Almost Is Never Enough

"Almost Is Never Enough"
Promotional single by Ariana Grande and Nathan Sykes
from the album The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones and Yours Truly
ReleasedAugust 19, 2013 (2013-08-19)[1]
Recorded2011
Genre
Length
  • 3:30 (soundtrack version)
  • 5:28 (album version)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Moses Samuels
Ariana Grande promotional singles chronology
"Almost Is Never Enough"
(2013) 		"Best Mistake"
(2014)
Music video
"Almost Is Never Enough" on YouTube

"Almost Is Never Enough" is a song recorded by American singer Ariana Grande and English singer Nathan Sykes. The pop and soul-influenced track was written by Grande, Harmony Samuels, Carmen Reece, Al Sherrod Lambert, Olaniyi-Akinpelu, and its producer, Moses Samuels. Two official versions of the song exist. A shortened version is included on the official soundtrack for the 2013 fantasy film The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones and was released August 19, 2013 via Republic Records as a second promotional single from the same, following Colbie Caillat's "When the Darkness Comes" on July 10, and a longer version was remastered for inclusion on Grande's debut studio album, Yours Truly (2013).

Composition

The song is composed using the key of D Major. The duo's vocal range spans 2 octaves and 2 notes, from F#3 to D6.

Critical reception

"Almost Is Never Enough" (2013)
A 29-second sample of "Almost Is Never Enough", a pop and soul song.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

The duet received primarily positive reception. Idolator editor Mike Wass called "Almost Is Never Enough" a "glorious" and "soulful" anthem and praised the collaboration between the two artists; "The simple production is timeless and showcases Ariana’s powerful pipes superbly. And who knew Nathan could sing like that? 'Almost Is Never Enough' is a revelation all around and promises very good things for Grande's debut album."[3] Brent Faulkner of Star Pulse found the duet to be a pleasantly surprising blend of modern and classical elements and noted that the song "should be sappy but isn't".[4] This sentiment was mirrored by Popdust's Andrew Unterberger, who observed that the song "manages to mostly stay out of the way of its two talented young vocalists... and lets them carry it with the strength of their voices, and of the song itself. The result is a ballad that’s surprisingly mature and classic sounding." Unterberger also drew comparisons to Mariah Carey, and her Boyz II Men duet "One Sweet Day" also Brandy and Wanya Morris's "Brokenhearted" in particular.[5]

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[13] Platinum 70,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[14] Gold 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[15] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ "Almost is Never Enough". Amazon.
  2. ^ "CHART LOG UK: NEW ENTRIES UPDATE (31/08/2013)". Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  3. ^ Wass, Mike (22 July 2013). "Ariana Grande Duets With The Wanted's Nathan Sykes: Hear A Snippet Of "Almost Is Never Enough"". Idolator. Spin Media. Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  4. ^ Faulkner, Brent. "Review: Ariana Grande 'Yours Truly' - Ariana Grande Stuns Vocally Throughout Her Debut Album". Star Pulse. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  5. ^ Unterberger, Andrew (3 September 2013). "Ariana Grande's "Yours Truly" Reviewed: "Almost Is Never Enough"". Popdust. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  6. ^ "Chart Track: Week 34, 2013". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  7. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  8. ^ "Gaon Digital Chart – Issue date: 2015.12.27 – 2016.01.02". Gaon Chart. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  9. ^ "Ariana Grande featuring Nathan Sykes: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  10. ^ "Ariana Grande Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  11. ^ "2016년 Digital Chart (International)" (in Korean). GAON. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  12. ^ "2016년 Digital Chart (International)" (in Korean). GAON. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  13. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  14. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Ariana Grande – Almost Is Never Enough" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  15. ^ "British single certifications – Ariana Grande & Nathan Sykes – Almost Is Never Enough". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 5, 2023.