Side to Side

Background and composition

On May 13, 2016, Grande announced on her Instagram account that a new song from her album Dangerous Woman would be premiered exclusively on Apple Music every day until the release of the album. The following day, Grande posted a short preview of "Side to Side" via Instagram, then premiered the song on Apple Music the same day. On August 30, 2016, the track was sent to US urban contemporary radio and became Dangerous Woman's third single.

The song was written by Grande, Nicki Minaj, Max Martin, Savan Kotecha, Ilya Salmanzadeh and Alexander Kronlund. Martin were also responsible for production, along with Salmanzadeh, as well as programming, drums, percussion, guitars, bass and keyboard. The background vocal was provided by Kotecha, Chonita Gilbert, Joi Gilliam and Taura Stinson. It was recorded at MXM Studios in Los Angeles, California and Wolf Cousins Studios in Stockholm, Sweden while Minaj's verses were recorded at Glenwood Place Studios in Burbank, (also located in the state of California) and MilkBoy the Studio in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. "Side to Side" is written in the key of F♯ minor with a common time tempo of 159 beats per minute. Grande's vocals span two octaves, from the low note of F♯₃ to the mixed note of F♯₅.

Its a reggae-pop song complemented with R&B and dancehall influences that lasts for three minutes and forty-six seconds (3:46). Lyrically, "Side to Side" talks about soreness after sex. In an interview to MTV News reporter Gaby Wilson, Grande explained "that whole song is about riding leading to soreness". Deepa Lakshmin from MTV noted that when Minaj says “bicycle” and “tricycle,” "she’s rapping about something a bit more risqué than your standard gym workout."

Critical reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic noted that its sound is comparable to works from Barbadian singer Rihanna. Maeva McDermott from USA Today noted the same, the editor wrote that "Grande borrows the tropical flavors and ska upstrumming that Rihanna ushered into pop music’s consciousness." And completed praising Minaj participation saying: "who better to invite on an album about female fierceness than Nicki Minaj, whose understated verse steals the show and lends Grande some real danger." Rolling Stone's writer Rob Sheffield ranked "Side to Side" at number 22 on his list of "50 Best Songs of 2016", describing it as "an ode to having so much sex you can't walk straight the next day."

Commercial performance

In the United States, "Side to Side" made its debut at number 31 on the US Billboard Hot 100 dated September 17, 2016. The song leaped to number 18 the next week. It has since reached a peak of number 4, making it Grande's eighth top-ten on the chart and Minaj's thirteenth; it also doubles as the second top-10 hit from Dangerous Woman and its highest-charting single. The song also spent five weeks atop the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 airplay chart, becoming Grande's second number-one on that chart, and Minaj's first.

In Australia, "Side to Side" debuted at number 36 on the ARIA Charts and has since peaked at number 3, becoming her fourth top-ten single there. In New Zealand, the song debuted at number 10, becoming her fifth top-ten single there. It rose to number 5 the following week and peaked at 2.

In the United Kingdom, "Side to Side" initially debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 66 in the week dated June 2, 2016 after its album's release, but fell off the chart in its second week. The song re-entered at number 24 in the week dated September 9, 2016 following its official release as a single, and has since peaked at number 4, making it Grande's fourth top-ten single there, and Minaj's tenth.

Music video

Directed by Hannah Lux Davis, the music video made its official premiere on American clothing brand Guess's website on the night of August 28, 2016. It surpassed 100 million views on September 19, 2016, making it Grande's twelfth Vevo-certified music video (reaching over 100 million hits) after "Into You" and Minaj's twenty-fourth Vevo-certified music video.

The music video opens with Grande leading a spin class on stationary bicycles, performing a synchronized choreography with backup dancers. The video then transitions to a gym and locker room scene, where Grande and the backup dancers are seen with boxing equipment. Grande and Minaj are then seen in a sauna, surrounded by male models. The video featured product placement from Guess.

Live performances

Grande performed "Side to Side" for the first time in "Vevo Presents" show in May 2016. Later, she performed at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards with Minaj. Stationary bicycles and a pommel horse were featured as props in the performance. Grande also performed the song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on September 8, 2016. Additionally, she performed the single in an acoustic medley with "Into You" on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on September 14, 2016. On September 24, 2016, she performed the song at the 2016 iHeartRadio Music Festival on The CW. On November 20, 2016, Grande and Minaj performed "Side to Side" at the 2016 American Music Awards. It was named the best performance of the night by editor Andrew Unterberger from Billboard.

Usage in media

The song is featured in a T-Mobile commercial which also features Grande.

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Dangerous Woman's liner notes.