Peak
7
Weeks
13
Score
1,921
Chart Year
2015
This horn-heavy song was penned by Ariana Grande with American songwriter Savan Kotecha and Swedish songsmiths Ilya and Peter Svensson. It was produced by Max Martin. Savan Kotecha, Ilya and Max Martin also co-wrote "Problem," the lead single from Grande's previous album My Everything, while former Cardigans guitarist previously contributed to another of the songstress' singles, "Love Me Harder." The sassy song opens with Grande singing: "I know what I came to do, and that ain't gonna change." She explained in a video blog that the lyric has a very powerful meaning behind it. "What I came here to do in this world is not only to entertain but to love, to share, to listen, to improve, to learn, to share music, to share experience, to share feelings, to make people feel happy and empowered," the singer said. "To make people feel like they're not alone. Without using my voice to do those things I would feel empty," Grande continued. The chorus finds Grande pleading multiple times, "Focus on me." "When I say 'focus on me' I'm not asking to be the center of attention. I'm not asking you to focus on my face or my clothes or my body or my singing voice," she explained. "By 'focus on me,' I literally mean focus on me. Focus on what I'm all about and what I believe in." "The more we focus on each other as people and not on what we look like, what we're wearing, our gender, our hairstyle, our sexuality, the color of our skin," Grande continued. "But focus on each other on a soul level. The more we realize how much we have in common, the more we listen to each other, the more one we become." Jamie Foxx is the guy supplying the male vocals on the 'Focus on me' chorus. The single cover art features Grande with lilac blonde hair. It was shot by celebrity videographer Alfredo Flores. Hannah Lux Davis directed the song's video, which also features Grande with her new white colored hair. Davis had previously directed other music clips of Grande such as "Love Me Harder" and her joint single with Jessie J and Nicki Minaj, "Bang Bang." This was originally intended to be the lead single from Dangerous Woman. However, the song was cut from the standard edition track listing, and only included as a bonus track on the Japanese edition of the album. The title track replaced it as the lead single.
I know what I came to do And that ain't gonna change So go ahead and talk your talk 'Cause I won't take the bait I'm over here doing what I like I'm over here working day and night And if my real ain't real enough I'm sorry for you bae Let's find a light inside our universe now Where ain't nobody keep on holding us down Just come and get it let them say what they say 'Cause I'm about to put them all away Focus on me Focus on me Focus on me Focus on me Focus on me (focus) Focus on me (focus on me) Focus on me (focus) Focus on me (focus on me) I can tell you're curious It's written on your lips Ain't no need to hold it back Go head and talk your shit I know you're hoping that I'll react I know you're hoping I'm looking back But if my real ain't real enough Then I don't know what is Let's find a light inside our universe now Where ain't nobody keep on holding us down Just come and get it let them say what they say 'Cause I'm about to put them all away Focus on me Focus on me Focus on me Focus on me Focus on me (focus) Focus on me (focus on me) Focus on me (focus) Focus on me (focus on me) One, two, three Come on girls You know I like it Come on now Let's find a light inside our universe now Where ain't nobody keep on holding us down Just come and get it let them say what they say 'Cause I'm about to put them all away Focus on me Focus on me (you know I like it when you focus on me) Focus on me Focus on me (focus on me!) Focus on me (focus) Focus on me (focus on me) Focus on me (focus) Focus on me (focus on me) Focus on me Focus on me Focus on me Focus on me Focus on me (focus) Focus on me (focus on me) Focus on me (focus) Focus on me (focus on me)
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nov 21, 2015 | 7 | 119 |
| 2 | Nov 28, 2015 | 13 | 113 |
| 3 | Dec 5, 2015 | 14 | 112 |
| 4 | Dec 12, 2015 | 16 | 110 |
| 5 | Dec 19, 2015 | 17 | 109 |
| 6 | Dec 26, 2015 | 24 | 102 |
| 7 | Jan 2, 2016 | 33 | 93 |
| 8 | Jan 9, 2016 | 35 | 91 |
| 9 | Jan 16, 2016 | 39 | 87 |
| 10 | Jan 23, 2016 | 50 | 76 |
| 11 | Jan 30, 2016 | 53 | 73 |
| 12 | Feb 6, 2016 | 51 | 75 |
| 13 | Feb 13, 2016 | 89 | 37 |