Ariana grande comes into her own on thank u, next

In a machine as unrelenting as the mainstream music industry, artists often feel as though their selves are drowned out or diluted by the creative army of writers and producers that accompany them in the studio. Creative freedom is not as easy to come by as it would seem when the ultimate goal is commercial success.  Beyoncé, for example, released hit albums for years before finally maturing into the artist at the center and soul of her art. I would argue this transformation began with the landmark release of Beyoncé (2014).  Appropriately self titled, the album finds Beyoncé with a newfound sense of vulnerability, more experimentation, and incredibly personal lyricism.  Upon first listen of Ariana Grande’s thank u, next, I was immediately struck by the similarities.  Both albums are dark, intimate, and well-produced, with each artist straying further from the mold.

Ariana’s music has always been polished, bubblegum-flavored pop led by her strong voice and impeccable production. While her earlier albums leave a little to be desired in the way of variety and experimentation, her August 2018 release Sweetener found Ariana delving into some new sounds and more complex songwriting.  Following her breakup with Mac Miller in May 2018, Ariana began dating Pete Davidson and the two got engaged in June 2018.  Ariana suffused Sweetener with a relaxed sense of joy and love, and the album was a critical and commercial success.  Tragically, just a month after Sweetener’s release, news broke that shocked the music community: Mac Miller was found dead after an accidental overdose.  By early October, Ariana and Pete had called off their engagement.

Thank u, next is miles beyond anything Ariana has released thus far.  This is Ariana at her best – the album is her most creative, personal, and emotionally resonant music yet.  “Imagine” starts the album with a slow-burning, bittersweet trip hop/R&B ballad likely about Mac, as Ariana mourns a relationship that can only exist in fantasy.  The next track, “needy,” finds Ariana admitting her flaws and insecurities as she admits, “I know how good it feels to be needed.” “NASA” features clever wordplay and double meaning as Ariana sings of both emotional space in a relationship, and literal space in which she is a star and her lover is NASA. “Bloodline” is as catchy as they come, with a bombastic horn section that punctuates the hopping beat and lyrics that seem directed towards ex-fiancé Pete Davidson.

“Fake Smile” reveals the difficulty of balancing celebrity image and mental health, and features a classic intro sample from Wendy Rene’s 1964 song “After Laughter (Comes Tears)”.  I loved “Bad Idea”, and the way Ariana details rebound relationships as a way to numb the pain of a breakup, as well as an irresistible destructive source of pleasure. “Make up” creatively links making up, breaking up, making love, and literal makeup into an R&B ballad that can get a little repetitive, but the song’s short duration makes sure it doesn’t hang around too long.  

Before we get into the next song, be sure to grab a box of tissues and a stuffed animal, because it is nothing if not heartbreaking. The album carries a heaviness as a result of Miller’s death, and this is no more apparent than in “Ghostin.”  Ariana sings of the problems plaguing her and Pete’s relationship following Mac Miller’s death, and the pain she puts him through by crying about her ex’s passing. The title of the track is clever, as it could refer to the act of cutting off communication suddenly and without explanation, or Ariana’s inability to grieve properly due to pressure from Pete Davidson (thereby ghosting Miller’s ghost.  Clever!). “In my head,” while showing off Ariana’s vocal chops, is one of the weaker songs on the album. The lyrics are pretty well written and a clear dig at Pete Davidson, but the hook and chorus are rather boring and the song as a whole drags on far too long.

Out of all the songs on the album, only “7 Rings” sticks out like a major sore thumb.  A braggadocious flaunting of wealth and success, but no means a bad track on its own, “7 Rings” feels like a major digression, and it sullies the album’s overall cohesiveness.  The title track, in addition to spawning an internet meme, became an anthem of individual growth in the wake of failed relationships.  Closer “break up with your girlfriend, i’m bored” was a little disappointing to me as a way to end the album, until I watched the music video and realized the girlfriend is depicted as Ariana herself (self love, anybody?).

Thank u, next is a fantastic pop record that captures Ariana’s raw and unfiltered emotion despite being an incredibly polished studio project. Despite all the pain and heartbreak Ariana has been through, she has managed to turn her emotions into an impressive piece of art without compromising her ability to create catchy and popular music.  Only now is Ariana realizing her full potential, and it will definitely be interesting to see where she goes next.

Article by Everett Williams