Album Review: Ariana Grande - thank u, next
To discuss any Ariana Grande album, especially this one, her unique position in pop music, and in culture at large, must be given center stage. Though in all honesty, the most interesting thing about her is not her transition from Disney star to pop singer, nor is it her very public romantic life, nor is it her unparalleled legions of devoted fans (or 'stans', as it were). What sets Ariana Grande apart from other pop divas fighting for space on the charts is that her music is actually good, largely due to natural talent and working with an array of skilled producers.
After last summer's Sweetener, a record that encapsulated 'bubblegum pop' to a fault yet had its share of standout tracks, Ariana went through more than her share of public drama after breaking up with her fiancé Pete Davidson and the sudden passing of her ex, Mac Miller. Such a personal upheaval was very explicitly the reason for releasing thank u, next so soon after her last album, and her recent experiences figure prominently in the lyrics on many songs here. Particularly praiseworthy is the incredibly painful ghostin which beautifully illustrates her attempts to overcome past trauma, and how it affects those around her: "And I'm puttin' you through more than one ever should/And I'm hating myself 'cause you don't want to/Admit that it hurts you".
As with most pop albums, to find the best parts one must look past the hits clearly tailor-made for chart success. The opener imagine is relatively simplistic in its production yet functions quite effectively with barely more than sparse percussion. As Ariana describes her fantasy of a romantic evening, the tension builds dramatically until the chorus suddenly yanks the rug out from under the listener, the instrumental vanishing to give space for the realization that this love is but an illusion: "Imagine a world like that". Ariana's vocal ability is on full display all over the song, particularly in the difficult whistle notes during the outro, and she truly sells the song's wistful vibe.
The title track was released a few months back as the album's first single, and quickly became Ariana's first number-one hit despite being painfully boring and unexceptional. Ostensibly, the song's theme of being grateful for learning from past romantic mistakes is creative, but the verses are remarkably one-dimensional, and the chorus just repeats the title ad nauseam, apart from awkward declarations of "I'm so fuckin' grateful for my ex". The somewhat creative metaphor of 'dating yourself' to symbolize self-care evokes the Lorde piano ballad Liability, a comparison that exposes both Ariana's lyrical shortcomings and the bland production present here.
Much more effective anthems of self-assurance are dispersed throughout thank u, next; bloodline is a horn-tinged statement of Ariana's autonomy, catchy in its confidence as she sings "Don't want you in my bloodline, yeah/Just wanna have a good time, yeah". As much as break up with your girlfriend, i'm bored echoes a tired sentiment of stealing someone's partner, the eerily atmospheric production is infectious and, along with the equally sassy cut bad idea, represents the only successful interpolation of trap elements into the instrumentals on the album.
These superfluous trap sounds are nowhere as grating as they are on 7 rings, which borrows its melody from the timeless show tune My Favourite Things. "Write my own checks like I write what I sing" is almost clever despite the song's nine other credited writers, though it might not be the best idea to brag about penning lines like "When you see them racks, they stack up like my ass, yeah". As for the breakdown at the end, her flow when attempting to rap is so discernibly bad that it's almost a relief when she transitions to sounding like a Migos rip-off, even if the production is consistently dull throughout.
Despite its occasional missteps, thank u, next is an oddly compelling listen, whether one is invested in Ariana's personal life or not. Her attempts to convey such personal struggles and intimate emotions, largely the reason for her devout following, are brought to the forefront on this record, and it is more apparent than ever that she has become perhaps the most relevant figure in pop music today. Such a massive popularity is more often than not indicative of little musical talent, but luckily Ariana is gifted enough that her success feels quite deserved.
8/10
Favourite Tracks: imagine, fake smile, ghostin