Just Look Up
by Ariana Grande (featuring Kid Cudi)

Album: Don't Look Up (Soundtrack from the Netflix Film) (2021)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Just Look Up" is a collaboration between Ariana Grande and Kid Cudi for the sci-fi black comedy film Don't Look Up. The movie is a satirical tackling of the climate-change crisis, in which Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence play two low-level astronomers who discover there's a comet on a direct collision course with Earth. DiCaprio and Lawrence go on a giant media tour to warn humanity of the approaching comet, but they struggle to be taken seriously.
  • Ariana Grande and Kid Cudi star in the film as pop music power couple Riley Bina and DJ Chello. News about their fluctuating relationship dominates the media, eclipsing news of destruction of the Earth. "Just Look Up" starts off as a love song, then transforms into a rallying cry to listen to the scientists' message that humankind hasn't much time left on this planet.
  • US composer and film producer Nicholas Britell (Moonlight, If Beale Street Could Talk, Succession) penned the climate-change ballad alongside Grande, Kid Cudi and songwriter Taura Stinson (Kelly Rowland, Destiny's Child, Mary J. Blige and Jennifer Hudson). Britell also produced the soundtrack and composed the score. He said "Just Look Up" captures "a sense of ever-increasing astonishment at how crazy things really are."
  • Ariana Grande came up with some lyrics spontaneously as they put the track together. "Ariana most certainly could improvise, in fact, her best improv was when she sang the song for the first time," Don't Look Up writer and director Adam McKay revealed in a behind the scenes video. "She's the one who added all that stuff about, 'We're all gonna die. Turn off that s--tbox news.' That was her riffing on the first scratch track of the melody line, and the second I heard it, I was like, 'Oh, that's going in the movie.'"

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Francesca Battistelli

Francesca BattistelliSongwriter Interviews

The 2011 Artist of the Year at the Dove Awards isn't your typical gospel diva, and she thinks that's a good thing.

Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde

Johnette Napolitano of Concrete BlondeSongwriter Interviews

The singer/bassist for Concrete Blonde talks about how her songs come from clairvoyance, and takes us through the making of their hit "Joey."

Danny Clinch: The Art of Rock Photography

Danny Clinch: The Art of Rock PhotographySong Writing

One of rock's top photographers talks about artistry in photography, raising funds for a documentary, and enjoying a County Fair with Tom Waits.

Richie Wise (Kiss producer, Dust)

Richie Wise (Kiss producer, Dust)Songwriter Interviews

Richie talks about producing the first two Kiss albums, recording "Brother Louie," and the newfound appreciation of his rock band, Dust.

Rob Halford of Judas Priest

Rob Halford of Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford dives into some of his Judas Priest lyrics, talking about his most personal songs and the message behind "You've Got Another Thing Comin'."

Gavin Rossdale of Bush

Gavin Rossdale of BushSongwriter Interviews

On the "schizoid element" of his lyrics, and a famous line from "Everything Zen."