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It’s Ariana Grande’s fourth studio album, which has made grown men cry. It this too good to be true or is it everything it lives up to be?
Rollarcoaster Year
Grande has experienced a very tumultuous year. It all started with the terrorist attack in the Manchester Arena after her concert in May 2017. She then had to deal with the affect of that trauma on her mental health. She then ended her long-term toxic relationship with Mac Miller. He was suffering from substance abuse, which took a toll on Ariana as she didn’t want to be a “babysitter”. A few days after the break-up, Miller was arrested for a DUI and hit and run charge. She soon moved on into a relationship with Pete Davidson and got engaged just a month later.
Finding Light In Darkness
This album is not the sad and dreary one everyone thought Grande was going to release, because she’s been through so much shit. ‘no tears left to cry’ is a positive and upbeat song which shows that Grande refuses to wallow in sorrow. The opening 30 second acapella showcases her vocal talents at it’s best.
‘Breathin’ explores her anxiety which she suffered deeply after the loss of 22 fans at her Manchester concert. Grande broke down in an interview, “You know, there’s some dark s— out there, man. And we just have to be there for each other as much as we can. Because you never fucking know, you know. So I wanted to do something to make people feel good and less alone”.
A Celebration Of Positivity
Grande added a short but sweet song for her fiance, ‘Pete Davidson’. She describes him as her ‘soulmate’ in the song which would definitely make any grown man cry! It is very admirable that she would give an insight to her own personal relationship and show how happy she is now she has found him.
Feminism is a lurking theme in Sweetener. ‘God is a Woman’ is an absolute pop bop to say the least. While ‘Successful’ is an uplifting anthem, which she celebrates the success she has achieved at a young age.
Grown-Up
Ariana Grande ditched the high ponytail look for a low ponytail. This could be a metaphorical symbol of her becoming a grown woman, as this album is a far more mature compared to her previous albums. She gracefully outgrows her teenybopper image, into a courageous woman. She finds a balance between pop hits, explosive ballads and meandering instrumentals.
Ariana Grande – Sweetener
sweetener out 8.17
She has come a long way since her Nickelodeon days, her transformation as a person and artist is admirable. Sweetener is something that she should be proud of, because she shows us that it is possible to move on from tragic events.
4/5
By Aoife Crilly
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