2018 was a very eventful year for Ariana Grande. While it may have been filled with ups and downs in her personal life, it was a huge year for her musical career. Grande released her fourth LP, Sweetener. It was her third album to reach #1 status on the Billboard 200, with over 232k units sold and streamed. According to Billboard, Sweetener saw the largest streaming week ever by a female artist. It was also the second largest week for an album by a female in 2018.
But there was more to come.
Grande had promised that she would be releasing another album soon after Sweetener, and here we are. thank u, next is the pop singer’s fifth LP, and tonight is album release night!
As fans everywhere gather to listen and discuss the album, I decided to do a reaction and review post. As someone who has been following Grande since her days on Victorious, I’ve always gotten very excited over her projects. I will be listening to the album for the first time, and typing out my feelings about each song, track by track. If you’re reading this, I invite you to listen to the album too – even if pop music isn’t your cup of tea.
(Here’s the part where I completely disregard the readability tool WordPress gives me. There will be fangirl jibberish at some point in this post. I know it.)
TRACK 1 – imagine
WOWOWOWOWOW OKAY OKAY OKAY I SEE YOU. We’re starting off with a slow song. Wow this is actually very sensuaL? I can feel her passion when she sings “IMAGINE A WORLD LIKE THAT”. She really means it. This is a great start!
TRACK 2 – needy
Not even 0:05 through and I already fell in love with the vibe of this song. Definitely faster than the first. This is a chill, modern R&B song (no baby making vibes). OOF those violins at the end sealed the deal.
TRACK 3 – NASA
TIME FOR THE TRAP BEATS! I feel like the music was really tailored for her vocals here. Everything compliments each other so well here. Please don’t call me delusional but there’s some points where she LOWKEY sounds like Tinashe. This is already my favorite song on this album.
TRACK 4 – bloodline
OH THE HORNS OR TRUMPETS OR WHATEVER IDK RN AHAHA if I weren’t under a billion blankets right now I’d be BOUNCING to this song. This song is going to go so hard at Coachella.
TRACK 5 – fake smile
THE CREATIVITY ON THIS ALBUM WITH THE LITTLE INTROS OR SNIPPETS OR SAMPLES OR WHATEVER (don’t yell at me for not using proper terminology right now ok my mind is going HSUAGAUIWSDZGHLUAWRHG) THIS WOMAN IS SNAPPING SO HARD. This is such a dope song that I think so many people are going to feel. Having to put on a fake smile sucks, it just feels disgusting. After everything Ari has been through, I can imagine she’s tired of it too.. and she is SO unapologetic here singing “f**k a fake smile”!
Sis… I feel ya.
TRACK 6 – bad idea
I had to look at the producer credits for this song immediately. Max Martin and Ilya. If there were some kind of miracle and either of them stumbled upon this body of writing, I’m saying THANK Y’ALL! THANK YOU THANK YOU THIS SONG IS A GEM IM CRYING. I WAS NOT READY FOR THIS. Tell me why does this feel like something Rihanna could’ve hopped on? I’m getting some throwback vibes here. 2:15 oH MYG OD. Oh man and then it stops and oH THE ORCHESTRA and then the trap comes back in. This is such a cool song.
I REALLY WASN’T READY FOR THIS ALBUM GUYS!!! NOPE!!!
TRACK 7 – make up
SHE STARTED THIS OFF SO BOLDLY YIKES! I love the little yey ey eYYY’s. THIS SONG IS A TEASE THOUGH. YAYOOAOG SHE CALLED OUT FENTY OMG. She could be so extra performing this live and I hope she goes all out. This is a fun one.
TRACK 8 – ghostin
What a shift. I feel like crying. I’m not even going to TRY to figure out who this one is about. Wow. This is so heartfelt man. I want to give her a giant hug here (like she’d ever let me hug her lol) GOOD SONG. I FELT THAT!
TRACK 9 – in my head
Okay now we’re back on the upbeat ish. The beginning of this song is TEA. The only person we can fix is ourselves. I love the humming or moaning or whatever that is in this song. It’s cute, it’s a bop – don’t have much else to say other than that.
TRACK 10 – 7 rings
So when “7 rings” first dropped a few weeks ago, it took me a few listens to get to like it. Not everyone’s going to like a song or an album on the first, second, or 10th listen. It grew on me and I LOVE it. To me, this song reminds me that it’s okay to want more. It doesn’t automatically make me ungrateful just because I want to keep getting the next great thing in line.
TRACK 11 – thank u, next
HERE WE GO! The title track for the album, and a song that took the world by storm when it was released as a single back in November. Some may feel that it has been worn out by now, but this is a classic pop song. Don’t act like you wouldn’t sing this at the top of your lungs when it comes on at a party!
TRACK 12 – break up with your girlfriend, i’m bored
The lyrics are pretty fun here! It’s a very catchy song and I think this is a solid ending for this album. This is also the newest single.
Now Here’s Where I Get Serious
Ms. Grande has another #1 up her alley. The album as a whole is much stronger than Sweetener. It’s cohesive. The subject matter has definitely taken a turn, because… life happens. thank u, next has a darker feel, and feels much more mature and futuristic. I think the general public will enjoy this album much more, but it’s a progression from Sweetener. thank u, next is a fun roller coaster ride (no puking allowed!) if you play it from start to end. It was very enjoyable to listen to, and that’s what pop music should be about.
Give the album a listen if you haven’t already and let me know what you think of it!
