Problem: 5 Years On

Posted June 30, 20196 yr

Ariana Grande - Problem (feat. Iggy Azalea)

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Today marks 5 years since 'Problem' featuring Iggy Azalea was released in the U.K.! The song had already been floating around for a couple of months but of course this was still a time where held-back releases existed here. This was the first single from Ariana's second album 'My Everything' and became her first ever #1 in the UK! In fact it was her first top 40 here full-stop. So this was essentially the song that propelled her into a superstar. To date it has shifted over 880,000 units in the U.K. (up to July 2018) and the video has over 1 billion views.

So, how has 'Problem' held up for you 5 years later?

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June 30, 20196 yr

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I was a big fan of 'Problem' at the time! I've just fetched my chart-run for it which was the following: 6-4-7-6-5-6-11-14-18-23-29-33-34-x ~ slay that Jade's Top 40 #4 peak *.* :kink: I was never huge on the music video though as there wasn't a lot going on and Ari failed to shine in it, especially due to the dodgy lip-syncing. Nowadays I feel that Ariana has bettered the song over and over again, it's still fun (and you bet I still know every word to Iggy's rap) but I don't regard it quite as highly as I did at the time. The horns feel very 2014 in particular and I don't think that's a trend that has stood the test of time all that well. Plus I feel that Ariana's diction was at an all-time low here :lol: it’s my least favourite single from 'My Everything' nowadays but that's no bad thing as that era was spot-on for singles.

June 30, 20196 yr

I still LOVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVE this! I heard it on Friday night out and was bopping so hard!

July 1, 20196 yr

Don't forget this was #1 on the very first week streaming was included in the UK chart! :o

'Problem' took a minute to grow on me after I initially found the sax to be super jarring, and it didn't hold up well for me either, but did manage a #3 peak on my chart. That Iggy feature was definitely the right move at the right time, and to her credit it doesn't really feel tacked-on like I thought it would.

July 1, 20196 yr

I still love this, it feels somewhat forgotten now though for a hit as big as it was.

July 1, 20196 yr

Like Jordan it took a little while for this to grow but it hit me really hard in the end, such a fantastic song and Iggy's feature is a superb addition! It's a lil dated now but I still have a lot of love for it.

Its chart run in my chart:

4-1-1-1-1-2-4-7-10-12-15-19-25-32-33-30-27-15-18-24-30-33-38-x-22-31-x (25 weeks)

Ari's biggest hit in my chart and the first of seven #1s so far! It's also one of seven #1s for Iggy (her fifth at the time).

July 1, 20196 yr

This is legit in my top 5 favourite songs of all time.

It's certainly still the most successful song in my chart too :lol: This was it's chart run: (20-2-3-6-4-3-1-5-3-3-2-3-2-1-2-1-1-4-6-10-8-11-11-9-11-14-16-12-13-14-10-17-13-17-11-5-4-3-8-9-18-18-17-18-19-19-20-19-19-20-20-20-15-18) (54 weeks)

July 1, 20196 yr

LOVED this at the time and still love it, but I think as you said Jade, it hasn't aged well at all, I would even dare to say that 'The Way' has aged better. Appreciate what this did for her career, was the perfect choice to lead 'My Everything'. My God though, I can't believe it's been 5 years! I'm aging man. :lol:

July 2, 20196 yr

Really enjoyed this, but yes like Tawdry says it does feel forgotten for me.

July 2, 20196 yr

I enjoyed this at the time but it feels unbelievably dated now and very forgotten as her big hits and hits from that part of the decade go. It's basically the 2013/14 era of music defined in just one song :lol: