Music Review: Ariana Grande & Iggy Azalea "Problem"

Ariana Grande & Iggy Azalea

Problem

Album: TBA

Year: 2014

        Ariana Grande still sees some redemptive qualities in her bad boy ex-boyfriend in the splendid “Problem.”

            A beguiling saxophone from Ice-T’s “99 Problems” opens the single, setting a stunning tone. Iggy Azalea introduces herself and Grande sings part of the chorus. (“Uh/Huh/It’sIggy Iggs/I got one problem/I got one less, one less problem.”)

             He has his arm around a girl and smirks at her as she passes by her. To her friend, she lets out a “ugh!” She tells her friend that she doesn’t understand why he does stuff like that. Supposedly, one of his friends approached her and said he’s trying to make her jealous. But he made out with another girl, she explains and no matter how times he apologizes, it doesn’t make it okay. However, she says that he can be really considerate. When she was upset with her parents, he listened to her the whole night. She even felt bad for taking it on him. But it was just like one day he decided he didn’t like her anymore and stopped calling. She doesn’t know what she did wrong. Despite that, she watched him until he turned the corner. (“Hey baby, even though I hate ya/I wanna love ya, I want you/And even though I can't forgive ya/I really want to, I want you/Tell me, tell me, baby/Why did you leave me?/Cause even though I shouldn't want it/I gotta have it, I want you.”)

          In the pre-chorus, she says glad that her tearful phone calls to her best friends about what he said or did are over. She should be grateful that she found out now what a jerk he is. (“Head in the clouds, got no weight on my shoulders/I should be wiser, and realize that I've got.”)

In the chorus, Big Sean whispers four times she doesn’t have to worry anymore. She can concentrate on school and spending time with her friends again. Grande agrees, joining him for the last two “I got one less one problem” while the beguiling saxophone returns, capturing attention right away. (“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.”)

               The beguiling saxophone has a short solo, causing people’s jaws to drop at its awesomeness.

                   She believes he’s going to be stuck at seventeen forever. She would be only be wasting her time by trying to get him to open up to her. Nonetheless, his texts and voicemails give her a little hope that maybe it’s possible. She responds to him every time. A few nights ago, she hung out with him. He placed his hand on hers while they were eating. As he drove her home, he said he missed her and loved her. The moments she has with him are surreal. She can’t believe she’s with him. She had a crush on him since she was ten. (“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.”)

The pre-chorus and chorus are sung again.

              In the bridge, Azalea says he’s a passing crush. She will eventually like someone new. She can’t trust him and her life is drama-free now. She has a lot going for her and he only brings her down. She has thought about being with him for years. However, now that she has him she thinks he will live up to her fantasies at some point. But it’s not going to happen. The little boy she fell in love with has turned out to be disrespectful. He likes playing mind games with her and she has to decipher what it really means later. She can find another cute boy. She has other stuff to deal with that is far more important to him. (“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/Iggy Iggy, too 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-steppin', either you want it or you just playin'/I'm listenin' to you knowin' I can't believe what you're sayin'/There's a million you's baby boy, so don't be dumb/I got 99 problems but you won't be one/Like what.”)

             Grande says “one less, one less problem” twice.

             The pre-chorus is sung again.

              The chorus is sung twice to end the single.

               Grande’s rhapsodic vocals give him googly eyes at every turn.  She pictures him bringing her flowers for one of their dates. He jokes around with her mom for a little bit before they leave. He tells her he’s been planning it for weeks. Even though he tries to hide it, he’s nervous. However, her ideal version exists in her fantasies. He disappoints her all the time but she would like to believe he’s still a good person.

             Azalea’s blunt rap tells it like it is, doling out common sense. She’s the little voice she hears in the back of her mind as she thinks of whether to text the ex. She balances out Grande’s irrational thinking really well without relying on the usual cliches (she’s wanted by every guy, has tons of money, likes to party while using lots of pop culture references.) There is only one pop culture reference, though: Ice-T's "99 Problems" although the meme is associated more with Jay Z with his 2004 hit of the same title.

           The sample is improved upon and given a full-on makeover. Hidden underneath the incessant profanity and curt bursts of anger, there is a glamorous saxophone solo waiting to be noticed. It is arresting and adds sophisication to the single from the moment it’s heard.

            The fantastic “Problem” moves Grande another letter up within the coveted list of superstars.