February 8th Midnight ET - Ariana Grande released her latest album, Thank U, Next. The album is her fifth studio album, and it features the self-titled breakup song and “7 Rings,” both singles debuted on Billboard Hot 100 at Number One. Thank U, Next comes only six months after her fourth studio album, Sweetener.

The road to this album has not been an easy one as the singer has dealt with heartache, loss, and pain. Ultimately love from her family, friends, and fans have kept her strong as she dove into her craft to heal. Thank U, Next is vulnerable as it lets listeners into Ariana’s mind as she deals with the ups and downs of her personal life. The arrangement of the tracks is another nod to Ariana Grande’s artistry; it shows the ups and lows that are common when dealing with everyday life.

 “Imagine” opens the album as it serenades like a siren song of what could’ve been for a failed or unrequited love. Now that Ariana has gained your attention we dive deeper with “Needy.” The second track “Needy” is honest about Ariana’s flaws and tendency to be needy. The track is relatable as it speaks to the imperfections and duality that is to be human.

 “And I'ma scream and shout for what I love ... Passionate, but I don't give no fucks ...
I admit that I'm a lil' messed up ... But I can hide it when I'm all dressed up ...” - Ariana Grande, Needy, Thank U, Next 2019

Ariana addresses the other side of the coin with “NASA,” as she discusses how she needs space and does not need to be co-dependent so she can “self-discover” things about herself. A nod to the importance of self-love and knowing you have to love yourself and it’s okay to be in a relationship and still enjoy your alone time. “Bloodline” is a fun track about Ariana wanting to have sex and not wanting strings attached to a sexual encounter as she doesn’t want them in her bloodline. “Fake Smile” is a beautiful track that is pure with the emotion Ariana feels and she will not suppress it with a fake smile. “Bad Idea” is a track that you can jam out to by yourself or with your lover, as it is sensual and playful. “Make Up” uses wordplay about relationships and beauty products; the joy that comes from making up with a significant other and beat face of makeup. 

“Ghostin” breaks down the use of a contemporary slang term for when someone completely cuts someone off out of nowhere. This ideology is what the meaning of the song could be while looking at the surface however after further examination of the lyrics it could be referring to not being able to let go of an old love while in a new relationship; not able to 'ghost' them. (*In this case crying over the loss and pain of the death of rapper, and Ariana’s ex-boyfriend, Mac Miller, while engaged to her then-boyfriend Pete Davidson* ALLEGEDLY). 

The ninth track “In My Head” deals with Ariana only seeing the good in people, but blind to the bad that the rest of the world sees. “7 Rings” takes center stage as the braggadocios anthem with a deeper meaning to treat yourself and you're loved ones, a stage of a break up that highlights retail therapy. The self-titled, “thank u, next,” is the eleventh track and focuses on the growth and lessons learned from a breakup.

To wrap up this latest project Ariana gives us the third official single, “Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored.” The third single came with a video premiere at the same time as the album release.

However, “Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored” was a replacement track for “Remember,” a cut track from the album, that is rumored to be personal and a tribute to late rapper Mac Miller, Ariana’s ex-boyfriend.

Thank U, Next is available everywhere for streaming and purchase.

Thank U, Next Tracklist with Rating

01. imagine ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

02. needy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

03. NASA ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

04. bloodline ⭐️⭐️⭐️

05. fake smile ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

06. bad idea ⭐️⭐️⭐️

07. make up ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

08. ghostin ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

09. in my head ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

10. 7 rings ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

11. thank u, next ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

12. break up with your girlfriend, i’m bored ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️