Both songs:

- peaked at #4 on the Hot 100
- Top 10 around the world
- Colorful videos with repeat value
- feature guest artists
- were performed at the VMAs & AMAs
- radio hits
- powerful streaming forces
- have almost 1.5 Billion views on YouTube combined

so as you can see both songs share very similar success but what pushes either S2S or Break Free over the edge as the BIGGER single? What makes the difference?


Can Side To Side dethrone Break Free from Ariana's trinity of successful singles "Problem - Break Free - Bang Bang" ?

Is it now: "Problem - Bang Bang - Side To Side" ?

Side to Side by far, Break Free is so forgotten

Break Free is objectively better, but Side To Side was bigger

In the U.S., STS is much bigger. It'll have spent 13 weeks in the top 10 next week and it's got a viral video. BF had bigger peaks globally but I think it's mostly because it was the follow up to Problem. Overall I'd say STS is bigger or at least it feels much bigger.

Side To Side is still fresh though while Break Free is 2 years old!

I agree with you though. I believe that Side To Side is bigger as well, what does the rest say?

In the US:
- Radio, Spotify, YouTube: STS.
- BF sold 1.8M, STS will stall at around 1.2 million at best but the different sale climate matters so I'd say STS still wins in sales.

And STS is more global.

The better song, Side to Side!

Side to Side

Break Free was a really bad song. I just don't understand why it was a big hit but it did follow 'Problem' and Ariana was on a roll then with My Everything. I'm going with Side to Side because it seems set to have more longevity and is honestly a great song.

Break Free is still bigger, STS will pass it soon though.

Side To Side.

Problem >> Bang Bang > or = Side To Side depending on the audience >>>>> Love Me Harder >>>>> Break Free >>> Dangerous Woman = One Last Time > The Way >>> Into You >>>>>>>>>> Focus > Right There > Baby I

I think that's probably how her singles would rank in popularity in America.

Side To Side was bigger than BB on Pop and Rhythmic (I think), but Bang Bang was a bigger staple on Hot AC/AC.

Love Me Harder wasn't bigger than Break Free in any possible way.
When Break Free came out it was played everywhere, after the video came out everyone knew this song and could sing along to it.

Love Me Harder was a cute top 10 hit. Nowhere near close to Break Free though.

Side to Side

Break Free tbh. Ariana was everywhere in 2014.

Lots of people here in Brazil still remember Break Free and use it. I can't really say the same about STS... But I guess STS had a bigger effect in the rest of the world, especially US.
Side to Side is the answer

Side To Side is much bigger both in the US and globally.

US: Bang Bang > Problem > Side To Side > Break Free > Love Me Harder > The Way > Dangerous Woman > Into You > One Last Time > Focus > Right There > Baby I

WW: Problem > Bang Bang > Side To Side > Break Free > Into You > Dangerous Woman > Love Me Harder > One Last Time > The Way > Focus > Baby I > Right There

Side To Side. Break Free had a top 5 peak due to the video, it hovered in the lower region of the top 10 for most of it's top 10 run.