DELISA: Pop superstar Ariana Grande is having a
fun year. Her chart topping album 'positions' adds
to her collection of structurally sound projects.
Along with her whistling high notes and R&B fusion, it's her approachable
lyricism that connects the most.
DELISA: The 27 year old sensation weaves her
life into her music, from loss and heartbreak to crushes and all-consuming
love, in a relatable way. TAYLA: If you're making a song that somebody
can relate to that is a hit song. It feeling like you're in a group chat with
your friends. And people want to connect to their
favorite artist like that too.
DELISA: That's the voice of Tayla Parx, Ariana's
friend and frequent collaborator. She's lent her pin to a number of tracks like
"positions," "thank you next" and "7 rings" just to
name a few. She hopped on a call with Genius to explain how they approach
their work together.
TAYLA: It's always fun when you
can go back and listen to something and say
I didn't hear that before you know what I mean but they have to give you that
moment to be able to dissect those layers. I really like to,
you know, again putting in those little Tayla Made moments
is really what makes it go from a good song that
people like to a great song that people love.
DELISA: Peeling back those layers is what
makes her music so engaging and it might take a few spins to catch every
meaning, like on the album's title track, "positions."
DELISA: And though she adds moments for subtle dimension, she also finds time to leave
nothing up for interpretation like on "34 + 35" which is
a track about well... you know.
ARIANA: We heard the strings that sounded so like Disney and orchestral and
full and pure and i was just like, "Yo what is the dirtiest possible, most
opposing lyric that we could write to this?
TAYLA: With the way we were coming in and able to just find every metaphor,
every way that you could say i mean you enjoy,
uh, doing those things with that person, you feel me?
DELISA: Though she says a few things plainly, the project incorporates a number of
metaphors, like my "hair" when Ari takes time to give her partner a few
instructions and the personal quirks elevate the
track even further.
TAYLA: Her hair's been such a iconic thing for her, you know, I think
that that's something we all know. You know, I love the lyric "to keep
it real / sometimes it's tracks."
TAYLA: Those cute little lines and those very personal lines
are what makes it one of my favorites you know on the album and it's just
really really fun to sing.
DELISA: This openness isn't new for the pop star
Whether it's a club anthem or a love ballad, she always tells it the way it is.
TAYLA: I think that we were introduced to that bold, just say it right out type of Ariana with "thank u, next."
And no filter, no nothing, but it's done in a way that's really clever and I like that about it.
DELISA: 'My Everything' back in 2014 ventured into a more candid approach like on The
Weeknd-assisted, "Love Me Harder."
DELISA: And of course the link up with Nicki Minaj for the not-so-subtle "Side To Side"
off 2016's "Dangerous Woman."
DELISA: As Ariana's career progresses, what remains
constant is her ability to sharpen her personal approach
to lyricism, captivating her audience and inviting her fans to belt along.
DELISA: What's your favorite Ariana Grande lyric? Let us know in the comments.
I'm Delisa with Genius News bringing you the meaning and the knowledge behind the music.