On December 12, 2011, Ariana Grande released her debut single, “Put Your Hearts Up.” What seemed like the start of a promising music career quickly became a track the pop superstar would rather forget. Despite its cheerful message and bubblegum pop vibes, the song has been noticeably absent from Ariana’s discography for years. But why has the artist behind chart-topping hits like “Thank U, Next” and “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)” erased this chapter of her career?
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Released on December 12, 2011, “Put Your Hearts Up” marked Ariana’s first foray into music after gaining fame on Nickelodeon’s Victorious. The bright, feel-good track sampled the classic “What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes and carried a message of spreading positivity, aligning with Ariana’s public persona at the time. However, the singer quickly distanced herself from the track, later describing it as “inauthentic” and “a missed opportunity.”
In a 2014 interview with Rolling Stone, Ariana revealed, “It was geared toward kids, and I felt so inauthentic and fake. That was the worst moment of my life.”
The music video for “Put Your Hearts Up” was removed from YouTube years ago. In the video, Ariana walks through a city, spreading love to strangers while singing and dancing. She has since expressed regret about the production, saying, “For the video, they gave me a bad spray tan, put me in a princess dress, and had me frolic around the street. The whole thing was straight out of hell. I still have nightmares about it, and I made them hide it on my Vevo page.”
Following the release of “Put Your Hearts Up,” Ariana pivoted toward a more mature, R&B-influenced sound with her 2013 debut album, Yours Truly. Tracks like “The Way” and “Baby I” marked the beginning of her transition into a global pop sensation.
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