Almost Is Never Enough

### Recorded

March 2013 - June 2013 at London Bridge Studios, Los Angeles, CA (Ariana Grande) and The Powerhouse Studios, London (Nathan Sykes)

### Genre

R&B
Soul

### Length

5:27 (*Yours Truly*)
3:30 (*City of Bones*)

### Writer(s)

Al Sherrod Lambert
Ariana Grande
H. "Carmen Reece" Culver
Harmony Samuels
Moses Ayo Samuels
Olaniyi Michael Akinkunmi

### Producer(s)

H. "Carmen Reece" Culver
Harmony Samuels
Jo Blaq
Mark Asari
Mikey
Mo-Keyz
Talay Riley

## *Yours Truly* Chronology

"**Almost Is Never Enough**" is the tenth track from Ariana Grande's debut album *Yours Truly*. It features singer Nathan Sykes. It was released as a promotional single one day before the release of *The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones* to capitalise on Grande's popularity in order to drum up anticipation for the film. The song was well-received, with most critics praising Grande's vocal range and control; it debuted at #85 on the *Billboard* Hot 100 and peaked at #82. A longer version is included on Grande's debut studio album *Yours Truly*.

## Background

"Almost Is Never Enough" was written by Grande, Harmony Samuels, Carmen Reece, Al Sherrod Lambert, Olaniyi-Akinpelu, and its producer, Moses Samuels. Ariana originally recorded "Almost Is Never Enough" as a solo ballad for her album. Roughly a week later, she received an email from her manager Scooter Braun, who also manages the English boy band The Wanted. In the email was a new version of the song that had Nathan Sykes's vocal added to it. Ariana loved the new version and decided to keep it for her album. Especially at 4:39 when Nathan sings that riff. First time she heard it she spent the whole day trying to sing it.

## Critical reception

The duet received 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." 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". 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" in particular.

## Music video

The music video of "Almost Is Never Enough" was filmed on August 4, 2013 and released on YouTube on August 19. The video features Grande and Sykes performing the song in a recording studio. It also featured a few scenes from the movie *The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones*.

## Live performances

Sykes and Grande sung the song in the Believe Tour several times. It was also performed on September 5, 2013 in the talk show *Live! With Kelly and Michael*.

## Lyrics

* Yours Truly version
* City of Bones version

**[Verse 1: Ariana Grande]**

I'd like to say we gave it a try

I'd like to blame it all on life

Maybe we just weren't right

But that's a lie, that's a lie

**[Pre-Chorus]**

And we can deny it as much as we want

But in time our feelings will show

Cause sooner or later we'll wonder why we gave up

The truth is, everyone knows

**[Chorus]**

Almost, almost is never enough

So close to being in love

If I would have known that you wanted me

The way I wanted you

Then maybe we wouldn't be two worlds apart

But right here in each other's arms

And we almost, we almost knew what love was

But almost is never enough

**[Verse 2: Nathan Sykes]**

If I could change the world overnight

There'd be no such thing as goodbye

You'll be standing right where you were

We'd get the chance we deserve

**[Pre-Chorus]**

Try to deny it as much as you want

But in time our feelings will show

Cause sooner or later

We'll wonder why we gave up

The truth is, everyone knows

**[Chorus: Ariana Grande & Nathan Sykes]**

Almost, almost is never enough

So close to being in love

If I would have known that you wanted me

The way I wanted you

Then maybe we wouldn't be two worlds apart

But right here in each other's arms

And we almost, we almost knew what love was

But almost is never enough

**[Bridge]**

Huh, huh, baby

You know, you know, baby

Almost is never enough, baby (baby, baby, baby)

You know, hey

**[Pre-Chorus]**

And we can deny it as much as we want

But in time our feelings will show

Cause sooner or later

We'll wonder why we gave up

Truth is, everyone knows that

**[Chorus]**

Almost, almost is never enough (is never enough, babe)

We were close to being in love (so close)

If I would have known that you wanted me the way I wanted you (baby)

Then maybe we wouldn't be two worlds apart

But right here in each other's arms

And we almost, we almost knew what love was

But almost is never enough

**[Outro]**

Huh, huh, baby... (almost)

You know, you know, baby

Almost is never enough, baby (never)

You know, hey

**[Verse 1: Ariana Grande]**

I'd like to say we gave it a try

I'd like to blame it all on life

Maybe we just weren't right

But that's a lie, that's a lie

**[Pre-Chorus]**

And we can deny it as much as we want

But in time our feelings will show

Cause sooner or later we'll wonder why we gave up

The truth is, everyone knows

**[Chorus]**

Almost, almost is never enough

So close to being in love

If I would have known that you wanted me

The way I wanted you

Then maybe we wouldn't be two worlds apart

But right here in each other's arms

And we almost, we almost knew what love was

But almost is never enough

**[Verse 2: Nathan Sykes]**

If I could change the world overnight

There'd be no such thing as goodbye

You'd be standing right where you were

And we'd get the chance we deserve

**[Pre-Chorus: Ariana Grande & Nathan Sykes]**

Try to deny it as much as you want

But in time our feelings will show

Cause sooner or later

We'll wonder why we gave up

Truth is, everyone knows (ohhh)

**[Chorus]**

Almost, almost is never enough (is never enough, babe)

We were close to being in love (so close)

If I would have known that you wanted me the way I wanted you (babe)

Then maybe we wouldn't be two worlds apart

But right here in each other's arms

And we almost, we almost knew what love was

But almost is never enough

## Videos

Ariana Grande - Almost Is Never Enough ft. Nathan Sykes
## References

1. ↑ Ariana's interview with Ryan Seacrest
2. ↑ http://ontheteenbeat.com/2013/10/21/13609/
3. ↑ About filming Almost Is Never Enough