Throwback: "Ariana Takes Over 2019"

By: Peter Bialkowski

Pop music in 2019 has been dropping by the second, and Ariana Grande is no different. After a terrorist bombing at one of the concerts, getting engaged and breaking up and losing someone she loves to a drug overdose all in a year the singer-songwriter was able to pick herself back up countless times and continued to make music. “Thank U, Next” is Grande’s fifth studio album. It came out just six months after “Sweetener.” An unexpected album, “Thank U, Next” was written in the span of a week by Grande and her group of friends such as Victoria Monét, Tayla Parx, and more. Both albums became #1 almost immediately with “Thank U, Next” reaching #1 on iTunes in no more than five minutes. The album celebrates emotional growth and healing throughout all of Grande’s hardships. Addressing her relationships in the album’s title track, Ariana makes it clear she is thankful for her past relationships because they each taught her something important. “7 Rings,” “Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored,” and “Thank U, Next,” three singles on the album, are the top 3 songs on the Billboard Top 100. Credit: @arianagrande Grande released the title track as single, followed by singles “Imagine,” “7 Rings,” and “break up with ur girlfriend, i’m bored.” All were extremely successful and altogether have over half a billion views on YouTube, and still counting. While “Imagine” and “Thank U, Next” are emotional and address Ariana’s ex-relationships, “7 Rings” and “break up with ur girlfriend, i’m bored” are fun pop songs that relieve the others from their darker meanings. Grande even told Billboard “Thank U, Next” would be all “feminine energy and champagne and music and laughter and crying.” The track list goes back and forth between deep relationship needs to want it all. A very sexual album, many songs are about Grande needing physical pleasure, while staying emotional at the same time. Some songs that stick out as on the album as fun dance songs are “Bloodline” and “Make Up,” about wanting to have fun sexually but not commit in a relationship, and the other entails playing with a relationship to get what you want. Not very meaningful, Grande wanted some fun songs that she could sing to. Fun fact: the beginning of “Bloodline” is Ariana’s nona, stating she is not satisfied with the hearing aid any doctor gives her. Mac Miller, who has passed away, is the inspiration of the song “Ghostin.” This song is a fan favorite, but Ariana says she may never be able to perform this song live. Credit: @instyle On the other hand, most of the songs are extremely emotional, and often have sad undertones. “Needy” and “NASA” together are about being ‘needy’ in a relationship, while the next referring to wanting space in a relationship. The two are in a row on the album, creating an interesting contrast. However, the most meaningful tracks on the album without a doubt are “Ghostin” and “Fake Smile.” Always in the spotlight, Grande has always felt the need to be happy and put on a performance, even when she is not feeling it. Understandably, she needed time to breathe after all of her tragic life events, and “Fake Smile” addresses how she no longer wants to fake being happy any longer but wants to be it truly. Ariana may not ever sing “Ghostin” live. The song is about grieving the death of her ex-boyfriend and fellow performer Mac Miller while dating her fiancé Pete Davidson from SNL. It became an immediate favorite to fans because of its heartbreaking honesty. Grande responded to a fan on twitter about performing the song on the “Sweetener” tour starting March, “if i can get thru it yea, but right now it’s not on the set list.” She explained, “i jus want to have a good time with y’all and like …. make it thru the show lol. love u sm. thank u for showing this song so much love. it means a great deal.” Overall, “Thank U, Next” was a smashing success, having 3 of 4 singles filling the top 3 spots on the Billboard top 200. She begins her world tour on March 18, performing songs from her two new albums, as well as some old favorites. If you enjoy powerful but smooth vocals, and both fun but meaningful songs, “Thank U, Next” is one to listen to.

Originally published in THE LIONS' PRIDE NEWSPAPER ON FEBRUARY 28, 2019