Be Alright (Ariana Grande song)

"Be Alright"
Promotional single by Ariana Grande
from the album Dangerous Woman
ReleasedMarch 18, 2016 (2016-03-18)
RecordedJune 2015
Genre
Length2:57
LabelRepublic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Twice as Nice
  • Tommy Brown
Ariana Grande promotional singles chronology
"Best Mistake"
(2014) 		"Be Alright"
(2016) 		"Let Me Love You"
(2016)

"Be Alright" is a song recorded by American singer Ariana Grande for her third studio album Dangerous Woman (2016). Grande co-wrote the track with Tommy Brown, Victoria Monét, Khaled Rohaim, Nicholas Audino, Lewis Hughes and Willie Tafa, while its production was handled by Twice as Nice and Brown. "Be Alright" was released as the first promotional single from the album on March 18, 2016. In terms of music, the song is inspired by the 1990s deep house and influenced by R&B and Chicago house. Lyrically, it is a carefree song about being optimistic. The track was performed live for the first time on Saturday Night Live, with choreography inspired by the vogue style of ballroom culture; the same choreography was adopted by Grande during her Dangerous Woman Tour, in which the song served as opening track. Grande also performed the song as a part of the setlist during her Sweetener World Tour; a live version is included on the tour's live album, K Bye for Now (SWT Live).

Background and release

[edit]

On June 17, 2015, after finishing recording the song, Ariana Grande released two snippets of the track through her Snapchat account.[1][2][3] In the following months, she mentioned the song in other social media, such as Twitter and Instagram. Later, on January 11, 2016, a fan tweeted to Grande about the release of the track to which the singer replied that it was coming very soon.[4] Then, on January 20, 2016, Grande posted another two snippets of "Be Alright" on her Snapchat, with MTV News noting that they "reveal a grooving house beat over which Ari croons, 'Baby, we'll be all right' and 'every little thing's gonna be all right.'"[4] After hearing the snippets, Bianca Gracie of Idolator classified it as "a warmer sound that is within the same vein of previous, more electronic-based collaborations with Cashmere Cat ('Be My Baby' and 'Adore)'," opining that it sounded infinitely more promising than "Focus".[5] On March 11, 2016, she announced on Ryan Seacrest's radio show that she would perform "Be Alright" on the 41st season of Saturday Night Live on March 12, 2016, and that it would be released on March 18, 2016.[6] It served as the album's first promotional single.[7]

A leaked demo version of the song featuring the rap trio, Migos, was leaked in 2018.[8]

Composition and lyrics

[edit]
Victoria Monét co-wrote the song.

"Be Alright" was written by Ariana Grande, Tommy Brown, Victoria Monét, Khaled Rohaim, Mura Masa, Nao, Nicholas Audino, Lewis Hughes and Willie Tafa.[9] It was produced by Twice as Nice and Brown.[10] According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Universal Music Publishing Group, the song is composed in the key of C♯ minor with a tempo of 109 beats per minute. Grande's vocals range from the note of F♯3 to G♯5.[11]

"Be Alright" is a song heavily inspired by 1990's deep house,[7][12] also having Chicago house,[13] R&B,[13] and dance-pop[14] influences. Christopher R. Weingarten of Rolling Stone went further, calling it a "tropical house swagger-jack."[15] Pitchfork's Corban Goble defined it as "a little more downtempo and assured than the whizzing pinball machine of something like "Break Free"."[16] During the song, Grande provides breathy ad-libs.[17] Lyrically, "Be Alright" is a carefree song about being optimistic.[7] During the first lines, she sings: "Midnight shadows / When finding love is a battle / But daylight, is so close / So don't you worry 'bout a thing."[18] Later, she promises: "The hard times are golden 'cause they all lead to better days."[14]

Guernsey born record producer Mura Masa alleged the track ripped off his 2015 single "Firefly" featuring Nao.[19][20] Consequently, Masa (as "Alexander Crossan") and Nao (as "Neo Joshua"), the track's songwriters, were credited as co-writers of "Be Alright".[21]

Critical reception

[edit]

Digital Spy's Lewis Corner stated the song is "a right little jam" and "deep house with high notes", being one of the most infectious songs Grande has released thus far.[22] In his review of Dangerous Woman, Corner called it "subtly epic, by not feeling pumped to Ibiza proportions, but transporting you to a more mellowed state of euphoria," also highlighting that it was one of his favorite songs.[17] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine called it a "minimalistic banger" and noted that "the modern technique is cleverly used to approximate a retro sound, simulating the black male background singers of early-'90s house music."[23] Megan Downing of MTV UK wrote that it "shouldn't work on paper: a deep house track featuring Ari's souring vocals, however, it really does work and is one of the best tracks on the album,"[24] while Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic called it an alluring "bright blasts of disco."[25]

Corban Globe of Pitchfork opined that "'Be Alright' utilizes the deep house lite that's en vogue these days, allowing an assured Grande to soar, though she wisely omits some of the garnish vocal runs. The chorus is compact and clever, highlighting [the song's] understated approach. Here, Grande keeps finding ways to make the hot sound of the moment work for her; it's proof she can change speeds."[16] Anna Gaca of Spin commented that the song "sounds equally ready for a post-club chill session or a dance floor remix,"[13] while for Luis Polanco of Billboard the song "is perfect for those moments of doubt in a relationship."[18] Mikael Wood of Los Angeles Times called it "buoyant", but observed that she promises the feel-good optimism "in a voice that sounds like it's never seen worse than a broken fingernail."[14] Christopher R. Weingarten from Rolling Stone found the track "flat, monochromatic."[15]

Live performances

[edit]

Grande performed "Be Alright" for the first time during the 41st season of Saturday Night Live on March 12, 2016.[26] The performance had Grande with her dancers doing a "Vogue-filled" choreography.[27][28] "Be Alright" was performed during Grande's set on the 2016 Wango Tango and Vevo Sessions.[29][30] "Be Alright" was also added on the Dangerous Woman Tour as the opening song. Grande opened the One Love Manchester benefit concert on June 4, 2017, with this song.[31] She also performed it at the Concert for Charlottesville benefit concert on September 24, 2017.[32] Grande performed the song at the March for Our Lives rally in Washington, D.C., on March 24, 2018.[33] On June 14, Ariana gave a surprise performance of "Be Alright" at the Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York City.[34]

The song was also performed on Grande's Sweetener World Tour in 2019.

Credits and personnel

[edit]

Recording

  • Recorded at Vietom Studios
  • Mixed at Mixstar Studios, Virginia Beach, Virginia
  • Mastered at Sterling Sound

Personnel

  • Ariana Grande – vocals, writing
  • Thomas Brown – writing, production, engineer, bass, percussion, programming, keys, drums
  • Victoria McCants – writing, background vocals
  • Khaled Rohaim – writing, production, bass, percussion, programming, keys
  • Nicholas Audino – writing, production, engineer, bass, percussion, programming, keys, drums
  • Lewis Hughes – writing, production, bass, percussion, programming, keys
  • Willie Tafa – writing
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing
  • Christopher Truio – engineer
  • John Hanes – mixing engineer
  • Tom Coyne – audio mastering
  • Aya Merrill – audio mastering
  • Alexander Crossan - writing
  • Neo Joshua - writing

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Dangerous Woman, Republic Records.[10] Crossan and Nao were added later.[35]

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for "Be Alright"
Chart (2016) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[36] 52
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[37] 39
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[38] 86
France (SNEP)[39] 75
Greece Digital Songs (Billboard)[40] 9
Ireland (IRMA)[41] 92
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[42] 67
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[43] 89
New Zealand Heatseekers (Recorded Music NZ)[44] 8
Portugal (AFP)[45] 63
Scotland (OCC)[46] 42
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[47] 81
South Korea International (Circle)[48] 25
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[49] 10
UK Singles (OCC)[50] 65
US Billboard Hot 100[51] 43

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for "Be Alright"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[52] Platinum 70,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[53] Platinum 60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[54] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[55] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Ariana Grande Teases New Song On Snapchat". Access Hollywood. June 19, 2015. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
  2. ^ "Ariana Grande You'll Be Alright – YouTube". youtube.com. 6 October 2015. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  3. ^ Weintraub, Hannah (June 19, 2015). "Listen to a Sneak Peek of Ariana Grande's New Heart-Pounding Dance Track". Teen Vogue. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
  4. ^ a b Roth, Madeline (January 21, 2016). "Ariana Grande Continues Teasing 'Be Alright,' And We're Not All Right". MTV News. Archived from the original on January 24, 2016. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
  5. ^ Gracie, Bianca (January 21, 2016). "Ariana Grande Teases "Be Alright" Song: Listen To Her Snapchat Snippets". Idolator. SpinMedia. Retrieved May 20, 2016.[permanent dead link‍]
  6. ^ "INTERVIEW: Ariana Grande Talks New Songs, 'Mature' Album & 'SNL' | On Air with Ryan Seacrest". On Air with Ryan Seacrest. Archived from the original on July 1, 2016. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  7. ^ a b c Lee, Christina (March 18, 2016). "Ariana Grande Releases "Be Alright": Listen". Idolator. Archived from the original on January 16, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  8. ^ "Ariana Grande Almost Worked With Migos On 'Dangerous Woman' Track, "Be Alright"". Idolator. Retrieved July 2, 2021.[permanent dead link‍]
  9. ^ "ACE Repertory - Be Alright". ASCAP. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  10. ^ a b Dangerous Woman (inlay cover). Ariana Grande. Republic Records. 2016.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ "Ariana Grande – "Be Alright" – Digital Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. Universal Music Publishing Group. 21 March 2016. MN0161937. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
  12. ^ Zaleski, Annie (May 20, 2016). "Ariana Grande finds her pop star footing on Dangerous Woman". The A.V. Club. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  13. ^ a b c Gaca, Anna (March 18, 2016). "Ariana Grande Wants All of Us to 'Be Alright' on House-y New Single". Spin. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
  14. ^ a b c Wood, Mikael (May 18, 2016). "Review: Ariana Grande leaves the princess image behind with 'Dangerous Woman'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  15. ^ a b Weingarten, Christopher R. (May 20, 2016). "Ariana Grande's New Album: Dangerous Woman | Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  16. ^ a b Goble, Corban (March 22, 2016). "Ariana Grande "Be Alright"". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  17. ^ a b Corner, Lewis (May 18, 2016). "Ariana Grande's new album Dangerous Woman – our track-by-track first-listen review". Digital Spy. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  18. ^ a b Polanco, Luis (March 18, 2016). "Ariana Grande Releases 'Be Alright' Off 'Dangerous Woman'". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  19. ^ "Producer alleges Ariana Grande's new single a 'rip-off' of his track". News.com.au. March 24, 2016. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  20. ^ Hutchinson, Emily (March 26, 2016). "Ariana Grande Accused Of Stealing 'Be Alright' — Listen & Decide". Inquisitr. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  21. ^ "Ariana Grande – Dangerous Woman". Discogs. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  22. ^ Corner, Lewis (March 18, 2016). "Ariana Grande has released the studio version of 'Be Alright' and it's a right little jam". Digital Spy. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
  23. ^ Cinquemani, Sal (May 19, 2016). "Airana Grande: Dangerous Woman – Album Review – Slant Magazine". Slant Magazine. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  24. ^ Downing, Megan (May 19, 2016). "mtv review: ariana grande's 'dangerous woman' is her best record yet & here's why". MTV UK. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  25. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Dangerous Woman – Ariana Grande – Songs, Reviews, Credits – AllMusic". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  26. ^ Peters, Mitchell (March 13, 2016). "Watch Ariana Grande Debut 'Dangerous Woman' Songs on 'Saturday Night Live'". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  27. ^ Krep, Daniel (March 13, 2016). "Watch Ariana Grande Debut 'Dangerous Woman' Tracks on 'SNL'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  28. ^ Lee, Christina (March 13, 2016). "Ariana Grande Performs "Dangerous Woman" And "Be Alright" On 'SNL': Watch". Idolator. Retrieved May 22, 2016.[permanent dead link‍]
  29. ^ Brown, August (May 15, 2016). "Wango Tango 2016: Ariana Grande, Zayn Malik and Fifth Harmony kick-start Top-40 pop". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  30. ^ Kelley, Seth (May 19, 2016). "Ariana Grande Previews New 'Dangerous Woman' Album for Vevo Concert". Variety. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  31. ^ Bowman, Sabienna. "Ariana Grande's Song Choice Is Powerful". Bustle. Retrieved 2018-06-20.
  32. ^ Delbyck, Cole (2017-09-25). "Ariana Grande Returns To The Stage For Charlottesville Unity Concert". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2018-06-20.
  33. ^ "Watch Ariana Grande Sing 'Be Alright' at March for Our Lives Rally". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2018-06-20.
  34. ^ "Review: Ariana Grande surprises everyone at Songwriters Hall of Fame (Includes first-hand account)". 2018-06-15. Retrieved 2018-06-20.
  35. ^ "Be Alright". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  36. ^ "CHART WATCH #361". Auspop. March 26, 2016. Archived from the original on March 4, 2020. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  37. ^ "Ariana Grande Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  38. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 14. týden 2016 in the date selector. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  39. ^ "Ariana Grande – Be Alright" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  40. ^ "Greece Digital Songs – Apr 02, 2016". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 28, 2016. Retrieved May 2, 2016.(subscription required)
  41. ^ "Chart Track: Week 12, 2016". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  42. ^ "Ariana Grande Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  43. ^ "Ariana Grande – Be Alright" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
  44. ^ "NZ Heatseekers Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. April 4, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  45. ^ "Ariana Grande – Be Alright". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  46. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  47. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201614 into search. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  48. ^ "써클차트 - CIRCLE CHART, 글로벌 케이팝(K-pop) 음악차트". circlechart.kr. March 26, 2016. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  49. ^ "Vecolista Heatseeker – Vecka 13, 1 april 2016" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  50. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  51. ^ "Ariana Grande Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  52. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  53. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Ariana Grande – Be Alright" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  54. ^ "British single certifications – Ariana Grande – Be Alright". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  55. ^ "American single certifications – Ariana Grande – Be Alright". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
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