of the world. After a lot of turmoil involving break ups, being groped on live television and having to deal with the death of an ex-boyfriend, Grande bounced back with her inspirational smash hit, “Thank U, Next.”
Looking untouchable, many waited with bated breath on the follow up. “7 rings” was released as the next single, and it has only been a disaster since then.
Coverage of Grande’s music went from themes of inspiration to themes of mockery and criticism. News sites, as well as people on social media, were throwing jabs at her two failures of getting a tattoo that properly translated to “7 rings” in Japanese, as well as three different artists bringing accusations of cultural appropriation and thievery of imagery, flows and lyrics.
Add on the fact that “7 rings” is by far one of the worst songs she has ever recorded, it left a sour impression that Ariana Grande wouldn’t be able to top what I believe to be her best album to date, “Sweetner.”
Now that I’ve heard it, I can say I was half right. “Thank U, Next” definitely does not top “Sweetner.” While its flaws are numerous and glaring, this album is still a solid effort that is worth a listen.
The album starts awkward and slow – “Imagine” in particular, with its clunky and stagnant beat, doesn’t lend well to Ari’s singing. The random heavy bass at the end with whistling turns an otherwise boring song into an unlistenable one.
The album only picks up from there with songs like the adorably intergalactic bop “NASA,” the introspection of “Fake Smile,” and the exciting horns and catchy hook of “Bloodline.”
I had to remind myself that I love a lot of the tracks. It’s just easy to forget that I do because of the horrible first and last impression the album leaves.
“7 rings” is at the tail end of the album. With its use of The Sound of Music’s “Favorite Things” combined with the sheer lack of structuring in the track, it feels like the laziest track on the album, as well as sticking out like a sore thumb.
A lot of the tracks on this album deal with the intricacies of emotion, heartbreak and vulnerability. To transition from that to a song bathed in shallow and generic flexing taken right out of your average trap song is jarring at best and actively frustrating at worst.
It’s the same issue with the latest single and album closer “Break up with your girlfriend, I’m bored.” It’s another slow tempo track that delves into an uncaring need to steal someone’s boyfriend.
There’s nothing wrong with songs like this, and I know many pop stars make them. However, in my opinion Grande doesn’t have the personality to properly sell it. She has tried on many occasions to have a savage edge to her music along the lines of frequent collaborator Nicki Minaj.
But Grande’s voice is far too angelic and easy on the ears for it to feel like a fierce attack. She is far too an emotional singer to properly portray cold and heartless, not to mention the real-life personality of Grande doesn’t seem to match this. When met with criticism for her tattoos and accusations of cultural appropriation, she responds with pleas for sympathy rather than any bite or counter criticism. It just doesn’t mesh well.
These inconsistencies in tone, as well as some of the worst songs Grande has made in her career tacked onto it, it’s a shame that this album couldn’t reach the potential some of the tracks showed it could have.
Those songs are in fact good enough to keep me out of claiming this album as bad. It’s a mixed bag with extreme lows, but enough extreme highs for me to recommend you don’t say “Thank U, Next” to this one.
