Ariana Grande Gets Us Through the Season of Love With Her Album Thank You, Next

Photo+via+junkee.com

Photo via junkee.com

Last Thursday, at midnight, Ariana Grande dropped her long awaited studio album: Thank U, Next. While her last Grammy-award-winning album, Sweetener, practically radiated new found love, Thank U, Next offers a disillusioned view of the harshness love can bring and the need to love yourself before anyone else can. Complete with pop bops and soulful singles, Thank U, Next definitely lived up to the high expectations of fans following her previous release.

Grande quickly established a reminiscent feel with the artfully produced song “Imagine.” As someone who occasionally downplays her vocal abilities on some poppy songs, Grande definitely impressed with her steady notes and shocking Mariah-Carey-esque whistle tones. Whenever I start to doubt her vocal prowess, she releases angelic tracks like these that automatically impress me.

Grande has had a considerably rough year. Starting in 2017, when a terrorist attack occurred at her Manchester Concert and continuing through mid-2018 when her ex-boyfriend of 2 years, Mac Miller, died of a drug overdose. After mourning the loss of Miller, she broke off her engagement with popular comedian, Pete Davidson, who later posted a supposed suicide note on his Instagram.

All of these emotional trials bleed through into her songs, offering a sense of relatability and comfort to fans who have been through similar events. For example, the song “Fake Smile” encourages fans to confront their feelings head-on, rather than bottling them up.

I can’t fake another smile

I can’t fake like I’m alright

Woo, ah (Woo, ah)

And I won’t say I’m feeling fine

After what I been through, I can’t lie”

Rather than carrying a fake smile, Grande encourages fans to show their emotions unapologetically.

In other songs such as “Needy,” Grande lets her fans understand how much her emotional baggage affects her relationships. After surviving a terrorist attack and a toxic relationship, the fact that she can openly discuss her trauma, as well as her own flaws in relationships, encourages listeners to take time for their mental health.

I admit that I’m a lil’ messed up/

But I can hide it when I’m all dressed up/

I’m obsessive and I love too hard/

Good at overthinking with my heart/

How you even think it got this far, this far?”

 

The second half of the album successfully transitions into more upbeat pop anthems rather than ballads. She starts this transition with the bass heavy track “In My Head.” Although her vocals were phenomenal in this song, the production was what really stood out. The strong bass matched with digital clips shook my car in the best possible way.

The following songs like “7 Rings,” “Thank U-Next”, and “Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored” are so catchy it’s unbelievable. While “7 Rings” makes its listeners want to blow all of their money, “Thank U-Next” restores self confidence and “Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored” expresses jealousy that many people just can’t help feeling.

Regardless of what genre Grande chooses to appeal to, her stats show that the album is thoroughly a success. As of this week, Ariana Grande claimed all of the top 3 spots on the Billboard Hot 100- a feat un-accomplished since the Beatles and never accomplished by a solo artist.

Whether someone is feeling lonely, needy or happily single, Thank U-Next  provides lively background music for the season of love.