It’s been a year since the infamous anthem of breakups was released, the song that the whole world was chanting in turn with Grande’s very public tumultuous life. The album that followed the single was tragedy disguised in upbeat, pink, hard hitting beats that somehow invoked emotion that was least expected – at least from an aesthetic point of view. The lyrical content may not be a literary masterpiece, but it’s simple yet effective. Most of all, everything on the album can be described in a word: honest.
With the year that has passed the album may not have gotten the critical acclaim it deserves (subjectively), but it has garnered public accolades. It has only grown bigger in the time that as passed. For people (like me) who initially couldn’t find anything special in the production of the album, opinions have changed to put the stories and emotions she sings about on the front burner and the result has been the record being a grower.
‘Imagine’ when first released as a single seemed like something to showcase Grande’s extensive vocal prowess, what was overlooked was the simple vocabulary enclosing an absolutely broken person. The fact that she doesn’t have the luxury to have the simple pleasures with her person anymore, lead to her begging to just imagining life lived differently. A simple piano ballad, with that signature Grande R&B flair added all used to elevate the main centre stage: her voice. Like butter, her vocals are layered in a way that they are their own instrumental addition, the whistle notes aren’t overtop and seem to meld in beautifully.
‘Needy’ again with the soft production is a song that Grande sings to us like she’s reading a page out of her very personal journal/diary. She recognizes the type of person she is in a relationship and for the rest of us looking in at what she’s singing about its absolutely heartbreaking: “And sorry if I say sorry way too much”. If Grande doesn’t have the right to be needy after all that she’s been through I have no idea who does. One of the underrated gems on the album, almost a song that shows that she admits her flaws, but in all honesty are they really flaws?
‘NASA’ is such a refresher to the heavy EDM pop influences of almost all mainstream artists, its bringing back those 90’s R&B vibes. Grande has shown us since Sweetener she doesn’t care what mainstream is doing, she’s going to do her own thing. NASA is thank u next’s little sister, putting herself first Grande has come to the realization that sometimes we just need time to ourselves to love someone else: “Baby, I can’t really miss you if I’m with you”. This is followed by Grande’s Nona’s introduction to her next upbeat track, ‘Bloodline’. It’s time for her just to have fun and not take everything so seriously. The play on words in the chorus is a highlight, in her own words “wanting somebody, but not enough to have them in your bloodline”. The production starts to pick up pace, with latin influences with vocal layering and heavy R&B influence.
‘Fake Smile’ is again bringing back that theme of honesty present throughout the album, what a fresh take on the celebrity lifestyle. Grande through her ups and downs has stopped pretending to the public that she’s fine, shes not and that’s alright. She’s been dealing with everything the one way she knows how : her music. ‘Fake Smile’ again subtle with the production is a happy upbeat composition juxtaposing the almost extremely dark lyrics. At first glance it seems like all she’s singing about is to end the pretending, but a deeper look at the lyrics show they have dark undertones. She’s at the point of just collapsing and stopping from moving forward had she not had her people around her.
From the gut wrenching epiphany that is ‘Fake Smile’ we have an unexpected jump to ‘Bad idea’. The pain is now being numbed by calling over her lover and him assisting her in forgetting everything- from all the events in her life to eventually forgetting herself. Again the dark undertones of the idea of just forgetting are subdued with the R&B influenced production. She acknowledges her idea is definitely a bad idea, what we don’t know is if she goes through with the idea. The main feature is the entire outro. It’s such a pleasant surprise and takes the song to a mediocre lyrically relevant song to a song with memorable production. The beats are iconic Grande preceded by those beautiful strings. The outro totally blends in with the beats that follow contributing to ‘Make up’, the masochistic tendencies of her relationships making an appearance again. Everyone knows that feeling of constant arguing and fighting in a relationship, the end of the fights and arguments when we make up with our significant other is almost a feeling of getting high on conflict resolution. Heavy bass with her vocal layering in that last bridge solidify the song as a staple in the album.
‘Ghostin’. What more is there to say about this. The word has been automatically associated with Grande. The references to her previous relationship and present relationship written in a beautiful truthful, simple manner. We can barely listen to this song without the waterworks, who can blame her for not being able to perform it.
‘In my head’. The intro by Grande’s friend tells us everything about the track: “Here’s the thing: you’re in love with a version of a person that you’ve created in your head, that you are trying to but cannot fix. Uh, the only person you can fix is yourself.” Lyrically although insightful and realistic, the vocals are what really shine her. Every time she hits those vocal runs on ‘head’ it hits in a place we didn’t know existed. The way she sings its like its nothing for her, so effortless. That is highlighted in the portions of the song that showcase the rougher recordings of her voice.
The album closes off with the three main singles that were released. Every single track before ‘7 rings’ set up for it perfectly when it comes to composition, sure it maybe a ‘rich girl’ song, but I mean she deserves it. It may be about the money, but she really puts importance on what her friends/family really mean to her. ‘Thank u next’ has become that official breakup anthem, first song of any artist to use actual names of people she’s been in a relationship with. It’s not a toxic hate song, it’s putting importance on finally not prioritizing relationships and just working on ourselves. The one thing that I would have changed about the whole album is ending it right here. ‘breakup with your girlfriend, im bored’ is a great track, the album just should not have ended with it, maybe placed after bloodline? The perfect track listing would have been closing out the record with ‘thank u, next’, in my opinion.
The entire record has aged gracefully, despite not getting all the awards and recognition it subjectively deserves, the general public has made sure that this has become a predominant memento in Grande’s legacy. She has cemented herself in not only the pop culture of music, but the entire musical industry with her art. She may not be the most lyrically literal poetic genius out there, but she’s relatable to the extent that doesn’t seem manufactured. Her voice is her asset and her ear for music is her gift. She cannot be overlooked, because her contributions are always going to be relevant. Shes all 5ft 3 inches embodiment of talent.
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