8 years ago (more specifically April 28th), Ariana Grande released ''Problem'' ft. Iggy Azalea as the lead single off her sophomore album 'My Everything'. The song debuted at #3 and eventually peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. It became Ariana's first top 3/5 hit on the chart and her 1st out of 4 top 10 hits streak in 2014 (the most out of any artist that year). It spent 16 weeks in total in the top 10 of the BBH100

 

 

It debuted atop the official charts of countries such as Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland and the UK and went top 10 in other places like Australia, Canada, Mexico, Sweden, Denmark, and Greece.

 

 

The song went #1 on US iTunes immediatly upon its release (in 37 mins). It spent 37 days atop the chart. Ariana's longest running #1 out of her 22 chart toppers on the Apple platform. 

 

 

Its first week sales of 438,000 pure copies were the second biggest opening week sales of 2014 (Ariana's own 'Bang Bang' w/ Jessie J & Nicki Minaj was #3 on the list). Ariana hasn't debuted with bigger numbers since regardless of pure or units figures.

 

 

Problem has sold +3.7M copies in the US as of date. It remains Ariana's best selling digital song. Keep in mind that it was relased at the end of the digital era while we were slowly transitioning into the streaming era 

 

 

It has over 9M units sold worldwide. 

 

 

It was the 9th biggest song of 2014 per the Hot 100 Year End Chart published by Billboard. It's been last updated to a 6x Platinum certification.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The music video has accumulated over 1.3B views on YouTube. It's her 3rd most viewed video on the platform (after Bang Bang and Side To Side). 

 

 

 

This song is often credited as Ariana's first global smash hit. The single that catapulted her into stardom . It started her pop domination in 2014. 

 

Always remember that this is the song. that led the My Everything era that had industry executives scared to kick off the 1989 era at Taylor's former label Big Machine Records. Ariana wasn't playing during that time of her career.

 

It didn't age the best in Ariana's catalogue but it's still a fun song to play every once in a while imo.  The hook in the chorus still slaps. I totally understand why it blew up the way it did back then.

Edited May 8, 20224 yr by youngpopariana

Iggy really put Ariana on the map with this

the tired saxophone trend aged like milk but it’s a cute lil bop, i still remember iggy’s verse off by heart 

Kind of a cultural reset

Y’all fucktards really did Iggy wrong 

Whew, it was a huge moment when it debuted, I remember waking up everyday to a new performance, she was EVERYWHERE. I loved the song so much back then! Something in her career shifted the night she premiered it at those Radio Disney Awards, and then it climbed to #1 on iTunes hours later 

that single cover NEVER fails to make me ctfu

but the actual song is such a throwback, rlly takes me back to mid 2014

Damn I remember when this was first released and atrl had meltdowns because of the cover lmao 

I bopped hard to this and fully stanned Ariana. I was already a stan since The Way but this one made me fall in love with her.

This truly was an iconic single/breakthrough and Iggy is such a great addition to the song.

 

It used to be my favorite from the ME-era but now it aged the worst out of the singles sadly. OLT aging like fine wine and having the last laugh. 

Iggy really gave Ari a boost, uh? You guys did her so wrong

Poor iggy

a classic, we should all stream Kream to celebrate

But wow what a moment.

Loud and annoying just like Focus and Bang Bang. A dated mess 

Iconic

Iggy deserved better 

 

Cute song tho

Wish this went #1 but Iggy was blocking herself.

 

What a smash

This felt like a #1, and is Ariana's signature FIRST big hit

Ava paying homage to this classic with 'Maybe You're The Problem' 

 

But in all realness 2014 was a major time in music for me when I discovered Iggy, Meghan, Ariana (as a pop star) and Charli for the first time!! I remember seeing this literally everywhere!!

1 hour ago, wastedpotential said:

Iggy deserved better 

 

Cute song tho

She didnt and thats okay. 

2 hours ago, BILLIONAIRE✘BOY said:

Damn I remember when this was first released and atrl had meltdowns because of the cover lmao 

Did they? Why lmao it wasn’t even bad?? I like it

 

ot: a bop, a classic. One of the few Ariana songs I still listen to.  It has such a very cool vibe that makes me think of how fun summer 2014 was. Her and iggy DID THAT. 

1 hour ago, hardbrit said:

This felt like a #1, and is Ariana's signature FIRST big hit

It’s crazy iggy blocked herself. I wish it would’ve sneaked a week @ #1. It was MASSIVE. 

3 hours ago, youngpopariana said:

first week sales of 438,000 pure copies

how didn't it debut at #1 with those humongous numbers? That + streaming (I believe it had a lyric video?) + first week radio.. wow 

she had EVERYONE bopping  it didn't age particularly well but it's still fun!