Today, “Break Free” is known as one of Ariana Grande’s defining anthems. But when it was recorded over a decade ago, Grande herself wasn’t completely on board.
“Break Free” was released as a single from Grande’s sophomore album in 2014. It was produced by Max Martin, the Swedish pop savant who has more No. 1 songs than any producer in the history of the Billboard Hot 100. (He broke the record earlier this year with Grande’s “Yes, And?”)
In the latest episode of “Hot Ones,” Grande discussed her longtime creative partnership with Martin and praised the producer’s instincts, citing “Break Free” as a memorable example.
“I was a lot younger and I did not want to do the intonation on ‘say I don’t want ya,'” Grande explained, singing the lyric from the song’s chorus. “He was like, ‘No, it really needs to be like, pingy, like, annoying.'”
Grande recalled how she delivered an extra-pingy vocal take out of pure exasperation. To her surprise, Martin loved it.
“That’s what made it to the record,” she said, laughing. “He was like, ‘Perfect! Thank you, that’s all I needed.'”
Grande isn’t one to hold back critiques of her old songs, even fan favorites or popular hits; she has described “Touch It” as boring and said she was relieved when fans asked to remove “Bang Bang” from her live setlist.
However, Grande said she doesn’t have negative feelings toward “Break Free” anymore. On the contrary, she enjoys performing the song because of how it’s been embraced by her fans.
“I’m so grateful for it because I totally get it. It made it so much better,” she said, hailing Martin as “an incredible friend and inspiration.”
“So that’s not even a thing anymore,” she concluded. “But when I was younger, I was like, ‘Is he serious?'”
Later in the episode, Grande said she has a complicated relationship with her old music, especially the songs she made at a young age.
“Becoming a pop star is insane at 19 or 20, and I think that experience was sort of married to some of the songs a little bit,” she explained. “Or some of the songs that are more emotional, the experience that inspired them can be married to the music.”
“With time and therapy, we sort of are able to re-embrace,” Grande continued. “So I feel just really proud and grateful and happy when I hear them, whereas I used to maybe hear it and cry.”
Grande released her debut studio album “Yours Truly” in 2013. Her seventh and latest, “Eternal Sunshine,” arrived earlier this year.
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