"Ready or Not"
Single by Bridgit Mendler
from the album Hello My Name Is...
Released	August 7, 2012
Format	Digital download
Recorded	2011
Genre	Pop, reggae fusion,[1] soul[2]
Length	3:20
Label	Hollywood
Writer(s)	Bridgit Mendler, Emanuel "Eman" Kiriakou, Evan "Kidd" Bogart
Producer	Emanuel "Eman" Kiriakou, Andrew "Goldstein" Goldstein
Bridgit Mendler singles chronology
"Breakthrough" (2011) "Ready or Not" (2012) "Hurricane" (2013)[3]

"Ready or Not" is the debut solo single by American singer-songwriter Bridgit Mendler, and is the lead single from her debut studio album, Hello My Name Is... (2012), which is also one of the lyrics of the song ("Hello my name is...[Bridgit]...Nice to meet you"). It premiered on August 3, 2012 and was released as a digital download on August 7, 2012. The song was written by Mendler herself, Emanuel "Eman" Kiriakou and Evan "Kidd" Bogart. The song received positive reviews from music critics, praising the song's unique sound and also Mendler's vocals, which have been compared to Carly Rae Jepsen and Demi Lovato.

The song became a modest hit on North America where it reached number 49 at the Billboard Hot 100, and number 43 in Canada. The song performed better overseas, where it became an international hit. It reached top forty in over twelve countries, and peaked inside the top ten in Belgium, Romania, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom making it her first top ten hit. The song was certified gold in New Zealand, United States and platinum in Canada. ^[4][5][6]

The music video was directed by Philip Andelman and it filmed at multiple locations in Los Angeles, California.^[2] The official music video for the single premiered on Disney Channel on August 10, 2012. It shows the course of a scavenger hunt from day to evening, as items are checked off a list.

Writing and composition

In an interview with Kidzworld Media about what the song is about, Mendler said: "It’s a fun song about a girl who is feeling like she has been the wallflower her whole life and she wants to go out there and take charge. It has the romantic element of her going for the guy rather than waiting for the world to come to her. I wrote it with some great writers and producers. We wrote most of the album together".^[7]

Mendler has spoken again, then, over the song: "I have been writing songs since I was six years old and I’m thrilled to finally share my songs with the world. I wanted to write something that was empowering for girls. I consider myself to have been that girl sitting on the curb waiting for the world to notice". It was also revealed that Mendler had written the song, with Emanuel "Eman" Kiriakou and Evan "Kidd" Bogart as co-writers.^[2]

It was said that the song is an "up-tempo pop track with a strong undercurrent of soul" and that the song features an interpolation of Fugees song, "Ready or Not".^[2] According to Popdust, they say that "every detail is where it should be, from the multi-tracked vocals on the chorus to the synth sound effects that provide punctuation and punchlines to the verses, to some of the more clever rhymes in the lyrics—which include pairing "Oprah" with "Boca" and "I’m like a crook tonight" with "I could be your kryptonite." The song cosists of "layers of synths and backing vocals adding a musical and emotional intensity totally absent from the carefree verses."^[8] The song also mentions Prince William and Kate Middleton.^[9] Mendler's vocals span from the low note of A₃ to the high note of D₅.^[10]

Critical reception

"Ready or Not" has been compared to Carly Rae Jepsen and Cher Lloyd.

The song received positive reviews from music critics. Although Amy Sciarretto of PopCrush rated the song 3 out of 5 stars, she was positive with her review, praising her vocals saying that "she sings it like she means it, like a girl with a crush on the prowl." She also praised the song's unique sound, saying that "even so, this is not a "throw ya hands up" dance jam fit for the drinking set. The song is all glistening, poppy rhythms and her lyrics mostly skew young, like 14 and under, even when she sings, (I like your face/Do you like my song?)". She then also praised the song's "reggae" part, saying that "she sounds cute." She concluded her review by saying that "overall, Ready or Not is a catchy – addictive, really — pop ditty that’ll get stuck in your brain, much like a splinter under your skin, whether you like it or not."^[11]

Andrew Unterberger of Popdust was very positive with his review, saying that the song "is a playful, swinging and just impossibly catchy—the catchiest we’ve heard since our girl Carly Rae—pop number". He also praised Mendler's vocals and chorus. He concluded his review saying that "Will that out-of-placeness hurt the chances of [Ready or Not] becoming the smash it deserves to be, though? Well, it didn’t seem to hurt "Want U Back" any, so we’re hoping that people can see that this song is basically a smarter, more interesting and infinitely catchier version of that already-quite-good Cher Lloyd song. But it’s on all of us to spread the world that that song scraping the bottom of the iTunes chart isn’t just another kiddie-pop anthem from the latest made-for-Disney movie—it’s one of the best songs of the year, and one you’d have to be a pretty sullen sort of person to not love at least a little bit."^[12]

Devin Alessio of Seventeen Magazine says that Mendler "is in line to be the next superstar off the Disney Channel". He praised her vocals, saying that "her sound is a mix between Carly Rae Jepsen and Demi Lovato" and described the music video as "super fun". He concluded that "[Ready or Not] is a total girl anthem — perfect for listening to when you're just chilling with your friends or getting ready for homecoming."^[13]

Chart performance

The song debuted at number 98 at the US Billboard Hot 100. The song also debuted at number 80 on the Canadian Hot 100 and peaked at number 43, making it her second song to chart there. The song also debuted at number 14 on the US Top Heatseekers, her fourth song to chart there and peaked at number 3. It has also debuted at number 17 on the New Zealand Singles Chart, becoming her first Top 20 hit internationally. In its 11th week on Billboard Hot 100 the single jumped from position 94 to its peak of 49 selling 138,552 digital copies.^[14][15] In January 11, 2013 the song was certified Gold.^[6] In the United Kingdom, "Ready Or Not" debuted at number seven on the UK Singles Chart, selling 38,208 digital copies in its first week. As of March 31, 2013, the song has stayed in the top ten for four consecutive weeks.^[16]

Live performances

The song was performed in all dates of her tour, Bridgit Mendler: Live in Concert. The acoustic version of "Ready or Not" was performed on Off the Charts, in Clevver TV, in October 19, 2012.^[17] In October 20, Mendler performed the song on Radio Disney and Disney Channel show Total Access.^[18] She performed at The Morning Show also in Toronto, Canada on August 27, 2012.^[19] Then she performed song on New Music Live in Toronto, Canada on August 28, 2012. She performed an acoustic version of the song at VEVO on September 25, 2012.^[20] In Disneyland Resort the song was performed in October 12, 2012.^[21] Bridgit performed the song on Youtube show Whatstrending on October 23, 2012. Then she performed the song on Radio Disney on October 8, 2012.^[22] Bridgit performed the song on YouTube show Whatstrending on October 23, 2012. Bridgit also performed the song on Good Morning America on November 14, 2012. Mendler performed the song on Live! with Kelly and Michael on November 15, 2012.

The song also was performed on The X Factor semi-final results show on December 13, 2012.^[23] The performance has received mixed reviews. Sam Lansky to Idolator comments that Mendler was very nervous and didn't have a good start. He said "Mendler started off a little shaky, but eventually found her footing".^[24] The Examiner said the performance wasn't anything special. For Amy Sciarretto to Pop Crush the performance was great and she comments: "We like you, Bridg".^[25] Despite the reviews, Mendler fronted up and admitted she was nervous about the whole performance and she was also nervous to sing for Britney Spears, according to Pop Stop.^[26]

Music video

Background

The music video was directed by Philip Andelman and it filmed at multiple locations in Los Angeles, California.^[2] The official music video for the single premiered on Disney Channel on August 10, 2012. It shows the course of a scavenger hunt from day to evening, as items are checked off a list.

Lyric video

The lyric video was released on Mendler's VEVO channel on August 3, 2012. The video starts with the camera showing Mendler's hands grabbing a box labelled "scavenger hunt". When she opens it, inside are pictures from the music video and below the pictures are the lyrics of the song. In the end, she closes the box and the label changes to the song title and leaves the box there.

Synopsis

The music video starts with Mendler singing and hanging out with her friends at the top of Mulholland Drive. Then they drive off to start their "scavenger hunt". In the chorus, they are seen driving around Hollywood. Then they visit a restaurant called Hama Sushi in Venice, California and they all take a picture behind the sushi bar (which is one of their scavenger hunts). Then in the second verse of the song, they go to North Venice and Mendler is seen singing in a rowboat and all of them take a picture in the rowboat along with her. Then some of her friends are seen in a skate park where a person is skateboarding and jumps over a guy who is lying upwards (another one of their scavenger hunts). Then in the chorus again, they are seen hanging out downtown and in the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In the end, they are done with their scavenger hunt and they are seen in a rooftop partying. KISS member Gene Simmons can be seen in the video.

Awards and nominations

Track listing

• US iTunes single^[31]

1. "Ready or Not" – 3:20

• UK Remixes EP^[32]

1. "Ready or Not" – 3:21
2. "Ready or Not" (DJ M3 Remix) [Radio] – 3:39
3. "Ready or Not" (DJ Mike D Remix) [Extended Mixshow] – 3:36
4. "Ready or Not" (DJ M3 Remix) [Extended] – 4:53

Chart and certifications

Radio and release history

References

External links

• "Ready or Not" on YouTube Official music video at YouTube/VEVO

v t e Bridgit Mendler Discography Songs Filmography Awards and nominations Studio albums Hello My Name Is... Soundtracks Lemonade Mouth Singles "Somebody" "Determinate" "Ready or Not" "Hurricane" Featured singles "Breakthrough" Promotional singles "This Is My Paradise" "We Can Change the World" "I'm Gonna Run to You" "Summertime" "Forgot to Laugh" "Top of the World" Tours Bridgit Mendler: Live in Concert Related articles Hollywood Records Disney's Friends for Change Adam Hicks Shane Harper Category