According to Christina Garibaldi from MTV , the video " takes a page straight out of the '90s , from the overalls to the graphic T 's and mismatched prints . All they missed were the snap bracelets . " Speaking about the video concept to '' Billboard '' , Grande said : It 's like a 90 's , throwback-type vibe , when I said ' I want it to look like this , ' I said like a TLC , Fresh Prince type vibe . I was like , ' Let 's just get really silly , 90 's amazing outfits , and just go out and dance around and have fun . The video begins with Grande arriving at a party . For the first verse , the singer is appears accompanied of her friends shutting down the block as she rocks a pair of short shorts and a midriff-baring top which according to Garibaldi , is reminiscent of Mariah Carey 's ensemble in the 1995 " Fantasy " video . Halfway through the video , another scene is introduced , with Grande dancing and singing in the streets with a " frilly top and high-waist shorts on . " Lucas Villa from AXS noted that Grande dances in a New York City street , she also appears with her dancers singing in a bus . Eventually Grande makes her way back to the house party , which is complete with " inflatable microphones and boom boxes . " Ariana Grande performed the song at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards pre-show in medley with " The Way " . She sang only the first verse , chorus and bridge before moving into " The Way " . Caitlin White from MTV praised Grande 's performance while commented that her " stunning , unstoppable belt proved she could handle the spotlight all on her own . " Grande also performed " Baby I " at the 2013 Worldwide Day of Play . In a video published in her YouTube channel , the singer performed an acoustic version of the song accompanied by musician Dan Kanter . The song was also included as part of her headlining tour The Listening Sessions , and during her opening concerts for Justin Bieber 's Believe Tour . it also appeared during some shows of her 2015 concert tour The Honeymoon Tour . The song was also included as part of Grande 's set list on the Summer Sonic Festival in Chiba , Japan on August 16 , 2014
2013 MTV Video Music Awards
2013 MTV Video Music Awards
Baby I