Today, “Break Free” is considered one of Ariana Grande’s defining anthems. But when the song was recorded over a decade ago, Grande herself wasn’t entirely convinced.
“Break Free” was released as a single from Grande’s second album in 2014. It was produced by Max Martin, the Swedish pop maven who has more No. 1 hits than any other producer in the history of the Billboard Hot 100. (He broke the record earlier this year with Grande’s “Yes, And?”)
On the latest episode of “Hot Ones,” Grande discussed her long-standing creative partnership with Martin and praised the producer’s instincts, citing “Break Free” as a memorable example.
“I was much younger and I not “I want to do the emphasis on ‘Say I Don’t Want Ya,'” Grande explained, singing the song’s chorus. “He was like, ‘No, it really has to be so pinging, so annoying.'”
Grande recalled how she delivered a particularly pinging vocal part out of sheer desperation. To her surprise, Martin really liked the song.
“That made it onto the record,” she said, laughing. “He said, ‘Perfect! Thank you, that was all I needed.'”
Grande doesn’t hold back when it comes to criticizing her old songs, including fan favorites or popular hits. She called “Touch It” boring and said she was relieved when fans asked for “Bang Bang” to be removed from her live setlist.
However, Grande said that she no longer has any negative feelings towards “Break Free.” In fact, she enjoys performing the song because it resonates so well with her fans.
“I’m so grateful for that because I completely understand it. It made it so much better,” she said, praising Martin as “an incredible friend and inspiration.”
“So that’s not the case anymore,” she concluded. “But when I was younger, I thought, ‘Is he serious?'”
Later in the episode, Grande said that she has a complicated relationship with her old music, especially the songs she made when she was younger.
“Becoming a pop star at 19 or 20 is amazing, and I think that experience was somehow connected to some of the songs,” she explained. “Or for some of the songs that are more emotional, the experience that inspired them may be connected to the music.”
“With time and therapy, we’re able to re-engage with it,” Grande continued. “I just feel really proud and grateful and happy when I hear it, whereas before I might have cried when I heard it.”
Grande released her debut studio album, Yours Truly, in 2013. Her seventh and latest album, Eternal Sunshine, was released earlier this year.
