User:Andrea353/sandbox
Origins and recording
[edit]After moving to Los Angeles in 2010, producer Harmony Samuels became dissatisfied with how omnipresent dance music had become and intended to recreate a 1990s R&B sound with "The Way". He developed the track's beat, wanting "people to be excited, to feel like they can party and be in love and just enjoy it."[1] Similarly, co-writer Sevyn Streeter envisioned the song as "reminiscent of that feeling you had when it was the last day of school, and it was summertime, and the sprinklers were going."[2] Streeter and Jordin Sparks wrote the lyrics, although the process was slow and Samuels had to invite Al Sherrod Lambert to assist with ideas, concepts and melodies.[3] Sparks recorded "The Way" with plans for a feature from rapper Big Sean.[4] However, the singer's record label disliked the track's style and it was scrapped from her album Right Here Right Now.[1][4]
"The thing I loved about 'The Way' is that it gave me butterflies. When I was in the studio recording it I knew it was special, I was like, 'This is it. If I'm gonna release a first single, this has gotta be it. I don't know, if this isn't a hit then I don't know what good music is.'"
—Grande, on "The Way"[5]
Shortly after Samuels produced three songs for singer Kelly Rowland, her label Republic Records asked him to work with Grande.[6] They met at his studio where he asked if she was interested in recording a pop song; she declined, wanting an edgier R&B track instead. Grande then played Samuels her demo of "Honeymoon Avenue" and cover of Mariah Carey's 1991 single "Emotions", but Samuels felt she needed a track that would better showcase her vocals.[4] Samuels pitched "The Way" first to Grande (after having it on his computer for nearly two years), believing it was ideal for her voice and his intention of reintroducing R&B to the mainstream.[4][7] Upon first listen, Grande was brought to tears and wanted to record it the following day as her first single.[6][8] Although the track's sample was before her time, Grande would have excluded it had it not resonated with her.[9]
Grande later asked rapper Mac Miller to feature on "The Way" and engineered the session, recording Miller's verses at his house while baking cookies at the same time.[9] Miller began his first verse when the baking had started and finished his intro before the first batch of cookies came out the oven.[5] Grande used Pro Tools which Miller taught her during the session.[9]
Other
[edit]Ariana interviews: https://arianatoday.wordpress.com/2013/09/06/ariana-grande-interviewed-on-hollywood-life/
- Complex source: Music video
- Rolling stone: Mariah comparisons
References
[edit]- ^ a b Leight, Elias (January 29, 2015). "Ariana Grande & Ciara Producer Harmony Samuels Is Bring Back the '90s". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
- ^ "Exclusive: Sevyn Streeter Talks Penning Ariana Grande & Mac Miller's 'The Way', Working With Chris Brown and Her New Album". The Source. June 24, 2013. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
- ^ "Interview: Al "A-Rod" Sherrod Talks Creative Process, Ariana Grande's Sophomore Album, Writing For Fantasia". YouKnowIGotSoul.com. April 7, 2014. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
- ^ a b c d Wass, Mike (August 24, 2015). "Behind The Boards: Harmony Samuels On Writing Ariana Grande's First Hit, Two Destiny's Child Reunions & JoJo". Idolator. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
- ^ a b Nostro, Lauren (August 27, 2013). "Who Is Ariana Grande?". Complex. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
- ^ a b Kawashima, Dale (September 2, 2013). "Harmony Samuels Writes Hits For Ariana Grande and Fantasia". Songwriter Universe. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
- ^ "Interview: Harmony Samuels Talks Signature Sound, New Jordin Sparks Album & Ariana Grande". YouKnowIGotSoul.com. August 21, 2013. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
- ^ Holloman, Jasmine (August 14, 2013). "Exclusive: Al-Sherrod Talks Working With Fantasia, Ariana Grande, His Upcoming Artist Bianca Iman & More". Music X Infinity. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
- ^ a b c Krishnamurthy, Sowmya (September 11, 2013). "Ariana Grande on 'Yours Truly' and Miley Cyrus". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 24, 2017.