How a single vocal performance changed Ariana Grande's musical direction forever
In short: In 2014, Ariana Grande was primarily known for pop and R&B. But after a chance encounter with producer Zedd, she pivoted toward EDM with 'Break Free'. The result was a massive hit that made her the second female artist to hold three top-ten positions simultaneously.
The collaboration began when German producer Zedd heard Grande singing live at a Universal showcase. He was so struck by her voice that he decided he wanted to work with her immediately, even before knowing her identity. This partnership led to 'Break Free', a track that marked a significant departure from Grande's established pop and R&B discography into the EDM genre.
The song's release on July 2, 2014, sparked a historic chart run. While 'Break Free' was climbing the Billboard Hot 100, Grande's other singles 'Problem' and 'Bang Bang' were also charting in the top ten. This achievement made her only the second female lead artist to hold three concurrent top-ten spots, following Adele in 2012.
Beyond the charts, the song's production involved Max Martin and Savan Kotecha. Interestingly, the track contains intentional grammatical errors, such as 'Now that I've become who I really are'. Grande initially resisted these lyrics, but producer Max Martin insisted they were 'funny'. The song has since become a significant cultural touchstone, including being embraced as a gay anthem and even becoming the soundtrack to a viral moment during a presidential campaign rally in the Philippines in March 2022.
The track's visual identity, directed by Chris Marrs Piliero, pays homage to science fiction classics like 'Barbarella' and 'Star Wars'. As of 2026, the music video has amassed over 1.2 billion views on YouTube.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Break Free (song)
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