I have long thought that Ariana Grande had power in the pony
tail. The young lady has had a relative strangle hold on the pop music scene
for the last few years and with each release her music has gotten progressively
more subversive and mature. She’s one of a few select artists that could
subsist entirely on making hit songs and performing them to her leisure. All of
these things are true and yet that wasn’t enough to keep her from releasing a
new full-length LP half a year after her breakout Sweetener. Spoilers now: this album is better.
I want to talk about my three favorite songs on this record
but first, I’ll set the vibe for those who haven’t listened. I pondered and
pondered which album I was listening to. Hers, obviously, but it sounded so
familiar and I didn’t know why.
The first few songs I thought maybe it was Timberlake-esque.
Specifically, The 20/20 Experience –
a pop record with an R&B/Soul sensibility. “A good choice!” I thought.
Then, I listened further. It hit me then. I am a dummy, you see. This is not a
JT record. It’s an Ariana record with a Weeknd state of mind.
No, that isn’t a typo. I haven’t done a full review of The
Weeknd’s Starboy cut. I should, because
it’s awesome, but right now the focus is the connection I made. The two artists
have very different tastes and styles (and have collaborated before) but thank u, next visits a lot of the same
themes. It’s a super moody, sometimes dark, record about love and loss, varying
levels of commitment to relationships, the challenging and depressing aspects
of international fame. Ariana contends with it all in a very adult manner.
“7 Rings” does well to set the scene for the whole album. It
was meticulously constructed by a crack team of producers to be a club bop.
Layered thick with synth and drum machines like the rest of this album (or pop
music for that matter).
This song’s narrative is a reflective commentary by Ariana
about the compulsion to spend one’s problems away. That reflection turns inward
as she thinks she might be happier if she can spoil her friends with her habit.
This is exactly her plan; she happens to be a very wealthy celebrity, so things
go off without a hitch.
This is the first of a few tracks that take the ‘Suffering
From Success’ trope exploited by so many of her male counterparts and veer the
ship off-course. Yes, fame and fortune have their downsides, some days are
worse than other, but she is still
leading a very charmed life and has been since she was a teenager. Money can’t
buy happiness, but it can buy lots of
clothes, b.
“Bloodline” is my favorite track by far. On the surface, it’s
your typical friend with benefits song. Listen a bit longer, you get to see the
flip side of the mood on the track “Needy.” The only “needy” Ariana might be is
needy of her space.
Don’t want you in my/bloodline,
yeah
Just wanna have a/good
time, yeah
And no need to/apologize,
no
But you gon’ have to/let
this shit go
Don’t take it personal, homie. It’s not you. It’s not about
you, either. An itch needed to be scratched. And now it has been, and you can
go. I’m a big fan of people in general reclaiming their agency. For the past
year or so, Grande was involved in a long-term relationship, then a break-up,
then an engagement, then another break-up. All of it very public. Part of the narrative each time was of her as a
clingy, co-dependent lover despite her being a bigger star than either of her
exes. She’s an even bigger star now. Tying herself down to any kind of
committed relationship understandably es no bueno.
The card is subject to change, though. If such a case were
to occur, do follow her instruction: “break up with your girlfriend, i’m bored.”
Having listened to the whole album a few times, I have
decided this is my pick for best track. It’s got a fun, danceable beat where
Grande employs the almost-rapping-but-still-clearly-singing vocalization she’s
been using of late. It works here, because the very tone of the song is
confident, even aggressive. A thread progresses that sees the artist freely
explore its Hashtag Problematic nature.
You could say I’m/hatin’
if you want to
But I only hate on
her/cause I want you
Say I’m trippin’/if
you feel like
But you without me
ain’t right
She’s calling her shot, basically. She’s rich, she’s famous,
she’s bored. She would like a companion. She doesn’t want you to cheat; she’s
not a monster. Break up with her, hop in the whip and leave the party with the
singer you just met five minutes ago. It happens!
If it sounds crass it’s because it is. To remember where she
came from, you would have to track Ariana Grande’s path from a young age as a
performer. Most notably, a TV show where she had a recurring role, followed by
another TV show where she had a starring role. Her singing range was common
knowledge by then. When she began to make music, it largely reflected her
position in life.
Her earlier music is light and airy bubble gum pop more suited
for the girls (and boys) of her age group. Kids that mostly grew up with her.
She enters adulthood. She matures. The music matures with her as does her fanbase.
It leaves less explaining and hand-wringing to do when topics of love and sex
are further explored. She doesn’t have to ask her peeps if they want trap beats
and 808s because the question is rhetorical. Imagine the release of being a
grown adult who can shed all ties and say, “I want that one.” There’s a
cleverness behind “breakup with your girlfriend” being the final track.
This is my favorite Ariana Grande album. Good news for me as
it is also the best Ariana Grande album. It’s bold and energetic and never
boring. The title track and “NASA” are maybe my two least liked. And they’re
both still pretty good. Even beside this, she is a beautiful singer to listen
to. Has been for some time. They only let her sing so many times on Victorious and you see why. On a show
full of talented people, it’s very difficult to hide the clear best. Just show
a flash of their true skill and it’s game over. thank u, next feels like the beginning of an artist realizing their
potential and the music scene is better for it.
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