Ariana Grande - "Thank U, Next" (the album)

By (sort of) popular demand -- and b/c the "AG4" thread is getting really long -- here's a thread for the new album, out Feb. 8:

https://284fc2d5f6f33a52cd9f-ce476c3c56a27f320262daffab84f1af.ssl.cf3.rackcdn.com/artwork_5c4a16888361b_AGRANDE_ThankUNextdigitalcover_3000x3000_5c4a1688a8f7a.jpg

Lots of info here, including track list / credits: https://arianagrande.fandom.com/wiki/Thank_U,_Next_(album)

Interesting to see that the usual songwriting crew is all up in it, including Max/Ilya (it came together so quickly, I had assumed maybe the Swedes weren't involved this time). The songs are said to be highly personal (as with Sweetener).

It's obv. unusual for an artist to release a new album less than six months after the last one... She's really rolling, and also at sort of a career high point at the moment. Of course, three of the songs have already been released, two of which are excellent!

expecting "bloodline" will kick ass

.@ArianaGrande’s “thank u, next” and @MariahCarey’s “Daydream” are the only female albums to have multiple singles debut at No. 1 on the Hot 100 ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/ZA4LHzoGhE

— Ariana Grande Today (@ArianaToday) January 28, 2019

...apparently Britney achieved it, too. A little more chart trivia:

https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8495202/ariana-grande-7-rings-hot-100-number-one-debut

In the Hot 100's history, Grande is the first artist whose first two No. 1s have both debuted at the pinnacle.

(Before "Next" and "Rings," no female artist had entered atop the Hot 100 since Adele with "Hello" in November 2015; seven songs then started at No. 1 until "Next.")

brit's #1 debuts weren't from the same album

Ah

https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/30/entertainment/ariana-grande-tattoo/index.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkxbLygu9nI

Feel like the accomplishment of debuting at #1 these days is in large part about whether you can instantly command social-media attention and YouTube eyeballs. "Thank U, Next" and "7 Rings" were both Trending Topics as soon as they were released.

^ should become the definitive version of that song

(i understand if i am banished from this thread after what i said elsewhere)

Nah, it's all good! Just show us yr palm tattoo -- that's the ticket back in ;)

(sorry if I was harsh on that other thread, actually)

I still don’t care for “7 Rings” all that much — mainly b/c it recycles an overly familiar melody, and has some weak lyrics — but my hope/expectation is that it will turn out to be an anomaly in the context of the album (e.g., none of the other song credits include Rodgers & Hammerstein).

AG’s only truly weak album track until
now, for my frequent-listening dollars, is “Daydreamin’” (what do you even call that particular style? “‘Happy Birthday, Mr. President’ burlesque”?); so she was probably due for another. Naturally, I am happy for the single’s success, its chart achievements, etc.

I usually hate the recycled melody trick - All Saints's "Never Ever" always rubs me wrong - but I don't hate "7 Rings". It'll be fine as an album track.

xp yeah, sorry to be preachy

I do prefer the 2 Chainz remix, fwiw

Ugh of course “7 rings” made it to #1 on the charts. Closing this decade with disgusting singles seems apt I guess.

i’ll give y’all a million to get off my nuts https://t.co/7yMyP0eHtt

— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) February 2, 2019

otm

Why have I not been following her??

that tattoo situation is v unfortunate tho

hopefully by now everyone should know that you should never get a tattoo of a script that you don't know how to read

she is now tweeting about the 'appropriation'/'appreciation' dichotomy but specifically in relation to this tattoo and not, like, her entire image for this album cycle so far wrt black culture

Not sure about “album cycle”; I think the issues have mainly come up with “7 Rings” and its video. She briefly tried to address one of the criticisms (re: hair), I can point you to Instagram post if you’re really interested.

My hope/expectation is she will course correct if necessary... she seems generally open to learning from comments/criticism.

that is a great tweet

Totally
Also this girl is really converting haters left and right liiikkke I haven't seen the likes of this ever
She's right to ride that roll

In the runup to album release -- a quick post highlighting Tayla Parx, one of its main contributors (she worked on five songs, including the title track), and who also has a ton of other high-profile songwriting credits: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tayla_Parx

...plus some really good singles under her own name: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXR82zHJ6FuWccQQqxtNHyw

yes for sure, i was a fan of "slow dancing" last year. didn't realize she had released more since then!

oh dang, just got to "me vs. us". hope tayla blows up

i forgot she was among the "pynk" writers

album has leaked and... it's only ok?

it's good, more consistent than Sweetener. I'm in love with "Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I'm Bored."

I've been waiting for someone to write what I've long thought.

Can't wait to hear it... (unfortunately, I may not get a chance to really dive in until early next week).

As opppsed to my teen daughter, I've been enjoying her latest singles.

I'm seeing a few ways to read that sentence

AG just fired off a nice series of tweets regarding the Grammys brouhaha.

i liked those tweets too. it's the sort of thing that reminds me that hey, these silly awards ceremonies won't be around forever and may in fact collapse under their own self-importance far earlier than we think

Another in a long series of hella cheezy videos... (the song's a banger, tho)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH4Y1ZUUx2g

(sounds a little like something from Reputation, in a few spots)

Previewing the album now... "Needy" is pure AG/Brown/Monét/Parx greatness!

"NASA" is perfect, damn

"Bloodline" swings

(Her songs never sound anything like I expect them to, based on the titles alone... guess that's a somewhat trivial observation.)

"Fake Smile" is excellent... I don't recognize any of the other credited songwriters on this track? (two of them are via the sample that kicks it off; Wendy Rene's "After Laughter (Comes Tears)")

"Bad Idea" = very Max/Savan/Ilya. Their traxx tend not to feel as "personal" to AG and her style as the ones she records w/Tommy et al., but they do tend to be effective bangers.

(...cool outro, too)

Luv "Make Up"... another light, swinging, tropical-feeling groove (damn, it's over already?)

This album feels, in the best possible way, like it was written & recorded quickly -- from inspiration to studio to wax, with little time for second-guessing or "overworking."

"Ghostin" is dreamy

The lyrics involve a very specific type of relationship situation, I like when a song goes for that.

It’s great ! Very catch and smooth. Perfect for the summer.

heard it on the radio. sounds like more of the same. is this supposed to be leading off a new project?

No, it’s a one-off they made while on tour.

Also (fwiw), just read that she and Mike from Social House (the first of two guys in the song) have reportedly started dating.

(I wouldn’t normally mention that or care, but I guess it’s relevant/interesting to the extent the song may reflect the actual contours of their relationship)

x_x “chals91”

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EDVsVloU8AAPAil?format=jpg&name=large

technically speaking none of this says there isn't live autotune

I think the “naw” covers it — but judge for yrself: http://instagr.am/p/B1z5-g2Fl6i/?igshid=6k16bsnrjy6n

Some of the best proof that she can cut it live, and *how* is this from Ellen, she almost falls off the chair and utters a panicked 'OHMYGOD!' before regaining composure, carrying on, getting a fit of the giggles, calming down, then occasionally giggling some more every time she catches sight of one of her dancers, then they all float up the staircase.

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

That reminds me I have watched a youtube video about AG hitting a specific note in one song with clips from ALL the dates of the tour... it's like +10min of the same moment of one song on every night of the tour... I don't know how and why I went through that but that was actually quite hypnotic (and an evidence that she sings for real on tour !).

It was this !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8Lm-J9BA_U

F5 G5 F5
G5 F5

Btw, I have a ticket to the final (added) show of the tour, at the Forum on Dec. 22. That will be two Ariana Grande shows in one year!

It’s no “Bang Bang,” but it’s a good jam:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leopt__ATR0

Don’t know where Wikipedia got this info, I can’t find it anywhere else, but:

Songwriter(s)
Alma-Sofia Miettinen
Savan Kotecha
Miley Cyrus
Lana Del Rey
Max Martin
Ariana Grande
Ilya Salmanzadeh

Producer(s)
Ilya
Max Martin

the credits on tidal match that

Well, this is... not good (and far from "Independant Women").
Disappointing. Funny though how the song changes totally and turns into a LDR song during her part !

Nice vocal by AG on this new recording of an (oft-covered) classic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gJLWMM0-YU

I've never fully loved that song but this version makes me almost as happy as my daughter is gonna be when she hears it <3

On the heels of the Chenoweth collab (too early for Xmas tunes?):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWqDwdY0VAg

I picked up the Charlie’s Angels soundtrack... it won’t change yr life, but there are a few nice cuts.

Good attitude, IMO...

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EEhJLRTUwAEDmbR?format=jpg&name=large

I don't care about charts or medias whatsoever but this is simply not very good, imo (talking about her contribution to the soundtrack only, I haven't listened to the rest).

She’s on 5 of the tracks (and as I said, they won’t change yr life... I’m a completist, tho)

(The “Boyfriend” CD single that I ordered on Aug. 2 just shipped today :p)

Yeah, I was talking about her 5 tracks, all of them pretty meh imo which is disappointing since I was looking forward to new material from her (but she's been on fire - and on tour - for a while, up until "Boyfriend", so that's cool !).

I think “How I Look on You” is a good song; it could have fit on Thank U, Next

(I also like how its opening chords brush against the Star Wars "Imperial March," lol)

The final show of the tour is tonight... I'll be there (alone ;P), in my fLoOr sEaT. Looking forward to it!

She's also dropping a live album from this tour, sometime before end of year (maybe tonite).

I'm jealous. I am kinda surprised she never came back around to do an arena show here (in Manchester) although given the you know 'circumstances' i can understand it.

The show was great. She was v emotional / in tears for much of it (as it was the 100th / final show), and delivered a long, heartfelt thanks to everyone who worked on the tour & made it happen.

The highlight for me was the bopping version of “Honeymoon Ave.”!

https://i.imgur.com/bEOJuEL_d.jpg?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=medium

Very much down for this live album.

The live album is good — they did a nice job w/the sound mix.

...I will add that it doesn’t replicate the experience of an Ariana Grande concert, where your favorite songs are being performed hella loud, and you’re dancing & yelling your a$$ off among like-minded individuals (but you already know that about concerts).

Cool new song snippet:

i miss making things
can’t wait to get back to work
but for now
let’s stay inside pls pic.twitter.com/MbvGeq6KBY

— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) March 24, 2020

my queen <3

as snippets go, that is lovely

october surprise

i can’t wait to give u my album this month

— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) October 14, 2020

Btw - Thank u, next has pretty much become my default/go-to album (...& not just my go-to Ariana Grande album, but album in general).

I'm happy she's enjoying her musical theatre but I'm ready for a new album ffs get on with it

Ah funny, I just went back to « positions » for the first time since around its release. I never got into it as much as « Thank U, next » and well, it’s nice but still doesn’t really work for me. Was it successful ? I hope she’ll release a new one soon !

Btw, she’s funny in « don’t look up » !

xxp – I was gonna say… hope you’re at least aware of the album that came after this one (lol)

demanding that artists pump out content constantly is one of the things that kinda sucks about music in the internet/streaming era.

she released her last album 14 months ago! and she released albums in 2018, 2019 and 2020!

i guess re-reading you, NV, you're not saying "she's due" just that you're ready. fair enough. but at this point i think she could wait till 2023 and it'd be completely reasonable/understandable.

Positions is my fave basically

Nothing about my post was intended to be reasonable 😀

I'm happy she's enjoying her musical theatre but I'm ready for a new album ffs get on with it

^thought of the above convo when I came across this item

well that's me told :D

Kind of a bummer, but she’s doin her thing I guess

i happened to listen to 'thank u next' today, easily one of the best pop albums of the last 5 years