It's been about two weeks since the release of "Sweetener," Ariana Grande's fourth (and highly anticipated) studio album, and I have some things to say. Some songs were masterpieces, and some needed some work. While I do have some favorites, there were other songs that I didn't favor as much. With that being said, I do believe Ariana, Pharrell, and everyone who worked on "Sweetener." They did a great job producing an overall well-made album. Since we're going for #positivevibes, I've decided to talk about a few of the songs I actually enjoyed from "Sweetener."
DISCLAIMER: "God is a woman" is actually my second favorite of the album, but because I already discussed the song in a previous article (go check it out here *wink wink*) I have decided to exclude it from this article.
3. "everytime"
When the album was first released, I skipped this song as I thought I would be bored with it from the beginning. The next morning I woke up and listened to it and I was so wrong. I fell in love with the softness of the intro leading up to the more upbeat R&B tone of the song. This song is also a masterpiece lyrically. She talks about how she wants to get over a past relationship, but she keeps falling for him over and over again. She says "I get drunk, pretend that I'm over it / Self-destruct, show up like an idiot / Why, oh why does God keep bringing me back to you?" In these lyrics, she's saying how she pretends that she's over her ex-lover, but she blames God for bringing them back together. Overall, this song checks all the boxes for me: music, beat, vocals, lyrical meaning.
2. "R.E.M"
In the weeks leading up to the album's release, there was a lot of buzz going on about "R.E.M." and how good the song was. I then found out that Beyoncé (yes, Beyoncé) actually did a demo with the same hook and had the song titled as "Wake Up." It was supposed to be on her Self-Titled album, however, it was ultimately sold to Ariana. If you listen to the Beyoncé demo, you'd get a more sultry, seductive vibe from her delivery.
In Ariana's version, there's a sort of "dreaminess" to the song as Ariana's vocals are much higher and softer than Queen Bey's. In this song, Ariana is talking about how her current lover (most likely Pete Davidson) is such a dream to be with and she never wants to "wake up" from that dream. Ultimately, the vibe of the song is very calm and relaxed which I really enjoy. Lyrically, it's a very cute song to dedicate to a significant other.
1. "breathin"
OH, do I have a lot to say about "breathin." Much like everyone else, "breathin" was my favorite from the album's release. I would easily compare it to "Into You" from Ariana's previous album, "Dangerous Woman." I say this because it starts out low and slow, and then it picks up after the first to be a pop masterpiece. This song is about Ariana's battle with her anxiety and how she tells herself that although being so famous may be difficult, she must keep on breathing and move forward.
Ariana appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon" after the release of her album where she explained the deeper meaning of "breathin." She says, "'breathin' is about breathing…when you're anxious. It's about anxiety and feeling like you can't…you know, when you can't get a full breath." Lyrically, this song means so much, as Ariana is being so real and raw about her personal traumas and inner demons. It makes you think that even the most rich and famous still feel anxious, depressed, stressed, or pressured. This song almost brings us fans to a personal level with Ariana.
I must say, I was very impressed with "Sweetener," as I was kind of skeptical with how the album would sound as a whole. Especially after the release of "the light is coming" which I did not enjoy one bit at first. Thankfully, I was proven wrong. I'm very pleased with the maturity of "Sweetener," as the "bubblegum pop" sound Ariana initially had wasn't really working well with her maturing audience.
Be sure to buy/stream "Sweetener" available on all streaming services and in stores!
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