In the summer of 2013, Ariana Grande was a rising star in the music industry. Her breakout hit, “The Way,” featuring Mac Miller, had been released a few months earlier, stunning fans with her impressive vocals. At just 20 years old, Ariana was gearing up to release her debut studio album, Yours Truly. During the hottest month of the year, she unleashed “Baby I” as the second official single from the LP. The song received critical acclaim, with Ariana’s powerful vocals leading to comparisons with Mariah Carey. “Baby I” secured commercial success, peaking at number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and achieving RIAA Platinum certification for selling 1 million copies in the United States. Despite Ariana masterfully delivering her rendition of the song, not many know that “Baby I” was originally meant for another superstar.
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“Baby I” was written by R&B and soul singer and producer Babyface, along with Antonio Dixon and J. Que. While Ariana Grande immediately fell in love with the song, Babyface originally wrote it for Beyoncé. As Ariana revealed in an interview with Complex, the song was intended for the “Crazy In Love” singer, who ultimately rejected it. When Babyface played “Baby I” for Ariana during a recording session, the rising star accepted it without any doubt. In an interview with MTV, she explained that she loved the ’90s vibe of the song and the message behind the lyrics.
Ariana’s success with “Baby I” not only solidified her place in the music industry but also showcased her ability to turn a song into a hit, even one initially intended for another artist. Eleven years later, Ariana is one of the biggest artists in music history, and we are pretty sure that her path would not have been so different even without a gem like “Baby I.”
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