ThANK U, NEXT
Hey everyone and welcome. Today we will be taking a dive into Ariana grandes 5th album, Thank u, Next. The album came out in 2019, 6-months after the release of her previous album Sweetener and shot up to number 1. The album features a pop influence but incorporates trap and R&b elements as well. The album was born in the aftermath of a rough year for Ariana Grande and you can really tell that the making of this album was apart of her healing process. She really bares her her soul on this album and creates a magnificent piece of art. There are mix of songs that make you want to dance but also some that make you want to cry. Without further ado, lets take a deeper dive into this album.
Imagine-The album starts off with imagine a song in which Ariana really shows off her range. It’s a fun song in which the lyrics play out like a potential love story where Ariana is asking someone to imagine a life where they are in love and everything about her life isn’t highlighted in the media. It’s a great way to start off this album. And yes that is her doing the whistling sounds at the end of the song.
Needy - One of the slower songs on the album. Needy comes in and you really get into the groove with a simple but good beat and from the lyrics it sounds like Ari is talking about one of her insecurities which is being needy but also I feel like she is expressing how she’s had so much emotional stress and needs support and that she is needy because of that. She sings “lately ive been on a rollercoaster, tryna get a hold of my emotions” which I would assume has to do with basically the rollercoaster of events that had happened to her leading up to the recording and release of the album. Ari talks about being needy but also being extremely passionate for what she loves. I love seeing this more vulnerable side in this song but also I feel like she really acknowledges that it’s been rough and she’s hanging on to her friends
NASA-A song about just needing some space which we can all relate too. I think that This song lyrics really highlights that sometimes in a relationship you need some space because you are feeling smothered but this is not a breakup song. Ariana has this appreciation for space which you can see in some of her videos and naming a song NASA just further shows that love. She sings “its like I’m the universe and you be N-A-S-A “ because if you know NASA they always up to space being nosey. The song starts of kinda slow but leading up to the chorus it really picks up and the song is super catchy. I feel like seeing this song live I really got to see the love for the song because people were singing this song so loud and really enjoying it. Sometimes you just need space in relationship whether that be platonic or not and Ariana highlights how its not any hate, its perfectly normal. My favorite line is “ I cant really miss you when I’m with you” because you really can’t miss someone you’re always with and its not healthy so don’t smother your relationships, give people space!
Bloodline- On this track we see a fun side of Ari, singing about not having serious relationship but just wanting to have some fun. She sings “ don’t want you in my bloodline, just tryna have a good time”. This song is so fun and she sings about what a lot of people are thinking about when they are going out to a party or bar and meet someone. They aren’t looking for something serious and they want to have fun. Enjoy your time out and don’t be tryna rush into something serious, just have fun and go for a ride. you want them but you not tryna be tied down. I like how this song really shows off that fun side of the album cause we all tryna party and have a good time.
Fake smile- I think this title speaks for itself. Ariana sings fuck a fake smile and basically talks about how much she’s been through. It address the way the media and people on the internet have talked about her and how she is tired of putting on a fake smile for people. She sings “if I’m being honest, I done been through way too much I can’t fake another smile, I can’t fake like I’m alright”. I really like how she uses her lyrics to address this. If you aren’t feeling ok I know it can be easy to just smile and cary on but if you can be honest with yourself and be honest with others and if need be seek help. We often go though so much that others don’t know about and when someone ask if we are ok then we just say yes and keep on going. This song really highlights speaking about your feelings and I think feelings are something that should be talked about more in a natural way instead of us all painting this picture that we are all doing great and living the best lives. I like that Ariana decided to add this song on here and address this because she’s been thru a lot and I give her props for still being able to perform and create great music.
Bad idea- Bad Idea is a song in which Ari is discussing using someone to get over someone else, which is as she says a bad idea. The lyrics talk about “ yea imma call you over to numb the pain” which sometimes seems like it can be a good idea but is probably a bad idea . Once again Ari shows off those incredible vocals throughout this song and especially on the ad libs. if you listen closely, you will also hear Ariana referred to as Ari-chan, which is probably a shoutout for her love of Japan. The song is kinda upbeat and upon my first listen I didn’t really listen to the lyrics but enjoyed the beat and when I listened more I noticed the lyrics and the title made more since.
Make up-make up is a fun flirty track on the album. Ari sings on the song love it when we make up, go head ruin my make up, which you can interpret in your own way. The songs lyrics definitely hint at a kiss and make up type of deal after an argument. The song is a fun one about just enjoying that specific make up time that you have right after arguments.
Ghosting- ok so this one will hit you right in the feels. Ghostin comes in with these super sad instrumentals and then the lyrics. Ariana sings I know that it breaks your heart when I cry again over him, I know it breaks your heart when I cry again instead of Ghostin him. When a fan asked what the song was about on Twitter Ari said it was about feeling badly for the person you’re with because you love someone else, feeling bad because he can tell he can’t compare and basically how she should be ghosting him. Being in relationships and moving on is hard and many times you break up and there is still love there. Ari sings towards the end about how she’s a girl with a lot of baggage and I interpreted it as she knows this and feels bad that the other person has to deal with this. This song is great but it cuts deep and will definitely have you in your feels.
In my head- I think the beginning of this song explains kinda want this ones about. You’re in love with a version of a person that you’ve created in your head that you are trying to but cannot fix the only person you can fix is yourself, which is played in the beginning of a song and it sounds like a voicemail from a friend. Sometimes you just really want someone to be something and you create that picture in your head and everyone else sees something different. Sometimes you need a friend to talk some sense to you which is what I gathered from the lyrics. This song has this line “ look at you boy I invented you, Gucci tennis shoes running from your issues” and it just makes me think that she was like damn don’t get it twisted. At the end of the song she finally comes to her sense and sings wanted you to grow but boy you wasn’t budding which for me sees this as her finally realizing that homie is trash and its time to cut out the bullshit.
7 rings- Ariana grandes second number one. This song really brings out that more trap/r&b Ariana while also sampling a few of my favorite things from the sound of music. This song is such a fun song and there are so many lyrics that you can sing along too. I think we all aspire getting to a point where financially we can support ourselves and buy whatever we like. Ari sings I see it, I like it, I want it, I got it. I definitely heard that line for a minute in 2019 cause we all tryna be balling and spoiling our friends. Whoever said money can’t solve your problems? Must not have had enough money to solve them is probably one of my favorite lines.on this song . Theres a part towards the end that Ari shows off her rapping skills and proves she sounds good while singing or rapping. This songs I definitely a fun one to sing with your close friends who wish you can buy matching diamonds for 6 of your bitches like Ari.
Thank u next- the title track off the album which was her first number one. She starts off by going through her ex and kind of acknowledging that it didn’t work out but wishing them the best. She goes on to say she thankful for her ex’s because they all taught her something. I loved how this song isn’t shitting on the people you dated but instead acknowledging that and that you learned a little from each relationship but now are moving on . She moves on to something that I find important which is her relationship with herself. She says she met someone else on the song and one would assume that she’s dating again but she soon after says that ppl say she moves on to fast but this one gonna last because her name is Ari, and im so good with that. I love how this song preaches self love and growth because sometimes you just need to appreciate all that you’ve done for yourself no matter how many ups and downs you’ve been through. When I hear this song I think about all the growth she’s done. She had some really rough patches that not many people would be able to recover from and I think that thank u next shows that she is really trying to look back at these events and really grow from them.
Break up with your girlfriend, I’m bored-the titles says it all. This song samples *NSYNCS, makes me ill. This song has a great beat and you follow this story of Ari going after someone but this person has a girlfriend and Ari pleading for them to break up with their girlfriend because she’s ready to have some fun. This song is so pleasing cause you really just vibe out to it. I remember when this song came out I thought wow the name is long and it has an interesting title and then I listened and I was like oh shit this is a good one. This one should’ve been Aris 3rd number one but she was already occupying number one.
Almost 2 years later and this album is still good. When I took a step back and listened to this album and looked at everything Ari had been through from having a bomb go off at one of her concerts, to dealing with the death of Mac Miller who she dated its crazy how she was able to channel all of that into music. I think fans really connected to this album because of her vocals but also because she had been through so much and when you bare your soul into an album and talk about some aspects of her life that aren’t really out in the media but make it into this art form, people really resonate. If you haven’t listened to this album you really should. The three lead singles, thank u next, 7 rings and BUWYGIB are great but If I were to pinpoint a non single that is my favorite I would have to go with NASA. I probably like that one cause I love my space haha. But the whole album is filled with different songs to fit different moods so I’m sure you’ll find something you like.
