Almost three weeks ago, Ariana Grande published her 6th studio album, an event that I was personally extremely excited for, and an event that left me completely underwhelmed.
I won’t pretend that I’m a real fan, who has been following her career since her days as Cat Valentine on Nickelodeon, but what I can tell you is that ever since I started listening to her music, I’ve been a fairly consistent supporter of her music.
Like many other Disney stars, her public spotlight has allowed us to watch her grow up, and I still reiterate that she’s one of the most down-to-earth, compassionate celebrities out there, and not to mention one of the most talented, and that’s what made it so easy to support her journey. Even now, Grande has faced a backlash from TikTok celebrities for speaking out against those not following social distancing regulations to limit the spread of the Coronavirus. She speaks her mind and consistently tries to do the right thing, unlike many others in her industry.
Now, a triple-digit number of hits later, Grande is still creating content, like the Positions album released on October 30th, 2020. I would be lying if I said the music isn’t incredibly catchy, but it’s still missing that signature Grande spark.
It’s an indescribable feeling; Positions has all the hallmarks of a classic Grande album – let’s compare it to her last studio album, ‘Thank U, Next.’ Obviously, every piece shows off her range, as if she’s making sure we never forget just how talented she is, but it goes past that. Both albums have an empowering track with 7 Rings and 34+35, to slow jams that can make a person cry with Ghostin and POV, and even a super catchy title song, with Thank U, Next and Positions.
What’s missing is that personal touch. Whether with Easter Eggs in the songs, or Collabs with people important to her, Grande always leaves us with a little piece of her mind in her music. Last time, with Thank U, Next, Ariana took us back in time- reviewing her old relationships and analyzing them for what they taught her. Being the empowered feminist she is, she acknowledged that she’s just as, if not more, happy being single. But this year, she seems to have taken it a step further by not acknowledging her personal life at all.
As much fun as it was to see Ariana take over the White House in the Positions video, I really missed seeing her personality shine through the notes. Don’t get me wrong – most of the tracks on the list are incredible, and I would personally recommend quite a few of them. Maybe our favourite pop star is growing, and I’m genuinely excited about her next steps as an artist.
