thank u, next

In case you've been living under a rock for the past year or so, Ariana Grande has been churning out singles, albums and videos like they're going out of fashion. The artist's success has skyrocketed recently following the publication of her hardships in her personal life and the albums sweetener (2018) and now thank u next (Feb 2019) which deal with these issues. With just a 6 month gap in between albums, it seems Grande has a lot to get off her chest following her Manchester concert terror attack, ex-boyfriend Mac Miller's overdose and the breakdown of her engagement to Pete Davidson shortly after.

The album was written in just 2 weeks, with title track thank u, next breaking records for most plays in both a day and a week by a female artist on Spotify and Apple Music (with 93.8 million plays just in the US in seven days). 7 rings also debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Top 100, with at least 5 of the tracks from this album dominating the chart - which really is an amazing feat.

What's great?

thank u, next is cohesive, slick, catchy, uplifting and honest. Grande is having fun and enjoying being young whilst navigating trauma and hardship with a sense of humour. Considering the extremely short window in which the album was written and recorded and the fact that Grande hasn't given herself any rest since Sweetener, the tracks are of a high standard and she shows no signs of slowing down. Although I haven't listed it, ghostin demonstrates solid storytelling of conflicting feelings for a past partner whilst being with a new partner. The track is beautiful and it's this honesty and authenticity that makes Grande so great. There isn't really a 'bad track' on the album - some are slightly less interesting to me but still super enjoyable to listen to, which is rare.

What's not so great?

The speed of the process I mentioned above is good for the youthful, spontaneous vibe that Grande is currently promoting, however I do feel the tracks could have been better thought out in terms of lyrical content. Everything has been produced well and the vocals are on point as usual but I did feel that it seemed a little rushed and that choices were made in order to churn the album out as quickly as possible. A little more time taken would have elevated the tracks even higher in my opinion. Another ballad or more vocally challenging song would have been welcome to me also, as although it would sound out of place on some of the tracks, another moving, vocally stunning song like Imagine would have served thank u, next well.

This is the standout track on the album, to me. As this was released as a single before the album dropped, imagine had me instantly. Besides ghostin, imagine is one of the only truly sentimental tracks on the album. With Grande's mind blowing voice, layered harmonies and chilled, romantic R&B beat, this track makes the mind wander and is the musical equivalent of riding on a cloud made of candyfloss whilst being drenched in caramel. The use of whistle tones is a beautiful addition as 'can you imagine it?' is repeated, building anticipation and layering vocals to a heartfelt climax. imagine is Grande's best vocal performance on the album, proving that despite the pop beats, rap and catchy hooks, she can really out-sing most modern performers.

bloodline

As imagine wasn't new to me, it's fair to say that bloodline caught my attention the fastest on this album. The addition of brass combined with almost dancehall beats topped with Grande's precise vocals sailing on top like chocolate sauce on a sundae is pop perfection. The lyrics are typically Ariana, a sassy exterior with heart underneath, telling the story of a young woman exploring her sexuality and having fun 'I aint looking for my one true love / yeah that ship sailed away'. Basically, don't skip this one. Ever.

With an iconic music video referencing cult films such as Mean Girls and Legally Blonde, thank u next was a hit before it was even released. The song is a brilliant and optimistic take on heartbreak, disappointment and adversity - with Grande choosing instead to thank her ex-boyfriends whilst acknowledging growing her relationship with herself and understanding her place as a young woman dealing with loss and difficulties. Spreading a beautiful message to younger fans and encouraging female empowerment and self-worth, thank u next is more than a catchy pop song, it really has the power to affect young listeners, which is incredible.

bad idea

This song isn't getting the attention it deserves, in my opinion. The nostalgic 80's guitar riff had me instantly, with subtle trap elements and electronic influences thrown in: showing the way in which Grande continues to explore musically from her bubblegum pop days to her EDM explorations onto trap and hip-hop. Does the track highlight Grande's vocal potential? Probably not. However, bad idea is catchy and extremely well-produced - a standout for me personally.

7 rings

I watched the video for 7 rings pretty much as soon as it dropped. At first, I was unsure on the sample of Favourite Things by Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music, as it felt a little cheap to me. However, after a few listens, I caught the bug and have been converted. Grande utilises a combination of rap, singing and everything in between, adopting a persona we haven't seen before - badass, cocky and materialistic. This is the least cohesive in relation to the album as a whole, with a more hip-hop feel and less of the vocal gymnastics we are accustomed to - but the track is a welcome shift within the track list. We all know that Grande is sassy but her trademark humble, sweet modesty seems to have been completely thrown aside for this song. Damn, does she pull it off though.

needy

From the dreamlike opening notes to the gentle soaring of Grande's voice, needy is a pensive, vulnerable song that I'm sure most female fans can definitely relate to. If it's one thing Grande is good at, it's writing songs that young women can relate to. 'Sorry that I think I'm not enough / sorry if I say sorry way too much / I can be needy / way too damn needy' could easily be taken from any young woman's mind and it's this relatability that allows Grande to achieve such widespread success.

break up with your girlfriend, i'm bored

Grande swapped sentimental ballad remember at the last minute for this track and although a more emotional track would have been welcome for me, this song is fantastic. The beat salutes to old school 90s R&B and the track samples It Makes Me Ill by NSync, which was a great choice. This track does exactly what it says on the tin, it's a little bratty, confident and definitely displays a more fun, somewhat immature side of Grande that shows she is truly having fun. The choice to substitute remember for a track like this shows that Grande is really focusing on having fun and laughing at life's problems rather than dwelling.

I would definitely recommend this album. It's easy to see Grande as a cheesy pop princess but her artistry has really come along in the past few years. She has a killer voice, a great production and writing team and a lot to say and that makes for a slick production that I will definitely have on repeat for a while. I'm sure there are some amazing music videos to come and at the rate Grande is going, we may even get another album this year.

Rating: ★★★★☆