JACQUES: Ariana Grande’s fifth album, ‘thank u, next’ was completed in two weeks amidst
a very trying time in her life.
ARIANA: I made it with like, my best friends over the course of a really small period of time,
and it kind’ve like...saved my life kind’ve.
JACQUES: Since the release of August 2018’s 'Sweetener,' Ari has gone through a lot--
from the death of her ex and best friend, Mac Miller in September to calling off her
engagement to Pete Davidson.
JACQUES: Grande, who recently took home her first Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album, voiced
her ire after Mac’s album, 'Swimming,' failed to win the Best Rap Album award.
JACQUES: The tweets were deleted but Mac’s presence can be heard on a number of tracks
on ‘thank u, next’ beginning with "imagine." In a tweet, Ari said the song is about quote:
JACQUES: These lines may refer to Miller's song "Cinderella," which is dedicated to Ariana.
JACQUES: “Imagine’”s second verse possibly alludes to the couple’s first kiss on the
music video set of 2013’s “The Way.”
MAC: So...come in and do a real serious kiss?
I can do that.
JACQUES: Ariana later added that “imagine” is the opposite of "thank u, next" and is like quote:
JACQUES: This explanation in addition to Miller’s bicep tat of the word “imagine,” gives
Ari’s words more context.
JACQUES: Next on "needy," Grande sings about taking time to herself, perhaps to grieve
Mac or continue to adjust after the 2017 terrorist attack during her concert in Manchester, England.
JACQUES: On “bloodline” Ari sings about dating someone only for the moment.
JACQUES: Although these lines aren’t plainly about Mac, they do showcase that she is not
focused on finding anyone else.
And on New Year's Day she tweeted quote:
JACQUES: On the fifth track, “fake smile,” Ariana speaks to the blame she’s received
in the media.
JACQUES: As it pertains to Miller, trolls have tossed blame Ari’s way for everything
from his death to his DUI in May 2018 . That month she responded to a tweet saying
the wreck was her fault because of their split by writing quote:
JACQUES: The album’s possible references to Mac Miller come to a head on the 8th track,
“ghostin,” which she recently said was the hardest to record and it almost did not
make the final tracklisting.
ARIANA: I was literally begging Scooter to take it off, and he was like you’re thinking too hard now
this is special and you should share it with everybody
JACQUES: In a reply to a tweet, Ari said ‘ghostin’ is about quote:
JACQUES: After Mac passed away, Grande ended her engagement to Davidson.
JACQUES: On "Cinderella," Mac rapped about Ari's place in his dreams,
lyrics Ariana tweeted in November 2018.
JACQUES: A twitter user pointed out how the beat, produced by Ilya & Max Martin, may sample
Mac Miller’s song, “2009” off of Swimming.
JACQUES: The second to last track is Grande’s hit, “thank u, next” where she names the
late rapper directly.
MAC: She’s like the greatest person in the world.
She’s like an angel.
JACQUES: If you’d like to learn more about ariana’s ‘thank u, next,'
check out the album page on Genius.com.
I’m Jacques Morel with Genius news, bringing you the meaning and the knowledge behind the music.
Peace!