Ariana Grande - AG4 (2018 album)

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It's coming! -- http://variety.com/2018/music/news/ariana-grande-to-drop-first-single-from-new-album-on-april-27-1202747183/

She's also been posting little teasers on Instagram since the New Year.

I got heavily into her music around a year ago -- I've listened to her three albums exhaustively & repeatedly, sometimes on constant rotation (I also saw the tour). To say I am excited about the new one would be an understatement!

absorbed carol channing's powers & psyche (morrisp), Monday, 9 April 2018 21:52 (seven years ago)

I can't forgive her for licking those donuts.

kornrulez6969, Monday, 9 April 2018 23:07 (seven years ago)

LOL - I hear you, man...

absorbed carol channing's powers & psyche (morrisp), Monday, 9 April 2018 23:41 (seven years ago)

is the stan twitter abbreviation for the album title necessary

dyl, Tuesday, 10 April 2018 00:16 (seven years ago)

Yes, it's the official Arianator designation (my hands are tied)!

absorbed carol channing's powers & psyche (morrisp), Tuesday, 10 April 2018 00:23 (seven years ago)

(I am world's loneliest 40-something Arianator bro)

absorbed carol channing's powers & psyche (morrisp), Tuesday, 10 April 2018 00:26 (seven years ago)

While I've loved a lot of her music, I've never gotten a sense of who she actually is from it. Both the hilarious donut-licking situation and the way she dealt with Manchester show someone with a lot more to offer the world than vocal acrobatics over generic (albeit excellent) pop production and I hope this is the time where she finally shows she's more than just a big voice and high ponytail.

boxedjoy, Tuesday, 10 April 2018 09:17 (seven years ago)

Based on what folks involved are saying, sounds like you may get your wish! (see the quotes in this collection: https://twitter.com/i/moments/958089091442184194)

Btw – apparently the single and/or album are rumored to be titled “No Tears Left to Cry.”

absorbed carol channing's powers & psyche (morrisp), Sunday, 15 April 2018 04:35 (seven years ago)

One of her core strengths is her impeccable taste in material – IMO, there isn’t a “bad” song on her three main albums (including the bonus tracks on the Target Deluxe Editions). ...And, of course, many/most of the tracks are just fantastic.

So if she has been working a long time on winnowing down a bunch of new songs to the strongest possible 10-track album (as she says in one of those quotes), that speaks volumes about the expected quality!

absorbed carol channing's powers & psyche (morrisp), Sunday, 15 April 2018 05:34 (seven years ago)

FYI - this single is now rumored to drop this Friday (4/20).

- stan the man

absorbed carol channing's powers & psyche (morrisp), Tuesday, 17 April 2018 00:18 (seven years ago)

4/20, BRAH

https://pitchfork.com/news/ariana-grande-teases-new-music-coming-friday/

absorbed carol channing's powers & psyche (morrisp), Wednesday, 18 April 2018 00:24 (seven years ago)

she’s the best and I’m honestly really excited about hearing her new stuff

i'm surprised to see your screwface at the door (NickB), Wednesday, 18 April 2018 00:31 (seven years ago)

Love this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffxKSjUwKdU

kitchen person, Friday, 20 April 2018 04:37 (seven years ago)

It doesn't sound like "Toxic," but it reminds me of "Toxic" in that it's got a totally bizarre structure for a 21st century pop single.

Johnny Fever, Friday, 20 April 2018 04:42 (seven years ago)

It’s got a really distinctive sound. I can see this breaking up the flow of my average top40 radio session in the car very nicely (though it’s a little less packed with incident than I prefer for my big Pop Artist Rollout Singles) - certainly it’s a vastly better start to this album campaign than the title track of “Dangerous Woman” was.
Speaking of which, very clever of Camp Ariana to pivot from three straight albums of understated, black-and-white artwork with a polite, black-and-white cover that has a prismatic dash of rainbow across Ariana’s face. Says a lot without having to change a lot.

You're all losing so many points on your progress bars (Champiness), Friday, 20 April 2018 04:58 (seven years ago)

i like this but it feels weird, i keep expecting it to really kick in at some point ie go harder with the breakbeat but it never does

ufo, Friday, 20 April 2018 05:00 (seven years ago)

The chorus is elegant, massive! (Also, is that a drum’n’bass beat(!)? Almost?)

absorbed carol channing's powers & psyche (morrisp), Friday, 20 April 2018 05:01 (seven years ago)

xpost yeah, it’s sort of a deconstructed anthem

absorbed carol channing's powers & psyche (morrisp), Friday, 20 April 2018 05:02 (seven years ago)

xp yeah it almost is but there's a few kicks missing, it's a strange feeling

ufo, Friday, 20 April 2018 05:03 (seven years ago)

Like it gestures at being a club floor-filler but the vocal hook keeps tugging it back to earth

absorbed carol channing's powers & psyche (morrisp), Friday, 20 April 2018 05:05 (seven years ago)

A lock for Top 40 that sounds good and different. More of these please.

billstevejim, Friday, 20 April 2018 06:10 (seven years ago)

Yeah this is really good. surprised that they didn't go more anthemic on the chorus, like a usual single would - it's mostly just her lead vocal instead of the usual barrage of fuller synths, harder drums, and backing vocals - but the change is really refreshing

Vinnie, Friday, 20 April 2018 06:34 (seven years ago)

I almost love this but her diction is noticeably poor in the verses. I wouldn't say this sounds wildly different to what was in the UK top ten a few years ago but it suits her.

The part in the video where she takes her face off is really creepy!

boxedjoy, Friday, 20 April 2018 09:03 (seven years ago)

this is absolutely :)

you're my luger not my rifle (Noodle Vague), Friday, 20 April 2018 11:17 (seven years ago)

i don't fucking care she is on fire

you're my luger not my rifle (Noodle Vague), Friday, 20 April 2018 11:22 (seven years ago)

I think the DnB beat is reminiscent of early 00s pop, something that's almost completely gone now. JF, maybe this is part of why it reminds you of Toxic?

daavid, Friday, 20 April 2018 14:28 (seven years ago)

Not a huge fan of the video. Kind of lazy references to Blade Runner and Inception. I liked the bit with the umbrellas, though.

daavid, Friday, 20 April 2018 14:33 (seven years ago)

yeah the video's a bit off, especially the weirdly lax lip syncing.

Simon H., Friday, 20 April 2018 14:40 (seven years ago)

FUCK OFF

Cortez the Self-Harmer (Noodle Vague), Friday, 20 April 2018 14:44 (seven years ago)

when she's caught in that starry spider's web it's like some Skyrim thing i'm on it

Cortez the Self-Harmer (Noodle Vague), Friday, 20 April 2018 14:45 (seven years ago)

this song is fantastic

flamenco drop (BradNelson), Friday, 20 April 2018 14:59 (seven years ago)

I don’t hear anything particularly like « Toxic » but it does have a Britney something at times.
Also the does sound a bit understated. It could bang a bit more. And have some stronger eurodance synth pads.
That said it’s a pretty good track !

AlXTC from Paris, Friday, 20 April 2018 15:17 (seven years ago)

The beat does sound understated

AlXTC from Paris, Friday, 20 April 2018 15:18 (seven years ago)

my onnnnnly issue is her vocal production on the chorus, otherwise it's beautiful!

surm, Friday, 20 April 2018 15:19 (seven years ago)

I think it reminds me more of Britney’s « Break the ice » actually ! Still such a brilliant track btw...

AlXTC from Paris, Friday, 20 April 2018 15:27 (seven years ago)

umm break the ice is the closest pop equivalent to Mozart i've heard in a long time btw

surm, Friday, 20 April 2018 15:28 (seven years ago)

never forget.

surm, Friday, 20 April 2018 15:28 (seven years ago)

“we’re on another mentality”

absorbed carol channing's powers & psyche (morrisp), Friday, 20 April 2018 15:34 (seven years ago)

Just played it 3 times on the bounce on teh bus. Amazing

i know kore-eda (or something), Friday, 20 April 2018 15:35 (seven years ago)

It’s a full-length song that almost feels too short (in a good way, leaves you wanting more). Feels like it could keep rolling several more minutes as it builds and then suddenly stops.

absorbed carol channing's powers & psyche (morrisp), Friday, 20 April 2018 15:36 (seven years ago)

Kind of a false ending but that's another one of its multiple virtues

Cortez the Self-Harmer (Noodle Vague), Saturday, 21 April 2018 00:22 (seven years ago)

i dig it. reminds me a little of 1 thing by amerie but in a lower register

you bet, nancy (map), Saturday, 21 April 2018 00:55 (seven years ago)

this one's going to be about the remixes imo

you bet, nancy (map), Saturday, 21 April 2018 00:56 (seven years ago)

it's going to be a huge club anthem

you bet, nancy (map), Saturday, 21 April 2018 00:57 (seven years ago)

^^^^

Cortez the Self-Harmer (Noodle Vague), Saturday, 21 April 2018 01:23 (seven years ago)

one of her best songs so far. agreed re: its remix potential

dyl, Saturday, 21 April 2018 01:32 (seven years ago)

this is really cool. her last few lead singles have been very broad/obvious, and this one goes to some unexpected places

J0rdan S., Saturday, 21 April 2018 02:46 (seven years ago)

I specifically said above that it doesn't sound like "Toxic" at all, but that it calls "Toxic" to mind in that it's a really ambitious and left field approach to what will ostensibly be a hit to some degree. iow we are now officially in the Ariana empirical phase.

Johnny Fever, Saturday, 21 April 2018 03:16 (seven years ago)

Stupid phone. *imperial

Johnny Fever, Saturday, 21 April 2018 03:17 (seven years ago)

Actually I think it sounds like a (very good) demo !
There’s something unfinished about it.

AlXTC from Paris, Saturday, 21 April 2018 03:18 (seven years ago)

Empirical was fun though : I like the idea !

AlXTC from Paris, Saturday, 21 April 2018 03:19 (seven years ago)

yeah, JF's phone owns
great song

Jeff W, Saturday, 21 April 2018 07:00 (seven years ago)

This is great and deserves to be huge.

lbi's life of limitless european glamour (Le Bateau Ivre), Saturday, 21 April 2018 10:30 (seven years ago)

glad 2 be back home so i can loop this again

it's kind of more of a slowed-down 2 Step than a D'n'B rhythm

Cortez the Self-Harmer (Noodle Vague), Saturday, 21 April 2018 10:46 (seven years ago)

ctrl+F "Rudimental"

boxedjoy, Saturday, 21 April 2018 11:15 (seven years ago)

I thought two-step, too. And it sounds surprisingly refreshing.

lbi's life of limitless european glamour (Le Bateau Ivre), Saturday, 21 April 2018 11:37 (seven years ago)

She apparently made a surprise appearance at Coachella last night – performed this song and Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing.”

absorbed carol channing's powers & psyche (morrisp), Saturday, 21 April 2018 15:18 (seven years ago)

still wonder if the chorus could be "developed" just a lil more (don't ask me how) but it's grown on me, and it's really all worth it for the synths kicking in the post-chorus/second verse

lowercase (eric), Saturday, 21 April 2018 21:35 (seven years ago)

The more I hear it, the more I love it (probably b/c I’m experiencing it as a whole now and not breaking it down in my head). I’m in that mode where I don’t really want to listen to anything else, but also don’t want to “wear it out” too fast...

absorbed carol channing's powers & psyche (morrisp), Saturday, 21 April 2018 22:15 (seven years ago)

In some ways this feels to me a bit like a song that might have turned up on one of the first three Christina Milian albums. Also it's great.

Tim F, Sunday, 22 April 2018 00:00 (seven years ago)

As the only comeback record that's ever been made under these circumstances it would have come across as rote, lazy and just wrong if it had sounded like anything else currently on the radio. And that's even allowing for the gigantic levels of goodwill towards Ariana herself - in the UK at least.

Tonally, the song itself needed to get the balance exactly right, it needed to be absolutely perfectly pitched, and it is.

Matt DC, Sunday, 22 April 2018 11:03 (seven years ago)

I haven't followed her career much until now, but the advance tracks from this LP have me intrigued.

The Harsh Tutelage of Michael McDonald (Raymond Cummings), Sunday, 22 April 2018 11:20 (seven years ago)

Oh hey, this song doesn't sound as oddly structured now that I'm just listening to the audio. I think the video was distorting how A→B it actually is. I still like it tho.

Johnny Fever, Sunday, 22 April 2018 11:20 (seven years ago)

I love the vocal harmonies in the intro (first 20 seconds) of the video, and I'm a little disappointed that the single version doesn't include that part. I guess there's a chance that it will resurface as a segue on the album

the yolk sustains us, we eat whites for days (unregistered), Monday, 23 April 2018 01:06 (seven years ago)

Immaculate song

thots and players (rip van wanko), Monday, 23 April 2018 02:12 (seven years ago)

straight fire beautiful song

had (crüt), Tuesday, 24 April 2018 17:56 (seven years ago)

I paused the video on the shot with the disembodied Ariana faces/masks resting on a few sheets of paper w/handwritten notes... all I could make out for sure was "R.E.M." (several places) and "God Is a Woman." I ran a search on these phrases, and found others are on top of it - http://www.breatheheavy.com/god-is-a-woman-ariana-grande-teases-new-album-tracklist/

The idea of an Ariana track titled "R.E.M." (of all things) seems perfectly conceived to give teenage-me and adult-me something to talk about!

absorbed carol channing's powers & psyche (morrisp), Tuesday, 24 April 2018 19:03 (seven years ago)

rem could mean REM sleep no?

after party for the apocalypse (Ross), Tuesday, 24 April 2018 19:04 (seven years ago)

well, sure... I'm guessing it's not actually a tribute to Athens' crustiest of the crusties ;)

absorbed carol channing's powers & psyche (morrisp), Tuesday, 24 April 2018 19:07 (seven years ago)

;)

after party for the apocalypse (Ross), Tuesday, 24 April 2018 19:11 (seven years ago)

Sometimes I end up on these YT pages where hardcore vocal technique headz are analyzing/critiquing her performances, notes she’s hitting (or not hitting), etc. The comments on this one are somewhat interesting / funny (all based on a :25 clip!): https://youtu.be/7nCbuuj3rXA

absorbed carol channing's powers & psyche (morrisp), Thursday, 26 April 2018 16:49 (seven years ago)

those vocal analysis/comparison/etc. videos are among the first types of videos i can remember seeing on youtube. some are a little terrible and cruel. all these years later i think i've seen maybe one or two focused on a male vocalist.

dyl, Friday, 27 April 2018 02:17 (seven years ago)

She’s tweeting new lyrics about being asleep / dreaming – presumably from that “R.E.M.” song.

I figure there’s a (tiny) chance it is actually built on a jangly Rickenbacker sample; seems like something Pharrell could conceivably do...

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Saturday, 28 April 2018 21:44 (seven years ago)

re: "No Tears Left To Cry"

During the chorus, how about that sharp cut on the reverb tail on the "aw yeah" ad-lib? It's been one of those things that calls my attention every time. It seems to drop out in time with the song, and I'm sure it was intentional, but in a lesser song that would be a mark of a sloppy producer.

Yet, this is Max Martin...

Seems a strange choice to my ears. What do y'all think?

mom, Monday, 30 April 2018 15:13 (seven years ago)

Clipping that vocal does seem like a deliberate aesthetic choice to me...

To anyone who cares - AG will be the (sole/hourlong) guest on “The Tonight Show” tmrrw (Tues. 5/1).

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Monday, 30 April 2018 16:42 (seven years ago)

She sounded really good in the Fallon performance. (It strikes me as potentially a tough song to jump into, cold; something about the key it’s in...)

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Wednesday, 2 May 2018 16:32 (seven years ago)

The album is called “Sweetener,” btw, and comes out July 20

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Thursday, 3 May 2018 05:06 (seven years ago)

they played "No More Tears" in the club last night and i completely lost my shit

hepatitis groan (Noodle Vague), Sunday, 6 May 2018 12:35 (seven years ago)

anyway you know what i meant without the extraneous "more"

hepatitis groan (Noodle Vague), Sunday, 6 May 2018 12:36 (seven years ago)

three weeks pass...

Snippet teased of new Nicki collab – it sounds hawt!

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Sunday, 27 May 2018 23:48 (seven years ago)

Good article w/lots of detail about the album, etc.:
http://www.thefader.com/2018/05/30/ariana-grande-cover-story

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Thursday, 31 May 2018 13:17 (six years ago)

Wango Tango performance from Saturday night: https://youtu.be/ES_AnAwEd0s

She does a verse of the new song (“The Light Is Coming”), starting around 25:10. Its vocal hook reminds me of Missy Elliott’s “Work It”... (which may not be coincidental, as I know Missy was involved in at least one track on the album).

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Monday, 4 June 2018 01:17 (six years ago)

the whole set is great

J0rdan S., Monday, 4 June 2018 05:25 (six years ago)

Yeah she’s on top of her game

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Monday, 4 June 2018 05:41 (six years ago)

as for the new single, we'll see... it has some cool parts and some weird parts. i'm sort of intuitively excited by the idea of pharrell doing half an ariana grande album but then i think about how much pharrell music i've actually enjoyed i the last few years. i assume this is one of his.

J0rdan S., Monday, 4 June 2018 05:42 (six years ago)

I'm also kind of "bearish" on Pharrell (...no "park ranger hat" joke intended); but I agree it's an exciting idea, and I assume they'll bring out the best in each other. I trust the judgment of Ari (and her crew) in material... like her story of trying out 8 different rappers on that track, before finally calling Nicki (why didn't she just start with the best in the first place, lol?).

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Monday, 4 June 2018 16:30 (six years ago)

have wondered a lot if the rap features on the other recent max martin-heavy female pop star albums (future on "endgame", migos on "bon appetit") were earnest attempts to try and penetrate rap playlists on spotify and apple music

you look at sales figures these days for albums that do 100k first weeks and for pop stuff it's 80% sales 20% streaming and for rap stuff it's 20% sales 80% streaming

twitter stans were up in arms at one point recently because they thought "the light is coming" was going to ship with a xxxtentacion feature based on some oblique similarities between instagram posts x and ari made around the same time

x's streaming numbers are outrageously good though so maybe it was something they were seriously considering? no matter who they got, it would never actually have worked, so ari balking at a pro forma x or carti feature and sticking with an artist she already knows she has real chemistry with is a great example of why she is our best pop star rn

james brooks, Monday, 4 June 2018 18:18 (six years ago)

That's all really interesting (I hadn't heard that xxxtentacion rumor).

Just to take up your Future example -- I thought his verse on "Everyday" (from Dangerous Woman) was fantastic, while his rap on "Endgame" did feel less inspired / more obligatory (though it's a super track as a whole, and his vocal contributions are part of that, beyond the rap itself). All the raps on Dangerous Woman are really strong IMO, and I think it does show that increased quality control (the raps on My Everything were 50/50 for me; and on Yours Truly, well... :P).

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Monday, 4 June 2018 18:37 (six years ago)

i would say that most rap features on pop artists' singles for the greater part of the past decade if not longer have been brazen attemps to score some airplay at 'rhythmic' stations (i.e. the ones that serve as gatekeepers for black crossover) while still enabling white adult stations* to play them in rap-free edits.

now that digital download sales for singles are in their death throes and rap music has proven popular in the ascendant streaming ecosystem, this tactic has become doubly appealing to pop artists and their a&r. the 'problem' for them is that most migos fans have no interest in listening to a max martin-produced katy perry record just because the migos have been squeezed into a 35-second slot on the recording.

four of maroon 5's past five singles have featured an ''''urban'''' artist that performs strongly on the streaming services. only one of them, "what lovers do" (which has sza, who sings rather than raps) actually has the guest interspersed throughout the recording rather than squeezed into a narrow slot that can be easily excised or replaced. (i recall having heard all of the others in rap-free edits on many stations, sometimes with extra maroon 5 vocals replacing what would've been the rap verse on the supposedly 'standard' version.)

(* and, actually, top 40 stations -- the one in my city elected to play the young thug-free version of "havana"!)

dyl, Monday, 4 June 2018 19:14 (six years ago)

i think "end game" is a wonderful taylor swift single that's really handicapped by the bizarre decision to put future and sheeran's verses before hers

it feels like it's structured almost as if it's apologizing for the fact that it's a taylor swift single by putting the other dudes first, undercutting the song's ability to maximize it's appeal to her very large core fanbase

whether the target was radio formats or spotify playlists, almost feels as though the men responsible for "bon appetit" looked at that record's failure and determined that the problem was not the inessential and tacked-on nature of the feature but the fact that it happened too late in the song

when "no tears" dropped i wondered if part of the reason it's so good is that ari had the benefit of being able to watch witness and reputation flounder at radio before making her move

james brooks, Monday, 4 June 2018 19:38 (six years ago)

I think I assumed that Taylor's verse comes last on "Endgame" because (a) it's the weakest of the three performances (and she recognizes that); and/or (b) in a long track that essentially has three "features" (one of them by the credited artist), it actually increases the drama -- and potential impact for fans -- to place hers at the end. (These may sound contradictory, but maybe they're not?)

OTOH, it's also clear from this convo that I tend to think of these songs mainly in "aesthetic" terms, and with little regard to these (very interesting) questions around chart strategy, reception, etc.

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Monday, 4 June 2018 20:23 (six years ago)

(On an unrelated note, I find it amusing how the Endgame video seems to use various strategies -- up to and including body doubles -- to "fake" the appearance of Taylor and Future being in the same spaces / shots during his verse.)

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Monday, 4 June 2018 20:31 (six years ago)

i think her verse is the best one actually

james brooks, Monday, 4 June 2018 21:18 (six years ago)

!

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Monday, 4 June 2018 21:22 (six years ago)

i do sometimes share the suspicion that labels are strategic about where the guest artist's feature is placed on the recording. like when a female singer who's had a spotty record at urban radio has the featured male rapper(s) placed at the very beginning of her single, i tend to wonder if it's because her label thought people would change the station if the track led off with her voice. (i recall having this thought with jhene aiko and teyana taylor singles -- both of which i thought would have been perfectly good without the guests.)

dyl, Monday, 4 June 2018 21:53 (six years ago)

i love "end game" but even w/ a generous reading future's verse isn't great. sheeran has the best verse to me but the hook refrain is still the best part imo. katy perry i bet was just trying to recapture "dark horse" magic.

not sure if it's working anyone tho. "havana" went no. 1 on rhythmic and streaming... maybe young thug had a hand in that idk.

J0rdan S., Tuesday, 5 June 2018 04:11 (six years ago)

my conspiracy about "end game" tanking is that radio bashed people over the head with "look what you made me do" which is bad and annoying

J0rdan S., Tuesday, 5 June 2018 04:17 (six years ago)

when "no tears" dropped i wondered if part of the reason it's so good is that ari had the benefit of being able to watch witness and reputation flounder at radio before making her move

― james brooks, Monday, June 4, 2018 3:38 PM (yesterday) Bookmark

i think part of it is that her music is still in its organic growth period whereas katy and taylor are at the point where they're reacting against themselves. "no tears left to cry" is simply a better song than anything on witness and several of the pre-release reputation tracks but it also just seems like the right moment to be into in her music. she's not carrying much baggage right now.

J0rdan S., Tuesday, 5 June 2018 04:20 (six years ago)

Very well put — she seems to have almost universal goodwill at the moment, and she’s a highly mainstream artist who also enjoys real cred in various/diverse scenes. Of course she’s not the first with these attributes; and I’m aware there are ppl who are lukewarm on her, even on “No Tears” as a track (I know some personally!) But when you factor in her voice/technique and the songs themselves... no one else comes close for me.

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Tuesday, 5 June 2018 04:50 (six years ago)

When Ariana performed on the Billboard Awards, the camera cut once or twice to Taylor Swift, watching her from the crowd — and it struck me how they don’t really occupy the same space (even though their songs may literally play back-to-back).

I think it may be partly because Ariana’s not a “personal” artist in the vein of Taylor, Katy, Gaga, etc. She’s more in the tradition of a disco/club diva, delivering the material while keeping her persona (and personality) separate from it. And that’s maybe a somewhat rare mode for a mainstream pop singer these days (or maybe there are plenty of examples I’m not thinking of).

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Tuesday, 5 June 2018 05:08 (six years ago)

I don't think that's true at all about Ariana, and it's quite a challop to remove Gaga from any disco/club diva tradition.

Matt DC, Tuesday, 5 June 2018 08:07 (six years ago)

Like what's more personal than No Tears Left To Cry? Literally no one else in pop would be able to deliver that song in the same way.

Matt DC, Tuesday, 5 June 2018 08:08 (six years ago)

Gaga comes from that tradition, for sure — but she’s much more of an “auteur” figure, isn’t she? She’s always been about “pushing boundaries” in performance, expressing herself (sexuality, personal history, etc.) through pop songs in a Madonna-y way (sorry, I know that’s a boring comparison)... not so much about her voice or traditional pop performance. (And her last album even left the dance floor behind.)

You’re right about “No Tears,” of course... and it sounds from that Fader article like it’s true for Sweetener as a whole (so much that Ariana originally left off a batch of songs b/c she thought they got too “real”). This is a new era for her, as they say...

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Tuesday, 5 June 2018 13:35 (six years ago)

I like "No Tears Left to Cry" but I don't understand why we're all swallowing the "most personal album yet" PR schtick whole here

aloha darkness my old friend (katherine), Tuesday, 5 June 2018 13:46 (six years ago)

https://vg-images.condecdn.net/image/24Ld04lRo1v/crop/810/f/july-cover2.jpg

lbi's life of limitless european glamour (Le Bateau Ivre), Tuesday, 5 June 2018 13:53 (six years ago)

I mean, yes, of course shootings are tragic, but the same could be said for (for instance) new Jason Aldean material

aloha darkness my old friend (katherine), Tuesday, 5 June 2018 13:57 (six years ago)

(er, the same i.e. "this is so personal and heartfelt and not at all songwriting as usual," not "a tragedy on the level of jason aldean")

aloha darkness my old friend (katherine), Tuesday, 5 June 2018 13:58 (six years ago)

lmao

Simon H., Tuesday, 5 June 2018 14:00 (six years ago)

If an artist I like & respect says something about their artistic process in an interview, I guess I take it at face value and don’t dismiss it as PR schtick.

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Tuesday, 5 June 2018 14:49 (six years ago)

I guess I'm the opposite -- even the artists I like, I understand are working under a system that demands a certain level of spin

aloha darkness my old friend (katherine), Tuesday, 5 June 2018 15:03 (six years ago)

Anyway, now y’all have me arguing both sides of the fence here (lol).

No matter how “personal” the new songs may be, I don’t expect them to be “personal” in the same way that, say, Taylor Swift’s are — to return to J0rdan’s original point.

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Tuesday, 5 June 2018 15:31 (six years ago)

(Also, on the PR thing, the logical conclusion of a skeptical/cynical POV would be to assume she’s not being truthful when she says she was devastated by the UK attack...)

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Tuesday, 5 June 2018 15:44 (six years ago)

Btw -- it occurred to me that AG has in fact released a few highly "personal" songs dealing w/fame, the public's perception of her, and her feelings about those things ("You Don't Know Me," "I Don't Care")... the same sort of subjects that Taylor Swift addresses a lot these days. So it's not quite so cut & dried.

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Wednesday, 6 June 2018 16:45 (six years ago)

oh this album has a title! perhaps an admin would be able to update the title of this thread? :)

dyl, Thursday, 7 June 2018 02:46 (six years ago)

June 13: Troye Sivan - Dance To This (feat. Ariana Grande)

June 14: Nicki Minaj - Bed (feat. Ariana Grande)

June 20: The Light Is Coming (feat. Nicki Minaj) + Sweetener pre-order

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Monday, 11 June 2018 18:02 (six years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXwX79EZUJo

not a fan of this one

ufo, Wednesday, 20 June 2018 05:09 (six years ago)

Seems very much a piece with "Lemon" from last year's N.E.R.D album, including the fact that it also pulls a sample from here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BppB_X_jlkw

Except in this case, the sample is incredibly annoying and doesn't work at all.

MarkoP, Wednesday, 20 June 2018 05:33 (six years ago)

wrong YouTube link(?)

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Wednesday, 20 June 2018 05:43 (six years ago)

this is not making me excited about pharrell having done half this album.....

J0rdan S., Wednesday, 20 June 2018 05:44 (six years ago)

No, correct YouTube link. Sample comes in at 1:01.

And Arlen Specter's "Wait a Minute" is sampled throughout Lemon.

It's a very odd sample choice.

MarkoP, Wednesday, 20 June 2018 05:47 (six years ago)

weird!

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Wednesday, 20 June 2018 05:49 (six years ago)

(I haven’t listened to the track yet; distracted by the fact that the album + merch bundles from her online store — which come with presale code for future concert tour — don’t ship to California for some f’in reason!)

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Wednesday, 20 June 2018 05:52 (six years ago)

OK – on first listen, it is an odd track, and doesn’t seem to feature Ari in a meaningful way? (It is also extremely Pharrell-y, for better or worse...)

Interesting that Nicki’s rap is upfront, in light of the discussion above.

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Wednesday, 20 June 2018 16:07 (six years ago)

that's an extra track surely, one of your track 15 only-for-iTunes jobs.

piscesx, Wednesday, 20 June 2018 17:04 (six years ago)

I also think the upfront rap creates a structural/aesthetic problem — because there song has no bridge, without the rap breaking it up in the middle, it feels particularly repetitive (chorus, verse, long chorus, verse, chorus, end).

It doesn’t help that the chorus is a repeated chant/vocal hook.

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Wednesday, 20 June 2018 17:05 (six years ago)

xpost It’s track 3 on the album

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Wednesday, 20 June 2018 17:07 (six years ago)

Fan reaction in YouTube comments seems pretty harsh overall (esp. re: the town-hall guy sample).

I don't hate the track - I've listened to it a bunch of times now - but feels like kind of a misfire.

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Wednesday, 20 June 2018 17:34 (six years ago)

xp gah!

piscesx, Wednesday, 20 June 2018 17:40 (six years ago)

nicki verse feels like a mistake

song is such a left turn i actually completely understand now why they'd have considered xxx for it, shipping it with a feature that communicates "left turn" and "underground" before you even hear a note of the song would have set expectations in a more reasonable place and x kind of had a monopoly on the venn diagram crossover space between "feels underground" and "does numbers"

ari seems to handle herself pretty well, the beat just doesn't feel like it's on the same level as "stir fry" or "neon guts" or "lemon" and the nicki feature kneecaps the vibe before the song even has a chance to reveal it

hope the other pharrell stuff is better and this one just got pushed out first because it was the one with space for a rap feature

james brooks, Wednesday, 20 June 2018 19:11 (six years ago)

hope the other pharrell stuff is better

imo basically no hope for this

flamenco blorf (BradNelson), Wednesday, 20 June 2018 19:14 (six years ago)

i would just really like to hear a new ariana grande record in my lifetime that doesn't have any max martin credits on it and one of the pharrell cuts hitting is the shortest path to that timeline

imma keep hoping

james brooks, Wednesday, 20 June 2018 19:27 (six years ago)

what's the issue with max martin? he doesn't have a particularly distinctive style & the tracks on Dangerous Woman that he worked on were largely great

ufo, Wednesday, 20 June 2018 23:13 (six years ago)

I hope they neglected to the clear the sample of the town hall guy; he sues and is granted an injunction; and the sample is removed from the track before the album is pressed.

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Thursday, 21 June 2018 16:16 (six years ago)

Like this but sounds so much like lemon
Not just the sample but the beat and bass

mind how you go (Ross), Friday, 22 June 2018 10:50 (six years ago)

Chun Li reference is tops

mind how you go (Ross), Friday, 22 June 2018 18:40 (six years ago)

I hate to be a negative nelly, but even that aspect of the rap is a little disappointing to me... it's obv. very standard for a rapper to call out their current project on a feature, but I can't recall it being done on an Ariana track before; and it makes the feature feel even more generic (when Nicki's past appearances were so special).

It's a bit head-scratchy to look back at the below except from The Fader article, after hearing the track:

“The Light” was made with a guest feature in mind, and Ariana auditioned eight rappers for the spot — “I don't mean to sound like a terrible person, but I wasn't in love with any of it” — before turning to her friend Nicki Minaj. She texted Nicki the song and asked if she would be interested in the spot. In Ariana’s words, Nicki was like, “Ho-lee-shit-I-love-this,” and called her on up on a rainy morning at 5:00 a.m. to come hear the verse. “I went in my slippers and pajamas to the studio and she killed it,” she says. “That's what Nicki Minaj does, she elevates a record. If you're going to have a rapper on a song, they need to really really really be there for a reason, and she does that every single time.”

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Friday, 22 June 2018 18:52 (six years ago)

this song is dope and yes it sounds like the best songs on the last Nerd album

billstevejim, Sunday, 24 June 2018 23:04 (six years ago)

wtf is wrong with all of you

billstevejim, Sunday, 24 June 2018 23:12 (six years ago)

I hope they neglected to the clear the sample of the town hall guy; he sues and is granted an injunction; and the sample is removed from the track before the album is pressed.

Otm. it's fine when Ari says the title phrase, but during the sung parts, I tried hard to mentally tune it out

Vinnie, Sunday, 24 June 2018 23:36 (six years ago)

Bud Light is coming, to give back everything the craft beer stole

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Monday, 25 June 2018 00:11 (six years ago)

I love this song

mind how you go (Ross), Monday, 25 June 2018 09:53 (six years ago)

Bill otm

mind how you go (Ross), Monday, 25 June 2018 09:55 (six years ago)

Chun Li is not a villain so the lyric is nonsense

mind how you go (Ross), Monday, 25 June 2018 10:31 (six years ago)

From M. Bison's point of view, Chun Li is a villain

Number None, Monday, 25 June 2018 11:02 (six years ago)

The beat at the beginning of the track reminds me of this classic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PD5HfM3DZt8

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Monday, 25 June 2018 16:44 (six years ago)

!!

ɹǝuǝʇǝǝʍs 🌫 https://t.co/kgaHLW2iQa pic.twitter.com/JOyKQL2iup

— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) June 26, 2018

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Tuesday, 26 June 2018 04:07 (six years ago)

frankie valli cover??

k3vin k., Tuesday, 26 June 2018 04:37 (six years ago)

Yes – it’s a fragment of “An Angel Cried,” titled “Raindrops” (it opens the album).

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Tuesday, 26 June 2018 05:00 (six years ago)

I am so "here for this," as they say

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Tuesday, 26 June 2018 22:50 (six years ago)

two weeks pass...

just heard "the light is coming" for the first time and... that sample sure is. uh. a choice. (that town hall is on C-SPAN, and it basically sounds like a Trump rally, complete with ranting about shipping out "the illegals")

aloha darkness my old friend (katherine), Thursday, 12 July 2018 15:42 (six years ago)

FYI, the “God Is a Woman” single drops today. Also she performed last night on the internets:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFjB7hJROyo

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Thursday, 12 July 2018 16:22 (six years ago)

lol @ vovo

self-clowning oven (Murgatroid), Friday, 13 July 2018 04:19 (six years ago)

Oh right, what I was here for. New song is a snooze.

self-clowning oven (Murgatroid), Friday, 13 July 2018 04:19 (six years ago)

I like it

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Friday, 13 July 2018 04:31 (six years ago)

I take it back, this song is great

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHLHSlExFis

self-clowning oven (Murgatroid), Friday, 13 July 2018 16:14 (six years ago)

Glad you came around :)

Yes, it's great. I have a few Hot Takes, but I'll just let it simmer for a while...

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Friday, 13 July 2018 16:25 (six years ago)

that guitar line at 69 seconds in (nice) is...from where? It's so familiar and I feel like I'm gonna say "duh" when I find out

Simon H., Friday, 13 July 2018 16:46 (six years ago)

I like it, but I'm a little disappointed that the lyrics boil down to "I'm really good in bed, huh?" instead of being an old fashioned takedown of patriarchal religion. it's the difference between wagging your tongue out at a tray full of donuts and actually having the temerity to lick them all. tbf a lot of people still find the song blasphemous, so some good work was done here

the yolk sustains us, we eat whites for days (unregistered), Friday, 13 July 2018 16:48 (six years ago)

wow that video is horrible

Hall of Fam (Spottie), Friday, 13 July 2018 16:48 (six years ago)

yep

song feels like "side to side" with its parts redistributed

princess of hell (BradNelson), Friday, 13 July 2018 16:49 (six years ago)

that guitar line at 69 seconds in (nice) is...from where? It's so familiar and I feel like I'm gonna say "duh" when I find out

― Simon H., Friday, July 13, 2018 9:46 AM (two minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

kinda like under the bridge a bit maybe

Hall of Fam (Spottie), Friday, 13 July 2018 16:52 (six years ago)

I don't think it's a sample. Could be wrong...

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Friday, 13 July 2018 17:01 (six years ago)

I don't think it's a sample either, it's just ringing a bell in a serious way.

Simon H., Friday, 13 July 2018 17:12 (six years ago)

FYI (if not already aware), the Ezekiel 25:17 monologue bit in the video was voiced by Madonna.

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Friday, 13 July 2018 17:43 (six years ago)

(don't know who voiced the gonzo interrupting-groundhog!)

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Friday, 13 July 2018 17:44 (six years ago)

this and no tears remind me of late 90's britney/bsb max martin more than anything he's done since then

re: the video and i guess the song, it would be wonderful to see this much audacity placed in the service of ideas that aren't corny as shit

james brooks, Friday, 13 July 2018 18:19 (six years ago)

i actually like the bait & switch of the title/concept but as a piece of music i find it pretty uninspiring

J0rdan S., Friday, 13 July 2018 20:32 (six years ago)

i actually like the bait & switch of the title/concept but as a piece of music i find it pretty uninspiring

― J0rdan S., Friday, July 13, 2018 4:32 PM (two minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

otm, I haven't been able to figure out anything to say but "this is fine"

aloha darkness my old friend (katherine), Friday, 13 July 2018 20:34 (six years ago)

I’ll say this —

If I were not already an Ariana fan, this would probably not be the track to make me a fan. But as a fan, I’m greatly pleased.

The song feels like an instant classic — as if it’s a core part of her repertoire, and it’s less than a day old.

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Saturday, 14 July 2018 00:22 (six years ago)

I really like it - but I don't care for the video. And anyway, who isn't already an Ariana fan?

Leaghaidh am brón an t-anam bochd (dowd), Saturday, 14 July 2018 01:00 (six years ago)

...a lotta people in my life (lol)

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Saturday, 14 July 2018 01:11 (six years ago)

that guitar line at 69 seconds in (nice) is...from where? It's so familiar and I feel like I'm gonna say "duh" when I find out

it sounds like JT's "cry me a river" to me.

Roz, Saturday, 14 July 2018 01:28 (six years ago)

two weeks pass...

Respect to the pop star who apologies for dodgy merch SKUs:

yea this looks wild and i can’t believe they sent it out. i’m on it. so fuckin sorry. the other merch looks perfect in person. i don’t wear t shirts so i didn’t have them send me this one first i’m so so sorry. i’ll approve everything in person from now on. this is trash. my bad.

— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) July 31, 2018

i’m still stanning (morrisp), Thursday, 2 August 2018 03:12 (six years ago)

"i don't wear t shirts" is iconic

J0rdan S., Thursday, 2 August 2018 03:26 (six years ago)

that entire tweet rules

call all destroyer, Thursday, 2 August 2018 03:49 (six years ago)

ariana rules

sleepy sweet (Ross), Thursday, 2 August 2018 17:20 (six years ago)

i like her.

akm, Thursday, 2 August 2018 18:11 (six years ago)

almost certainly the best celebrity apology I've ever read

but also the shirt kinda rules

wayne trotsky (Simon H.), Thursday, 2 August 2018 18:21 (six years ago)

two weeks pass...

Album out tmrrw, y'all

empire bro-lesque (morrisp), Thursday, 16 August 2018 23:35 (six years ago)

I hope this is a grower because after one play, it didn't really leave any impression on me. I loved No Tears Left To Cry instantly and nothing came close.

kitchen person, Friday, 17 August 2018 05:23 (six years ago)

Actually, Breathin is really great. I guess I wasn't expecting the album to be so slight. Will definitely spend more time with it tomorrow.

kitchen person, Friday, 17 August 2018 05:46 (six years ago)

"Breathin'", "Everytime" and the Imogen Heap cover seemed like the standouts among the new songs on first go-around. It has the air of a New Jersey to me unfortunately, but I may reverse my view on that in a week.

monotony, Friday, 17 August 2018 05:52 (six years ago)

Pharrell's contribution to the title track was a bad idea.

kitchen person, Friday, 17 August 2018 06:06 (six years ago)

i actually like this more than i thought i might... it's sort of weird that it starts off w/ a song that sounds like pharrell wrote it around the time of "blurred lines"... and "the light is coming" is still bad. but after that i think it's pretty nice. "REM" and "successful" sounded good as far as the pharrell songs go. her last album had a few incredible songs but lots of stuff i didn't really care for, this def feels like a better package to me but we'll see if the songwriting ends up sticking w/ more listens

J0rdan S., Friday, 17 August 2018 06:32 (six years ago)

Pharrell's contribution to the title track was a bad idea.

― kitchen person, Friday, August 17, 2018 2:06 AM (twenty-six minutes ago) Bookmark

there's lots of weird pharrell stuff lol... his ad libs on "sweetener". his presence is generally bizarre

J0rdan S., Friday, 17 August 2018 06:33 (six years ago)

oh wait that's the one you cited lol

J0rdan S., Friday, 17 August 2018 06:35 (six years ago)

this is very underwhelming especially compared to Dangerous Woman which is one of my favourite pop albums this decade. Everytime/Breathin/No Tears Left To Cry is the only part of this i can see myself coming back to but i do like how Successful kinda feels like Animal Crossing bg music lol

Dangerous Woman's highs were so so high and nothing on this really compares to Into You or the closing four tracks from Bad Decisions through to Thinkin Bout You

ufo, Friday, 17 August 2018 06:54 (six years ago)

this seems pretty low key, not much thrill.

goodnight n go is a really great kehlani song

InfoWarriors (Spottie), Friday, 17 August 2018 07:06 (six years ago)

The fact that nearly everyone concerned couldn't be bothered to bring their A-game to this is pretty depressing. The whole thing feels very 'will this do?'

Matt DC, Friday, 17 August 2018 08:01 (six years ago)

i love the pharrell stuff here

brackEt, Friday, 17 August 2018 13:57 (six years ago)

the light is coming sounds like bubble pop electric, a song he did w/ gwen stefani e andre 3000 15 years ago

brackEt, Friday, 17 August 2018 13:59 (six years ago)

Light is coming mashes perfectly with lemon.
Same sample too

Ross, Friday, 17 August 2018 14:36 (six years ago)

Same source. Not the same sample.

MarkoP, Friday, 17 August 2018 14:39 (six years ago)

lowered expectations did not stop the first half of this record from sounding like garbage to me

princess of hell (BradNelson), Friday, 17 August 2018 14:56 (six years ago)

"breathin" is fantastic though

princess of hell (BradNelson), Friday, 17 August 2018 15:36 (six years ago)

everytime and breathin both rule

J0rdan S., Friday, 17 August 2018 15:40 (six years ago)

i guess it shouldn't be surprising that the 4 Ilya tracks are the clear highlights and sound like the Dangerous Woman follow-up i wanted since he co-wrote/co-produced most of the Dangerous Woman highlights

ufo, Friday, 17 August 2018 15:46 (six years ago)

yeah "breathin" is a stand-out. I like that "blazed" is an opening track on a major pop album in 2018 and it's based around an upright bass, that song is growing on me. I like the stylistic reference to early ariana on the closing track. 2nd half much more enjoyable. But at the moment I'm in the "pretty underwhelming" camp :/

eeyore cohen, Friday, 17 August 2018 16:08 (six years ago)

The title track has to be the worst song she's done.

kitchen person, Friday, 17 August 2018 16:13 (six years ago)

Does R.E.M sample R.E.M ?

Didn't care much for the last two albums beyond singles but i might listen to the record if R.E.M samples R.E.M ?

Van Horn Street, Friday, 17 August 2018 16:17 (six years ago)

"R.E.M" does not sample R.E.M.

stan in the place where you work (morrisp), Friday, 17 August 2018 16:39 (six years ago)

Darn it Grande.

Van Horn Street, Friday, 17 August 2018 16:47 (six years ago)

"breathin" is even better than "no tears left to cry" and i might like "better off" and "goodnight n go" even better than "breathin"

the pharrell stuff is all terrible as it turns out and given time to sit with "god is a woman" i actually really hate it

james brooks, Friday, 17 August 2018 16:51 (six years ago)

I really enjoyed my first listen, but I was wandering about, grocery shopping etc., so I can't claim I paid much attention, or have any insight.

Leaghaidh am brón an t-anam bochd (dowd), Friday, 17 August 2018 17:43 (six years ago)

marko - sorry i meant to say same source, correction

Ross, Friday, 17 August 2018 17:53 (six years ago)

"R.E.M." is an early favorite (of the "new" tracks)... it "bops" so hard, as (I guess) the kids say

stan in the place where you work (morrisp), Friday, 17 August 2018 20:37 (six years ago)

how do you do, fellow bops

princess of hell (BradNelson), Friday, 17 August 2018 20:39 (six years ago)

"Bop-zizza dilznoofuses!"

stan in the place where you work (morrisp), Friday, 17 August 2018 20:46 (six years ago)

This album has won me over very quickly (even the Pharrell production). At its best, it’s astonishing good...

stan in the place where you work (morrisp), Friday, 17 August 2018 22:07 (six years ago)

I wondered about that extra silence —

https://variety.com/2018/music/news/ariana-grande-sweetener-get-well-soon-manchester-tribute-1202909136/

stan in the place where you work (morrisp), Saturday, 18 August 2018 01:49 (six years ago)

the light is coming sounds like bubble pop electric, a song he did w/ gwen stefani e andre 3000 15 years ago

― brackEt, Friday, August 17, 2018 6:59 AM (fourteen hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Oh my god I don't think I've thought of that song in like ten years

josh az (2011nostalgia), Saturday, 18 August 2018 04:23 (six years ago)

Bubble Pop Electric still sounds so great. It could well be my favourite Gwen Stefani song. Sweetener actually reminds me of what I didn't like about the second Gwen album. There are some strong moments (mainly Early Winter and the title track) along side songs where the quirkiness sounds forced (Wind It Up, Yummy) or just totally unfinished (Breakin' Up, Don't Get It Twisted).

kitchen person, Saturday, 18 August 2018 15:32 (six years ago)

R.E.M. is top hole.

piscesx, Sunday, 19 August 2018 01:47 (six years ago)

uh, gross

stan in the place where you work (morrisp), Sunday, 19 August 2018 02:26 (six years ago)

If I were pressed to say something negative about this album, I would say: (a) it may have been a bit overhyped for what turned out to be a very strong but also somewhat light & “modest” release; and (b) a few tracks, while good, lack a certain “Ariana-ness”... which makes the album feel like maybe a bit less of a “fan classic” than her prior three.

But some of the tracks are among her best ever!

stan in the place where you work (morrisp), Sunday, 19 August 2018 20:16 (six years ago)

I also think Dangerous Woman was a tour de force, musically — with the deep house elements throughout, the majesty of the final two tracks, etc. — and the other two albums had very distinctive musical settings, as well (on a track-by-track basis, in the case of My Everything). And that may not be quite so much the case with the new one (...though I will see what I think after listening loudly & closely a few more dozen times).

stan in the place where you work (morrisp), Sunday, 19 August 2018 21:10 (six years ago)

I ❤️ how “R.E.M.” alludes, in a subtle & sophisticated way, to “Mr. Sandman” by the Chordettes

stan in the place where you work (morrisp), Sunday, 19 August 2018 21:46 (six years ago)

“Breathin’” is #1 on U.S. iTunes... this song will be huge when released as a single.

*braces for threadban due to multiple revives*

stan in the place where you work (morrisp), Monday, 20 August 2018 04:01 (six years ago)

pharrell adlibs on the title track are really unnecessary but i like the song itself a lot. it doesn't remind me directly of frank's "pink + white" but it deeply reminds me of when rtc compared that song to scritti politti

princess of hell (BradNelson), Monday, 20 August 2018 14:57 (six years ago)

“Get Well Soon” is another super classy and sophisticated song that feels like an immediate classic... it’s gonna be a showstopper in live performances.

stan in the place where you work (morrisp), Monday, 20 August 2018 16:02 (six years ago)

^endorse the last 4 posts.

I'll throw in "Successful" (not sure what's going on with the lyrics here btw, the perspective keeps changing) and "Goodnight n go" as the other keepers from the album.

Jeff W, Monday, 20 August 2018 17:42 (six years ago)

Breathin is my favourite thing she's ever done. I wonder how often it is that an iTunes number 1 is an unhyped album track (track 9!) as opposed to you know, the pre-release track or the one with a big guest star name rapper or whatever. Maybe it happens more than I think it does but it feels rare.

piscesx, Monday, 20 August 2018 18:56 (six years ago)

(In My Feelings kinda did the same maybe.)

piscesx, Monday, 20 August 2018 18:57 (six years ago)

re: "Successful" -- there's something about the "Does it give you chills? Does it make you feel... cold?" bit at the end of the bridge of that feels like maybe a nod to Prince(?)

stan in the place where you work (morrisp), Monday, 20 August 2018 19:01 (six years ago)

"Breathin'" is such a big, wonderful, '80s-style club smash. The way the beat kicks in after a few measures of the chorus just kills me

stan in the place where you work (morrisp), Monday, 20 August 2018 19:06 (six years ago)

more like "sucksessful"

princess of hell (BradNelson), Monday, 20 August 2018 19:38 (six years ago)

i can't decide if i like "successful" or not.... that rinky dink ass 02 era neptunes synth... idk

J0rdan S., Monday, 20 August 2018 20:13 (six years ago)

it's grown on me

stan in the place where you work (morrisp), Monday, 20 August 2018 20:17 (six years ago)

bubble pop electric is a great song and has the benefit of not making me listen to a tea partier yell at me constantly

aloha darkness my old friend (katherine), Monday, 20 August 2018 21:15 (six years ago)

I was listening to Britney's Glory on my way to work this morning. I kind of feel like there's some songs on Sweetener that aim to be quirky and breezy in the same that Glory was, but just don't quite get there.

The album has grown on me a bit, but I'm still struggling with most of the Pharrell songs. The Light Is Coming, Sweetener, Successful and Borderline in particular are the worst offenders.

kitchen person, Tuesday, 21 August 2018 02:05 (six years ago)

when Pharrell deals you beats, makes the music sound like it is salt / listen to the album again even louder, to bring the bitter taste to a halt

stan in the place where you work (morrisp), Tuesday, 21 August 2018 02:34 (six years ago)

and (b) a few tracks, while good, lack a certain “Ariana-ness”...

― stan in the place where you work (morrisp), Sunday, August 19, 2018 1:16 PM


That’s an interesting point, morrisp... What this largely boils down to, IMHO — besides the fact that she sings in her lower register a lot on this album — is that her vocals tend to be recorded with an uncharacteristic reverb. Neither of these things are bad, of course; they’re just a left turn, a stylistic change. And change is good!

But it’s also why the relatively dry treatment of her lead vocal line in “Get Well Soon,” coming at the end of the album, is so refreshing — it feels like a visit from “classic Ariana.” I bet this was intentional!

stan in the place where you work (morrisp), Wednesday, 22 August 2018 01:42 (six years ago)

i really like almost all of this, actually. definitely a grower, but she uses the pharrell stuff to a really good effect imo—even on the light is coming, which is probably the one i still resist the most. i think it's interesting how she mostly (with the exception of the big singles and breathin) eschewed Big Pop to aim for something a lot more subdued? reminds me of Anti, less sonically than in structure and intentionality. probably not as *good* as Anti, which is a decade-defining album to me, but i really appreciate the way it performs intimacy and casualness.

austinb, Wednesday, 22 August 2018 02:33 (six years ago)

She has some interesting things to say at the beginning of this interview about her approach to the vocals on this album: https://youtu.be/PviZLT7HPys

stan in the place where you work (morrisp), Wednesday, 22 August 2018 03:46 (six years ago)

I don’t know much about her but I like the album so far. Even the Pharrell tracks !
Actually I find the title track - which most seem to hate - pretty catchy, especially the chorus.
Thinking about Pharrell I’m not sure there was ever another producer still making big hits/working with big « young » acts 20+ years into their career ?

AlXTC from Paris, Wednesday, 22 August 2018 19:00 (six years ago)

well there's max martin who also worked on this album

ufo, Wednesday, 22 August 2018 19:02 (six years ago)

I thought of Rick Rubin too, in another field but still successful !

AlXTC from Paris, Wednesday, 22 August 2018 19:07 (six years ago)

« Better Off » is so sweet and smooth. Might be my favorite track so far

AlXTC from Paris, Wednesday, 22 August 2018 19:12 (six years ago)

“Goodnight n go” deserves a Grammy® for all involved

stan in the place where you work (morrisp), Thursday, 23 August 2018 01:21 (six years ago)

This album will presumably square off with Reputation at the Grammys™

stan in the place where you work (morrisp), Thursday, 23 August 2018 01:26 (six years ago)

Ariana has had 4 Grammy noms, but 0 wins. If nothing else, “NTLTC” deserves Record of the Year

stan in the place where you work (morrisp), Thursday, 23 August 2018 01:49 (six years ago)

(But what do I know — I’m just a guy who thinks the “Oh, baby!” coming out of the bridge of “Break Free” is the greatest pop moment of the decade.)

stan in the place where you work (morrisp), Thursday, 23 August 2018 02:02 (six years ago)

Enjoying this album a lot. To my ears "Get Well Soon" sounds quite a bit like King.

Chewshabadoo, Thursday, 23 August 2018 10:47 (six years ago)

well there's max martin who also worked on this album

― ufo, Wednesday, August 22, 2018 3:02 PM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

not just max martin but his colleagues -- savan kotecha, rami yacoub, etc.

aloha darkness my old friend (katherine), Thursday, 23 August 2018 14:10 (six years ago)

I don’t love the swell of strings that closes “Better Off” (they’re a tad schmaltzy?) — but it’s cool how the strings return at the end of “Pete Davidson,” a few tracks later; tying together the breakup song and the new-love song.

—“Get a Blog” Jones

stan in the place where you work (morrisp), Thursday, 23 August 2018 14:16 (six years ago)

this album is fantastic but does anyone know why she starts singing the doug funnie theme song towards the end of "goodnight n go"

No organ. (crüt), Friday, 24 August 2018 18:51 (six years ago)

if only we could excise the town hall sample from "light is coming" and Pharrell saying "sheesh" over and over again on "sweetener" then I'd be closer to getting on board the bandwagon.

evol j, Friday, 24 August 2018 19:46 (six years ago)

The town hall sample no longer bothers me, somehow (I could even swear it’s slightly lower in the mix than in the prerelease version, but that may be nonsense). Anyway, I enjoy “TLIC” a lot more in the context of the album!

stan in the place where you work (morrisp), Friday, 24 August 2018 22:08 (six years ago)

I’m still listening to this everyday.

stan in the place where you work (morrisp), Wednesday, 29 August 2018 01:42 (six years ago)

can’t stop, so shut yo mouth

stan in the place where you work (morrisp), Wednesday, 29 August 2018 01:42 (six years ago)

Four iconic albums. 4-0.

stan in the place where you work (morrisp), Wednesday, 29 August 2018 02:41 (six years ago)

an (ex)acquaintance of mine said her voice wasn't great and i just had to walk away in shame

Ross, Wednesday, 29 August 2018 03:02 (six years ago)

yeah, one of my favourite albums atm.
it sounds more low key and personal than her previous stuff to me.

AlXTC from Paris, Wednesday, 29 August 2018 08:54 (six years ago)

i saw some tv award show performance of "no tears left to cry" where she was introduced as the voice of her generation and one of the greatest vocalists ever and honestly my thought (esp after listening to her good-not-great vocal during the performance) is that her vocal ability is way overhyped. i mean we live in an age where adele is assumed to be an excellent singer based mostly on her aesthetic so yeah i guess there should be no surprises.

dyl, Thursday, 30 August 2018 02:56 (six years ago)

i start the album at ‘rem’ and play it through from there, so good

flopson, Thursday, 30 August 2018 19:23 (six years ago)

She does a nice job here

http://www.thefader.com/2018/09/05/ariana-grande-thundercat-them-changes?utm_source=tftw

Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Wednesday, 5 September 2018 12:59 (six years ago)

Love this

Light is coming has that plunderphonics vibe with the burbling whistle synth fx

Title track kills my vibe tho

Ross, Monday, 17 September 2018 15:57 (six years ago)

Looks like the new tour won’t be happening in the near term:

According to her team, @ArianaGrande will be taking some time off given recent events: “She will be staying close to home and using this period to spend time with her loved ones and work on new music without deadline. She thanks her fans for their understanding.” 🖤 pic.twitter.com/TK8wkDHJRy

— Ariana Grande Today (@ArianaToday) September 18, 2018

growing up in publix (morrisp), Thursday, 20 September 2018 02:27 (six years ago)

I love the second half of this album.

The Silky Veils of Alfred (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 20 September 2018 02:30 (six years ago)

Yep.

wayne trotsky (Simon H.), Thursday, 20 September 2018 02:31 (six years ago)

Bought this on iTunes and it cut no tears from the album and put it as a separate single. Have to playlist it but album is growing on me

Ross, Thursday, 20 September 2018 05:27 (six years ago)

Light is coming reminds me of light works by dilla a lot

Ross, Thursday, 20 September 2018 05:34 (six years ago)

so much of this album reminds me of timberlake circa sexy back, but like diluted

dunno, it is pretty good but yeah i guess there is nothing new under the sun

ritual showdown (Ross), Tuesday, 25 September 2018 21:46 (six years ago)

It's like you're trying not to glow at all, Ross

growing up in publix (morrisp), Tuesday, 25 September 2018 21:51 (six years ago)

lol, honestly that is my favourite on the record

it has an interesting structure and many components that stick in my head vs. the usual verse chorus structure

also the beat rules.

ritual showdown (Ross), Tuesday, 25 September 2018 21:52 (six years ago)

Yeah I actually love it now

growing up in publix (morrisp), Tuesday, 25 September 2018 21:53 (six years ago)

two weeks pass...

New video just dropped -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTPW_cIYp9o

brush ’em like crazy (morrisp), Wednesday, 10 October 2018 23:40 (six years ago)

It’s literally just her pig walking around on her bed

Video of the fucking year

josh az (2011nostalgia), Thursday, 11 October 2018 04:02 (six years ago)

haha that's great (and so are the comments below)

Roz, Thursday, 11 October 2018 11:12 (six years ago)

Ahah is this real !!??

AlXTC from Paris, Thursday, 11 October 2018 11:32 (six years ago)

Reminds me of this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ossii9Ipiv4

piscesx, Thursday, 11 October 2018 11:34 (six years ago)

Goodnight N Go is amazing

alpine static, Monday, 15 October 2018 01:27 (six years ago)

Yeh best one on here

Machine Gunk Jelly (Spottie), Monday, 15 October 2018 03:17 (six years ago)

Word from Ari and her peeps is that she’s recording new stuff, and there may even be another album before end of year.

brush ’em like crazy (morrisp), Monday, 15 October 2018 03:45 (six years ago)

https://news.avclub.com/and-they-said-it-wouldnt-last-pete-davidson-and-ariana-1829752437

hmm, at this rate it won't be long before she won't be able to perform any of her Sweetener material due to painful associations

("Raindrops" should probably be cancelled next on the grounds that Frankie Valli is an asshole)

ghood ghravie (unregistered), Monday, 15 October 2018 19:41 (six years ago)

more like "sucksessful"

― princess of hell (BradNelson), Monday, August 20, 2018 4:38 PM (one month ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Ross, Monday, 15 October 2018 19:49 (six years ago)

yeah, successful is the worst track on this album

alpine static, Monday, 15 October 2018 19:52 (six years ago)

only thing close is that sheesh backing vocal on sweetener, which is like aural brain rot

Ross, Monday, 15 October 2018 20:03 (six years ago)

i tolerated it for 5-10 listens but now it's got to go

the town hall one, on the other hand, i've grown to like

alpine static, Monday, 15 October 2018 20:25 (six years ago)

feel the same

Ross, Monday, 15 October 2018 20:58 (six years ago)

I think the title track is strengthened by the bizarre ad-libs. They’re like an artistic “distancing technique” that subliminally focuses yr attention on the rest of the track, or some shit...

(Also, “Successful” is excellent y’all!)

brush ’em like crazy (morrisp), Tuesday, 16 October 2018 01:12 (six years ago)

I know Pharrell mostly sounds like Pharrell; but those tracks also do something for me aesthetically that’s similar to Bitter Tea-era Fiery Furnaces (if that makes sense).

brush ’em like crazy (morrisp), Tuesday, 16 October 2018 01:14 (six years ago)

blazed reminds me of rock your boddy (which neptunes produced in tandem with timbaland) - though not as good obvs

Ross, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 15:52 (six years ago)

Rock Your Body was just The Neptunes

Number None, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 16:07 (six years ago)

AH Shit i meant timberlake not land

Ross, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 16:09 (six years ago)

Blazed is soooooo much better than Rock Your Body

brush ’em like crazy (morrisp), Tuesday, 16 October 2018 16:16 (six years ago)

insane

Ross, Tuesday, 16 October 2018 16:39 (six years ago)

he’s a stan he has no perspective

princess of hell (BradNelson), Tuesday, 16 October 2018 17:05 (six years ago)

LOL -- fp'd Brad for anti-stannism!

Even putting the performers aside(...) -- "RYB" is a loping, lite disco-funk groove; "Blazed" is a hard, tight beat with acoustic bass stabs. Whatever floats yr boat...

brush ’em like crazy (morrisp), Tuesday, 16 October 2018 17:18 (six years ago)

when i’m a stan for anyone i have no perspective either

princess of hell (BradNelson), Tuesday, 16 October 2018 17:19 (six years ago)

It's weird, I've honestly never been like this with an artist before.

brush ’em like crazy (morrisp), Tuesday, 16 October 2018 17:21 (six years ago)

he’s a stan he has no perspective

― princess of hell (BradNelson), Tuesday, October 16, 2018 2:05 PM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

yep!

Ross, Wednesday, 17 October 2018 15:37 (six years ago)

la grande illusion

ghood ghravie (unregistered), Thursday, 18 October 2018 01:22 (six years ago)

Lol - je ne regrette rien.

a neon light ablaze in this green smoky haze (morrisp), Thursday, 18 October 2018 02:53 (six years ago)

i mean were all stans for some artist even when knowing that some material is shit (see tori amos for me) but like that missy elliott cameo on borderline is so pointless, what a non-starter

Ross, Thursday, 18 October 2018 17:45 (six years ago)

My (predictable) response: I love that rap, I think it’s great! :D

a neon light ablaze in this green smoky haze (morrisp), Thursday, 18 October 2018 17:58 (six years ago)

Goodnight N Go is amazing

― alpine static, Sunday, October 14, 2018 6:27 PM (one week ago)

Update: I did not realize this is a cover until 2 minutes ago.

alpine static, Friday, 26 October 2018 15:49 (six years ago)

Tour dates announced!

greta van vliet (morrisp), Friday, 26 October 2018 16:24 (six years ago)

Ariana grande on BBC1 tonight at 8

Leaghaidh am brón an t-anam bochd (dowd), Saturday, 27 October 2018 12:19 (six years ago)

Where do you see that? The BBC site has an Ariana interview + performance for next Thursday.

breastcrawl, Saturday, 27 October 2018 17:26 (six years ago)

Aw...yeah, silly Saturday papers telling me stuff for later in the week...

Leaghaidh am brón an t-anam bochd (dowd), Saturday, 27 October 2018 18:55 (six years ago)

Sorry about that. The paper did just say '8pm', in their recommended list, and I foolishly assumed it meant tonight.

Leaghaidh am brón an t-anam bochd (dowd), Saturday, 27 October 2018 18:59 (six years ago)

The BBC's website is geo-blocked, but non-UK viewers can watch the special here (the performances are excellent): https://consequenceofsound.net/2018/11/video-ariana-grande-at-the-bbc-special/

Here's one performance the BBC did make available on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHtgIWSUPew

greta van vliet (morrisp), Friday, 2 November 2018 19:41 (six years ago)

Bonus props to her for not pretending to know fuck-all about superheroes (in response to an 8-yr-old's question)

greta van vliet (morrisp), Friday, 2 November 2018 20:33 (six years ago)

Breaking... The new album (supposedly out before end of year) is titled “Thank U, Next.” #AG5

too busy or too stoned (morrisp), Saturday, 3 November 2018 14:26 (six years ago)

so is the...new single!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OeR5XBEahU

monotony, Sunday, 4 November 2018 03:20 (six years ago)

I like this more than anything on Sweetener.

self-clowning oven (Murgatroid), Sunday, 4 November 2018 03:22 (six years ago)

wow where did this come from, i love this, so much better than nearly all of Sweetener

ufo, Sunday, 4 November 2018 03:49 (six years ago)

she’s the greatest

too busy or too stoned (morrisp), Sunday, 4 November 2018 04:34 (six years ago)

Very nice song. Smooth and catchy. The lyrics are pretty good too.

AlXTC from Paris, Sunday, 4 November 2018 14:14 (six years ago)

Have any other popular songs expressed this particular sentiment? (Not looking to play “who wore it better,” just curious...)

too busy or too stoned (morrisp), Sunday, 4 November 2018 22:54 (six years ago)

ever? in history? lol

dyl, Monday, 5 November 2018 01:16 (six years ago)

props to her on breaking loose from that hideous cave-troll comedian

a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Monday, 5 November 2018 01:22 (six years ago)

xp Sure

too busy or too stoned (morrisp), Monday, 5 November 2018 01:33 (six years ago)

(Or within ILM’s usual parameters when we list songs that work a particular theme, etc.)

too busy or too stoned (morrisp), Monday, 5 November 2018 01:47 (six years ago)

this song is brilliant

J0rdan S., Tuesday, 6 November 2018 03:05 (six years ago)

the production reminds me a lot of her first album... the record scratches are really nice & unexpected

there's also a light bounciness to the production but a weightiness to the subject matter -- and that subject matter still being treated with a sense of humor and attitude -- that reminds me of mariah in a way that is flattering for not being overt (like "baby i")

J0rdan S., Tuesday, 6 November 2018 03:13 (six years ago)

The song is so disarmingly plainspoken and unpretentious; it feels like an artist simply and directly expressing something real and immediate (which it is).

too busy or too stoned (morrisp), Tuesday, 6 November 2018 06:18 (six years ago)

(Or within ILM’s usual parameters when we list songs that work a particular theme, etc.)

― too busy or too stoned (morrisp), Sunday, November 4, 2018 8:47 PM (two days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

this song is readymade for one of those threads, where 6-7 genuine examples are provided and then everything else suggested doesn't really work. this is a great song though and that is a good question, it was honestly my first thought after reading about it last night

flappy bird, Tuesday, 6 November 2018 06:24 (six years ago)

Yeah, my girlfriend and I discussed the same question after hearing this song for the first time. It's a lovely song. I mean, the tropes of the angry/spiteful/sad break-up song are so omnipresent in pop music, that this really does feel like something completely new. Having the maturity and humility to look at your past relationships and choosing to focus on how those people helped you grow, and expressing appreciation for them rather than seething in bitterness and sadness...I just feel like I never see that anywhere, let alone in music. I love when art pushes you to reflect on how you might approach life differently, and I didn't think an Ariana song would ever do that for me, but uh..it did.

triggercut, Tuesday, 6 November 2018 07:18 (six years ago)

otm. Jezebel wrote this thing about the song being "powered by pettiness", and it felt like such a misreading of its intent. It's easy to be cynical about celebrity relationships and the Hollywood news cycle, but Ariana's sunny KIP outlook strikes me as anything but petty.

Roz, Tuesday, 6 November 2018 08:37 (six years ago)

i dunno i mean, she said there's no shade but it's definitely shady c'mon! the repetition of "thank you, next" comes off as belittling to her exes -- especially pete -- even as she praises them. like, if an ex of mine positioned me in a succession of boys who were around to teach a lesson before the next one came along i would kinda be like "fuck off!"

i guess to me the reason this song is so good is that it works on both levels -- there is def something mature and forward looking and sweet about it, but i also just think there's something undeniably shady about the song on a base conceptual level

J0rdan S., Tuesday, 6 November 2018 15:35 (six years ago)

otm

lowercase (eric), Tuesday, 6 November 2018 15:37 (six years ago)

She doesn’t belittle Mac. Also, I don’t think she’s belittling the others, she’s being honest about them. When she says “thank you,” it’s genuine — there’s nothing catty in it. Though obv. the song plays on yr expectations of what a post-breakup song with that title would be.

too busy or too stoned (morrisp), Tuesday, 6 November 2018 15:55 (six years ago)

(That guy Ricky insta’d a “reaction shot” of himself hearing the song; and she was like, “Haha sorry, I gave you the worst line”)

too busy or too stoned (morrisp), Tuesday, 6 November 2018 16:01 (six years ago)

it kinda exists in a space between petty and legit grateful, which is how i feel about a lot of my exes

princess of hell (BradNelson), Tuesday, 6 November 2018 16:07 (six years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kN0iD0pI3o0

i love this song so much but admittedly she could remake "into you"/"touch it" for the rest of her career and i'd be satisfied

princess of hell (BradNelson), Wednesday, 7 November 2018 17:36 (six years ago)

Also, a fun live performance of "thank u, next" is posted @ https://www.ellentube.com/

too busy or too stoned (morrisp), Wednesday, 7 November 2018 17:47 (six years ago)

pic.twitter.com/1V5zcCe75W

— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) November 8, 2018

too busy or too stoned (morrisp), Thursday, 8 November 2018 22:10 (six years ago)

that "mmmah mmmah yeah" part she does 2/3rds of the way thru breathin' <- i'm dead

alpine static, Friday, 9 November 2018 17:13 (six years ago)

i guess Genius says she's singing "my air" so ... w/e

alpine static, Friday, 9 November 2018 17:19 (six years ago)

Number 1 in the uk. Her first since Problem in 2014 astonishingly.

piscesx, Friday, 9 November 2018 18:10 (six years ago)

does anyone have the vinyl for this? and if so, is the clean versions?

i bought vinyl from Amazon and they sent me clean mp3s. i can't imagine the vinyl is clean, is it?

alpine static, Saturday, 10 November 2018 07:57 (six years ago)

shaping up to be a huge hit stateside too. personally i don't understand the appeal

dyl, Saturday, 10 November 2018 16:45 (six years ago)

it’s the right song at the right time

too busy or too stoned (morrisp), Saturday, 10 November 2018 18:47 (six years ago)

xp whatever one thinks of it, it's undeniably unique subject matter / POV for a pop song - a rare thing - I totally get its appeal on that alone + it is very much of the moment

flappy bird, Saturday, 10 November 2018 22:03 (six years ago)

I love this song and that Ellen performance is so endearing.

monotony, Saturday, 10 November 2018 22:04 (six years ago)

so nice to see a little perfect bubblegum pop coming back around after a few years of nothing but drivel, not to mention its sincerity <3

meaulnes, Sunday, 11 November 2018 02:08 (six years ago)

hmmm

dyl, Sunday, 11 November 2018 02:18 (six years ago)

It’s now her first-ever #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

too busy or too stoned (morrisp), Tuesday, 13 November 2018 02:50 (six years ago)

thank u, next

flappy bird, Tuesday, 13 November 2018 04:09 (six years ago)

I just saw the ellen performance : it's great and so fresh and alive (the misstep, dance moves, laughters...).
regarding the track, I like the "hiii" she does a couple of times, right at the end.

AlXTC from Paris, Thursday, 15 November 2018 11:22 (six years ago)

just browsed several pieces of writing about this tune and am annoyed that it appears to be more frequently often described as "synth pop" and "pure pop" (?? blech) than anything else. if any r&b 'influence' is acknowledged it tends to be mentioned in passing wrt production -- no mention whatsoever of her delivery or cadence. like, hello?! the triplet verses? the punctutated 1e--2e--3e-- delivery of the chorus's final line? have any of these writers turned on an 'urban' radio station for the past 5 years?

dyl, Saturday, 17 November 2018 19:48 (six years ago)

it was also described as "bubblegum pop" upthread and supposedly a reprieve from the 'drivel' that has been successful on the charts lately (presumably rap music) so maybe it is instead i who is not seeing something. any help?

dyl, Saturday, 17 November 2018 19:50 (six years ago)

Nah, it’s totally R&B-“influenced”... that’s partly why it’s such a big hit, IMO

my guitar friend wants his money (morrisp), Saturday, 17 November 2018 20:00 (six years ago)

if a black artist recorded it it would be simply described as "r&b", no influence invoked or assumed. so i agree! but the number of people who seem to have failed to notice or are otherwise ignoring or downplaying this fact is worryingly high. (it's also possible that the articles i browsed were not representative and that all my hand-wringing is senseless.)

dyl, Saturday, 17 November 2018 20:05 (six years ago)

It is rnb but the most pop/mainstream side of it maybe (it reminds me of early 90s rnb/pop hits)

AlXTC from Paris, Saturday, 17 November 2018 20:10 (six years ago)

maybe my vernacular of bubblegum wasnt so appropriate. i just meant that its light, breezy, fun, simple and memorable in the same way songs like 'call me maybe' were - not abrasive, maximalist and full of millenial whoops.

meaulnes, Saturday, 17 November 2018 20:56 (six years ago)

the "My Boo" progression

billstevejim, Monday, 19 November 2018 07:16 (six years ago)

The much-anticipated (and -teased) video has premiered:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl1aHhXnN1k

very legal & very cool (morrisp), Friday, 30 November 2018 20:18 (six years ago)

this is very nice but unfortunately the ellen performance is still the official video

jolene club remix (BradNelson), Friday, 30 November 2018 20:20 (six years ago)

cute video!

dyl, Saturday, 1 December 2018 03:48 (six years ago)

Yeah the video is silly and cute but the Ellen performance is the shit !

AlXTC from Paris, Saturday, 1 December 2018 07:00 (six years ago)

just got around to the ellen performance, it is indeed very endearing!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tX_vx_s6Gr0

niels, Sunday, 2 December 2018 10:48 (six years ago)

really don't like the trans gag character in the thank u next video

ufo, Wednesday, 5 December 2018 06:40 (six years ago)

I was looking up Ariana Grande guitar chords (I don’t have a guitar) and discovered the chords to “Pete Davidson” are just BAE over and over and I can’t believe I just wrote the Da Vinci Code pic.twitter.com/L48k3V7o5i

— Grace Barry (@gracelbarry) December 6, 2018

underqualified backing vocalist (morrisp), Monday, 10 December 2018 01:23 (six years ago)

haha

niels, Monday, 10 December 2018 17:09 (six years ago)

A new single titled "Imagine" drops tonite, fam

underqualified backing vocalist (morrisp), Thursday, 13 December 2018 22:54 (six years ago)

It’s some next-level shit, y’all !

underqualified backing vocalist (morrisp), Friday, 14 December 2018 05:11 (six years ago)

"imagine" is pretty nice, especially the ending section - it's better than most of sweetener

guessing a christmas album release? that feels like something she'd do

ufo, Friday, 14 December 2018 05:27 (six years ago)

as in the album gets a surprise christmas release rather than she's recording a christmas album lol

ufo, Friday, 14 December 2018 05:28 (six years ago)

I know I’m prone to hyperbole ITT; but I feel like this year we’ve seen an already extraordinary artist just “come into her own”... she’s totally in the pocket, every release feels like a minor revelation. I can think of only a few rough analogies — witnessing an artist this perfectly in the zone — in my lifetime of music fandom. I’m so happy to be here for it.

underqualified backing vocalist (morrisp), Friday, 14 December 2018 06:03 (six years ago)

both "imagine" and "thank u next" are better than anything on Sweetener except the lead single

boxedjoy, Friday, 14 December 2018 09:41 (six years ago)

"imagine" def not as effortlessly good as "thank u next" but im just rly happy to hear her over some good production that is not pharrell or max martin

J0rdan S., Friday, 14 December 2018 15:52 (six years ago)

I've listened to "Imagine" a couple of times.
I don't find it particularly good so far (and not better than some Sweetener tracks).
But I'll certainly give it more time. Maybe it'll grow.

AlXTC from Paris, Friday, 14 December 2018 15:54 (six years ago)

"imagine" isn't a smash but kind of revelatory for me as someone who's been listening awhile to hear her release a very good song that isn't straining itself to be a smash

i would contrast with "god is a woman" which to me sounds like it's contorting itself into some truly grotesque shapes in order to go bigger and wider with each second that passes, by the end it's mike teevee at the end of charlie & the chocolate factory, towering overhead but so thin and wobbly that a slight gust of wind might knock it to the ground

"imagine" is much looser, more natural, more listenable, more recognizably human

i knew her music would get a lot better once she left max behind, i just never imagined it would happen so quickly

james brooks, Friday, 14 December 2018 18:02 (six years ago)

y’all and your backhanded compliments, lol...

I need to find or establish some kind of community of like-minded individuals... maybe I’ll hand out my card to other adult dudes when I see her perform at Staples in May.

underqualified backing vocalist (morrisp), Saturday, 15 December 2018 02:35 (six years ago)

I ordered pad thai tonite in honor of this song

underqualified backing vocalist (morrisp), Saturday, 15 December 2018 03:06 (six years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjQerQlqYgI

Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Wednesday, 19 December 2018 23:57 (six years ago)

Catch her performance on Fallon last night? It was tight

underqualified backing vocalist (morrisp), Thursday, 20 December 2018 03:13 (six years ago)

she turned down a damehood, respec!

calzino, Sunday, 30 December 2018 16:28 (six years ago)

<3

Driving Drone for Christmas (Noodle Vague), Sunday, 30 December 2018 17:55 (six years ago)

thank u, yes!

side a - thank u, next
side b - imagine
vinyl available now
🖤https://t.co/DrD7Oi96Ju pic.twitter.com/PITRnapGdb

— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) January 3, 2019

underqualified backing vocalist (morrisp), Thursday, 3 January 2019 03:51 (six years ago)

how often do major-label pop artists release singles as 45s, i wonder

dyl, Thursday, 3 January 2019 04:39 (six years ago)

**breaking** she’s headlining night 3 of Coachella (both weekends)

underqualified backing vocalist (morrisp), Thursday, 3 January 2019 04:54 (six years ago)

...now also Lollapalooza (rumored).

new single, “7 Rings,” out Friday:

indeeeed. but i guess thank u, next is more vulnerable and gentle lol. seven rings is jus like ..... a flex. friendship anthem. how the homies WANT u to feel. what the ‘thank u next’ energy evolves into while embracing a new chapter (even tho both moods /energies are v present).

— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) January 13, 2019

i stan corrected (morrisp), Tuesday, 15 January 2019 04:36 (six years ago)

meanwhile, check out my sweet ebay score that arrived today (direct from overseez):

https://i.imgur.com/XL5iFUy.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/2bb0Z7D.jpg

i stan corrected (morrisp), Tuesday, 15 January 2019 05:26 (six years ago)

POPS BEST 1000, y’all #reeemixxxx

i stan corrected (morrisp), Tuesday, 15 January 2019 05:27 (six years ago)

New song is “My Favorite Things” with some squeaky rapping 😂

i stan corrected (morrisp), Friday, 18 January 2019 05:43 (six years ago)

yeah, it seems bad after a pair of listens.

Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Friday, 18 January 2019 15:34 (six years ago)

It’s def. a cute “flex,” don’t really know what more to say about it...

i stan corrected (morrisp), Friday, 18 January 2019 16:55 (six years ago)

this song sucks ass

J0rdan S., Friday, 18 January 2019 16:59 (six years ago)

It’s catchy, but I really thought that the awful Carters album from last year signalled a bit of an end in relevance for songs about tasteless, excessive and wasteful consumption / flexing.

Like, compared to how much I enjoyed the overall message of thank u, next and No Tears Left to Cry, I find the “message” here totally odious in 2019.

Destroy capitalism etc.

triggercut, Friday, 18 January 2019 22:56 (six years ago)

http://www.katyjon.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Rik-Mayall-Rick-in-The-Young-Ones-428x372.png

i stan corrected (morrisp), Saturday, 19 January 2019 00:11 (six years ago)

well she's certainly doing what she's supposed to be doing

dyl, Saturday, 19 January 2019 02:34 (six years ago)

such a nothing-y track, its weird how all over the place her quality has been with these albums

ufo, Saturday, 19 January 2019 02:35 (six years ago)

it's going to be a huge hit

i will say one thing i appreciate about her right now is the pace of her releases. like if you're in a position to be releasing hit after hit after hit, as she obviously is, you might as well encourage radio to stop being so fucking slow

dyl, Saturday, 19 January 2019 02:38 (six years ago)

I think if she had released it soon after recording it (and the now-famous Tiffany visit), it would have had a fun, throwaway immediacy; a document of a moment in time. But to give it the long build-up treatment... idk, I laughed as soon as I heard her singing the melody. It sort of felt like being punked, or on the receiving end of a good-natured grift.

i stan corrected (morrisp), Saturday, 19 January 2019 02:59 (six years ago)

Ugh “7 rings” is such an annoying single.

✖✖✖ (Moka), Saturday, 19 January 2019 09:00 (six years ago)

And no this is not going to be a huge hit.

✖✖✖ (Moka), Saturday, 19 January 2019 09:02 (six years ago)

Or at least I hope it wont.

✖✖✖ (Moka), Saturday, 19 January 2019 09:14 (six years ago)

Time for new thread? AG5 tweets aplenty.

Jeff W, Wednesday, 23 January 2019 19:56 (six years ago)

The first three songs have already been discussed here, and it's all sort of the same "era" (as they say) as Sweetener... but I'm cool w/a new thread if someone wants to start one!

i stan corrected (morrisp), Wednesday, 23 January 2019 20:05 (six years ago)

just don't call the thread ag5

lemme stay .... in my bag ... cause i like .... when u mad .... issa mood .... issa vibe .... issa look .... issa match pic.twitter.com/5CVYoEDkcX

— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) January 24, 2019

it sure will be interesting to watch all of her critical goodwill evaporate in no time flat now that it's increasingly evident that she's fated to be the industry's female post malone!

dyl, Friday, 25 January 2019 03:51 (six years ago)

My daughter watches reruns of her old TV show Sam and Cat and she is an awful, awful actress.

kornrulez6969, Friday, 25 January 2019 03:59 (six years ago)

Really? My kids watch that (and Victorious) and I think she's great as Cat

groovypanda, Friday, 25 January 2019 19:29 (six years ago)

What’s wrong with 7 rings? Not an anthem maybe, but kind of fun.

rb (soda), Friday, 25 January 2019 20:16 (six years ago)

two weeks pass...

AG4 won a Grammy!

yuh yuh (morrisp), Monday, 11 February 2019 00:01 (six years ago)

finally, ariana grande has been recognized by the recording industry.

Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Monday, 11 February 2019 17:36 (six years ago)

It’s her first Grammy.

yuh yuh (morrisp), Monday, 11 February 2019 17:45 (six years ago)

which is surprising! I guess the only people who i'm happy to see a grammy are people who it might help book tours/sell merch and Ariana needs a grammy like she needs a new boyfriend.

Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Monday, 11 February 2019 17:47 (six years ago)

Which plucky upstart in the Best Pop Vocal Album category were you rooting for?

yuh yuh (morrisp), Monday, 11 February 2019 18:15 (six years ago)

Weaves

naw, i meant in the other, untelevised categories. this is cecile mclorin salvant's second grammy!

Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Monday, 11 February 2019 18:18 (six years ago)

Just realised that part of why I love Ghostin' so much is because some of the vocal melody reminds me a bit of Open Your Eyes by School Of Seven Bells.

kitchen person, Tuesday, 12 February 2019 04:09 (six years ago)

listening to this for the first time, pretty good so far but the chorus of "Bloodline" is an instant yikes

bhad bundy (Simon H.), Tuesday, 12 February 2019 05:02 (six years ago)

Wrong thread, fam: Ariana Grande - "Thank U, Next" (the album)

yuh yuh (morrisp), Tuesday, 12 February 2019 05:33 (six years ago)

two years pass...

This 1-hr. BBC concert/interview from 2018 was recently posted in its entirety* for the first time (at least here in U.S.); the performances are excellent:

*apparently, they held back "Better Off" at her request (you can find that separately)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDLRYnw_FWw

i woke up alarmed (morrisp), Sunday, 9 January 2022 17:30 (three years ago)


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