Since the dreadful day of the Manchester attack, the world had been waiting for Ariana Grande’s return to music and to fame. Towards the end of 2017, the ex-actress, turned full-time singer, took a break from the public eye, secretly working on what we know now as a full length album. Grande’s album Sweetener took a very different approach to pop music, compared to her previous works. The petite diva is known for her pop hits such as “Problem,” “Bang Bang,” and “Break Free.” However, with this album Grande experimented immensely more with R&B than pop. With legendary producers such as Max Martin and Pharrell providing their talents, there was no way Sweetener could disappoint.
The first single off this album, “No Tears Left to Cry,” was a made-for-radio hit that was a perfect introduction to this new era in Grande’s career. With this song, Grande solidified the idea that this album was not going to be a melancholy recollection of tragic events, but rather a more uplifting way of being on the road to recovery. “The Light is Coming” was the next single off the album, further touching on the idea that “the light is coming to get back everything the darkness stole.” “The light” being the positive way out of a grave situation. The latest single, and arguably the most successful track off the album so far, is “God is a Woman.” The controversial title and video had mixed reviews but is one of the few tracks that does not delve into the phases of grieving. The song has an inspiring message of female empowerment, which Grande really set in stone when she brought her mother, grandmother, and aunt out at the MTV VMA’s. All 3 women having been major role models in Grande’s life.
Delving into the tracks that aren’t singles, “Breathin” and “Get Well Soon” beautifully depict the struggle of Grande’s anxiety. “Get well soon” especially has immense layers of harmonies and overlaid lyrics such as “girl what’s wrong with you come back down,” that allow the listener to musically visualize what it’s like to be stuck in your own head. To make the track even more significant, Grande purposely included 40 seconds of silence at the end of the song, making it 5 minutes and 22 seconds in length. May 22nd, 2017 was the day of the Manchester attack, further allowing Grande to honor the tragedy.
One notably swoon-worthy track is “Pete Davidson.” The album interlude is named after her soon-to-be husband, who took her off the market not long after it was announced that they were dating. With lyrics like “I know you know that you’re my soulmate and all that”, and “I’ma be happy,” make it clear that Grande is head-over-heels for her new man.
Overall, Ariana really hit the nail on the head with this new album. It’s a beautiful recollection of stories about hardship, as well as love. I would highly recommend listening to this album in its entirety. My personal favorites are “Breathin,” “Goodnight n go,” and “Everytime.” This new direction further solidifies Grande’s reign as one of the main female figures in pop music.