 2014 21:55 (nine years ago) link
"problem" is laaaaame + "roar" is amazing
― uberweiss, Monday, 30 June 2014 22:22 (nine years ago) link
― dyl, Monday, June 30, 2014 5:32 PM (51 minutes ago) Bookmark
i was talking about the whisper specifically
― le goon (J0rdan S.), Monday, 30 June 2014 22:25 (nine years ago) link
i seriously have no idea how you can like ariana grande but hate "problem" ... doesn't compute for me
― le goon (J0rdan S.), Monday, 30 June 2014 22:26 (nine years ago) link
eh it's not a huge departure from the first album but i think the differences are self-evident
― some dude, Monday, 30 June 2014 22:57 (nine years ago) link
I'd like "Problem" a whole lot more if she got rid of the two guests.
In fact in general her songs are better without guests imo. Weeknd and Childish Gambino on the album :blech:
― ginuwine's cousin (monotony), Monday, 30 June 2014 23:28 (nine years ago) link
a few of the best albums of the decade have the weeknd and childish gambino on them, we'll survive
― le goon (J0rdan S.), Tuesday, 1 July 2014 00:23 (nine years ago) link
but how many of them will have Iggy Azalea
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 1 July 2014 00:25 (nine years ago) link
i have a feeling we'll have about two years to find out
― le goon (J0rdan S.), Tuesday, 1 July 2014 00:47 (nine years ago) link
tbh childish gambino's "3005" is pretty dope except for the corny punchlines, and it's about to become huge
― rap steve gadd (D-40), Tuesday, 1 July 2014 02:21 (nine years ago) link
http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/6141123/ariana-grande-my-everything-track-list-the-weeknd-big-sean-aap?utm_source=twitter
"My Everything" is due out Aug. 25, and will feature production from Ryan Tedder, Benny Blanco, Max Martin, Rodney Jerkins, Oak & Pop and Harmony & Tommy Brown. "I never thought I'd be able to say this, but I love this album five times as much as I love 'Yours Truly,'" Grande told Billboard in April. "They're different, but I love this one so much more."
― Greer, Tuesday, 1 July 2014 02:39 (nine years ago) link
problem's problems are that iggy azalea exists and that ariana secretly doesn't sing it well. it seems like a desperate attempt to blow her up into a massive pop presence instead of a semi-niche presence. which is probably necessary nowadays but still. i'm worried this record is gonna be entirely blaring-production covering her attempts at singing via whisper-shout and then like 3 ballads where she's allowed to show off
― linda cardellini (zachlyon), Tuesday, 1 July 2014 02:46 (nine years ago) link
She previewed two other tracks that seemed fairly subtle in comparison to Problem's production, but only one of them made the standard tracklist.
― Greer, Tuesday, 1 July 2014 02:47 (nine years ago) link
if Oak & Pop and Harmony Samuels are involved there should be at least 2 songs i enjoy
― some dude, Tuesday, 1 July 2014 03:25 (nine years ago) link
rip the rascals
― linda cardellini (zachlyon), Tuesday, 1 July 2014 03:29 (nine years ago) link
people got to be free
― some dude, Tuesday, 1 July 2014 03:35 (nine years ago) link
i will never forget
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdZl59kyvkQ
― linda cardellini (zachlyon), Tuesday, 1 July 2014 03:42 (nine years ago) link
5 features not including the producer features seems like a bit much, especially with them all right next to each other like that.
― Greer, Monday, June 30, 2014 12:56 PM (9 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
this seems like a pretty standard ratio for an event album? and as far as selection it has asap ferg where it could've easily had macklemore. her breakout single was with mac miller. the features smack a lot less of label trying too hard to blow her up than i might have expected really
― een, Tuesday, 1 July 2014 04:03 (nine years ago) link
It's not Ferg that's the problem. IDK it's more the idea that Ariana is a big enough star in her own right now, she shouldn't need seven feat.s to get people to buy her album
― ginuwine's cousin (monotony), Tuesday, 1 July 2014 04:18 (nine years ago) link
Pretty sure everybody needs seven feat.s to get people to buy their albums
― tsrobodo, Tuesday, 1 July 2014 06:04 (nine years ago) link
Idk it's very 1st verse Big Sean 2nd verse Chance
― The Reverend, Tuesday, 1 July 2014 11:01 (nine years ago) link
features don't really sell albums and haven't in like 10 years. it's more of a psychological thing, artists and labels think that's just how you have to make an album and it becomes an easy talking point.
― some dude, Tuesday, 1 July 2014 11:02 (nine years ago) link
adele to thread
― maura, Tuesday, 1 July 2014 12:08 (nine years ago) link
meanwhile
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jessie-j--ariana-grande--nicki-minaj-bang-bang-world-premiere-july-29-265347111.html
"In what is sure to be the musical event of the year, international superstars Jessie J + Ariana Grande + Nicki Minaj have collaborated for the powerhouse anthem "Bang Bang" out July 29 via Republic Records."
-_________-
― maura, Tuesday, 1 July 2014 12:13 (nine years ago) link
maybe ariana grande just likes rappers on her songs
― le goon (J0rdan S.), Tuesday, 1 July 2014 14:06 (nine years ago) link
if anything having a rapper on your song would make it harder for you to sell albums to a crossover audience so i don't think that's the strategy
― le goon (J0rdan S.), Tuesday, 1 July 2014 14:07 (nine years ago) link
yeah I mean look at what happened to Mariah Carey
― Star Gentle Uterus (DJP), Tuesday, 1 July 2014 14:24 (nine years ago) link
ariana grande is definitely, above all else, just a millennial whose idea of good rappers is big sean and mac miller.
― some dude, Tuesday, 1 July 2014 14:26 (nine years ago) link
i mean, we're talking about someone who memorized every line of "Guap."
wait what do i have to do with this
― le goon (J0rdan S.), Tuesday, 1 July 2014 14:35 (nine years ago) link
omg yes totally in the zone
― Tim F, Tuesday, 24 May 2016 07:23 (seven years ago) link
I love this album, but in a way I want to see more from her. She's a great actress, funny, amazing voice, and scandal-free as long as she stays away from donuts, etc. I wouldn't mind seeing her become a more-major cultural force, as opposed to just a maker of great pop albums. She might be too smart to go that route, though.
― dlp9001, Tuesday, 24 May 2016 16:10 (seven years ago) link
Into You is flat-out fantastic.
― piscesx, Tuesday, 24 May 2016 16:26 (seven years ago) link
still haven't listened to the album but i also have to echo the love for "into you." it oddly reminds me of a specific time in my life, not because of what it sounds like but because of feelings it so vividly depicts and conjures. and yeah, it's a 'bop' too as an added bonus.
― dyl, Tuesday, 24 May 2016 16:36 (seven years ago) link
late, but add me to the 'into you' vote pile
― real orgone kid (NickB), Tuesday, 24 May 2016 16:43 (seven years ago) link
especially the bits where those chimes kick in
― real orgone kid (NickB), Tuesday, 24 May 2016 16:44 (seven years ago) link
feel like if ariana was little baby mariah on yours truly vis-à-vis early 90s mariah, another obvious comparison here is e=mc2
― the hallouminati (lex pretend), Monday, 30 May 2016 17:08 (seven years ago) link
"bad decisions," "touch it," and "thinking bout you" are like the three best pop songs i heard this year. all bonus tracks
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Monday, 12 December 2016 19:29 (seven years ago) link
a meaningless distinction at this point in pop but idk i think all of them should've been singles
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Monday, 12 December 2016 19:30 (seven years ago) link
"touch it" is particularly incredible. that slight distortion on her voice on the big dramatic "it's obviously insane" >>>>>>
― lex pretend, Tuesday, 13 December 2016 09:56 (seven years ago) link
none of the bonus tracks scream obvious single to me in a way "greedy" does though
lots of generally baffling singles choices in pop this year, see also britney's "clumsy"
― lex pretend, Tuesday, 13 December 2016 09:58 (seven years ago) link
My only issue with Brad's position here is that by omission it implies that "Knew Better / Forever Boy" is ignorable (though obv that is the one bonus track that could never be a single so I get it) whereas I want a billion more examples of chart pop that is structured like Yes circa Close To The Edge.
― Tim F, Tuesday, 13 December 2016 11:42 (seven years ago) link
true "greedy" sounds like a kpop song from 2011
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Tuesday, 13 December 2016 12:53 (seven years ago) link
i didn't like this album that much but my appreciation for "side to side" has grown as it's become more ubiquitous so maybe i should give it another spin
― J0rdan S., Tuesday, 13 December 2016 19:08 (seven years ago) link
whereas I want a billion more examples of chart pop that is structured like Yes circa Close To The Edge.
Hi
― U2 (Drugs A. Money), Monday, 2 January 2017 12:01 (seven years ago) link
as hymns to busting a nut go i'd have thought side 2 side was the ctte tribute
― r|t|c, Monday, 2 January 2017 12:52 (seven years ago) link
wrist icicle ride dick bicycle / i get up, i get down
all these bitches flows is my minimoog
― r|t|c, Monday, 2 January 2017 12:56 (seven years ago) link
Lol the only reason I was scrolling thru this thread was in search for some clue as to why S2S hadnt been nominated for tracks poll yet
― U2 (Drugs A. Money), Monday, 2 January 2017 17:33 (seven years ago) link
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Monday, December 12, 2016 12:29 PM (two years ago) bookmarkflaglink
someone pointed this out to me a few years ago but technically "bad decisions" and "thinking bout you" aren't bonus tracks. "sometimes," "i don't care," and "touch it" are though! (as well as the perfect "knew better/forever boy," tim otm upthread). it's weird. amazing record though, her best and it's not close, wish someone had made an actual thread for it
― american bradass (BradNelson), Tuesday, 1 October 2019 17:58 (four years ago) link
"Sometimes," "I Don't Care," and "Touch It" are all included on the "North American standard edition" (they're omitted from the "International standard edition").
― #YABASIC (morrisp), Tuesday, 1 October 2019 18:09 (four years ago) link
(Same w "Knew Better / Forever Boy")
so the north american standard edition is the international deluxe? literally none of these distinctions have made any sense wrt to this record. whatever it's a 55 minute pop prog masterpiece
― american bradass (BradNelson), Tuesday, 1 October 2019 18:27 (four years ago) link
Seems that way -- yeah it's weird. (I have the Target Edition, which adds "Step on Up" and "Jason's Song"; which are both good, but very much feel like "bonus tracks").
― #YABASIC (morrisp), Tuesday, 1 October 2019 18:31 (four years ago) link
and of course "focus" is a bonus track in japan
completely agree with brad that dangerous woman is easily her best album, "into you", "greedy", and then that amazing run at the end of "bad decisions", "touch it", "knew better/forever boy" and "thinking bout you" are all incredible. the only moment i don't really like on the album is that weird "la-la-la" bit at the start of "sometimes"
― ufo, Wednesday, 2 October 2019 01:20 (four years ago) link
"be alright" and "let me love you" are two of my fav songs of hers
― J0rdan S., Wednesday, 2 October 2019 02:03 (four years ago) link
the transition into "forever boy" and that song is amazing
― J0rdan S., Wednesday, 2 October 2019 02:13 (four years ago) link
yeah, I think it’s the best “musically” of all her albums. but it’s also the weakest lyrically – a lot of basic lyrics around the same, one-dimensional bedroom theme (“Greedy” probably worst offender)
― #YABASIC (morrisp), Wednesday, 2 October 2019 02:17 (four years ago) link
i would rank her albums
1. thank u next2. yours truly 3. my everything4. dangerous woman5. sweetener
― J0rdan S., Wednesday, 2 October 2019 02:24 (four years ago) link
"Knew Better / Forever Boy" -> “Thinking Bout You” are an astonishingly great album closer pair. “Thinking Bout You” sounds like the 1980s exploding in the distant past, and the event horizon suddenly washing over 2016 in a beautiful, melancholy rush of incandescent fractals.
― #YABASIC (morrisp), Wednesday, 2 October 2019 02:25 (four years ago) link
dangerous womanthank u nextyours trulysweetenermy everything
― ufo, Wednesday, 2 October 2019 02:28 (four years ago) link
a lot of basic lyrics around the same, one-dimensional bedroom theme (“Greedy” probably worst offender)
nah i love that this record is extremely horny
― american bradass (BradNelson), Wednesday, 2 October 2019 02:36 (four years ago) link
It’s not so much the “good girl gets ‘dangerous’” theme in itself (although that does get old) as that the lyrics of those songs are kinda corny, and sound like Max Martin at his Max Martin–est.Like I love “Bad Decisions,” but the line You've become my favorite sin — it’s distractingly “songwriter-y,” no one talks like that outside a Swedish recording studio.
― #YABASIC (morrisp), Wednesday, 2 October 2019 03:31 (four years ago) link
...of course, the same song also features That Bridge, which perfectly sums up / restates the album’s theme in one killer verse:
Don't you know I ain't fuckin' with them good boys?Know you love me like ain't nobody could, boyIf you want it, boy, you got itAin’t you ever seen a princess be a bad bitch?
― #YABASIC (morrisp), Wednesday, 2 October 2019 03:52 (four years ago) link
(AG has a credit on the track, and I’d love to think she wrote those bridge lyrics herself — it sounds like her “voice” — but that may be too good to be true.)
― #YABASIC (morrisp), Wednesday, 2 October 2019 04:02 (four years ago) link
thank u nextdangerous womanyours trulysweetenermy everything
― bunny slopes, Thursday, 3 October 2019 09:06 (four years ago) link