Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber, who are both managed by Scooter Braun, released a new song called “Stuck With U” along with a socially distant compliant video. This, apparently, is the first time they’ve ever collaborated.
And it’s for a great cause – proceeds from “Stuck With U” will benefit the First Responders Children’s Foundation. Justin has said that it’s kinda like a prom song, because of course prom is cancelled this year, and called out on social media for video contributions of people creating lockdown prom moments.
“Stuck With U” is really sweet. To me it sounds like an updated modern doo-wop, indeed that kind of dance floor slow jam that teenagers can sway to under balloons and streamers. I liked it on the first listen. And I like it the same on the second and third listens. Of course one of the selling features of “Stuck With U” is the video, featuring scenes of non-celebrities trying their best to stay positive through this and also celebrities, like Steph and Ayesha Curry, some Jenners, Chance The Rapper, Michael Buble and his wife Luisana, Lil Dicky, Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher, and Gwyneth Paltrow and Brad Falchuk, and of course the Biebers, Justin and Hailey, hugging and kissing and playing with their dogs. Then, at the end, Ariana and her boyfriend Dalton Gomez make it official.
Here’s what I appreciate most about this release though – Ariana’s message on Instagram about who and what it’s for and all the pieces and players coming together to make it happen.
I love how specific she gets about the levels of cooperation, from the creatives to the label to the streaming partners who waived their fees. It tells me that she’s been actively involved with the business behind the music, especially on this effort. And it tells me that she wants to not just share her work but to show it too.
Over the last few weeks, we’ve seen celebrities rise to the challenge and we’ve seen them fumble. Ariana was one of the first to be like, hey everyone, stay the f-ck home. She came through with probably the best celebrity tweet at the start of lockdown:
That still makes me laugh.
And you’ll note, Ariana hasn’t been seen in public, hasn’t been photographed, no pap shots, since the shelter-in-place orders came down. She’s staying the f-ck home and so are Justin and Hailey. They’re not in LA. They came home to Canada and they’ve stayed in Canada. I mean we’ve seen them, but only because they’ve posted photos of themselves on social media – at home. It’s a big home on a big property but they haven’t left. They’re doing the thing that they’re telling people to do. And even though they of a certain generation of young celebrity that could be part of that whole LA/Hollywood scene, they haven’t been tempted to get back to the nucleus of fame. Which only adds to the song. When both Ariana and Justin are singing about “Stuck With U”, they really have been stuck with their partners, no separation, every day all day, for weeks.
