You may have heard “God is a Woman” or “No Tears Left to Cry” this summer on the radio, but if you have yet to listen to Ariana Grande’s Sweetener in its entirety, you’re missing out on a treat.
The 2018 queen of pop is in love, and this album shines brighter than the diamond currently resting on her ring finger. After many listens, I highly recommend listening to Sweetener by letting it run through- so turn that shuffle setting off the firs
t few times you listen! It opens up with a brief A-Capella tune featuring Grande’s impressive vocal range. The swift, heavenly lyrics set up the listener the dreamy tracks that follow.
A few of the songs feature Pharrell Williams, and another includes Nicki Minaj. While every tune is different, there’s an overarching theme of romance and lust. Some of the sweetest songs include “Blazed” and “Sweetener” which both focus on the newfound and amazing love in Grande’s life. More obviously sweet is “Pete Davidson,” a track dedicated to Grande’s current fiancé. With sappy lyrics, the brief one minute song is almost as long as the couple’s courtship before announcing their engagement (which was only a few weeks). While the music specifically devoted to Davidson is short, it’s very obvious that most of the album is in regards to their love affair.
Not every song is necessarily about love and lust, however. “Successful” is more focused on female-power, repeating “it feels so good to be so young and have such fun and be successful.” Another song or two lean more towards the sad side and can be interpreted as tracks about Grande’s break up with rapper Mac Miller, or about the aftermath of tragedy when an explosion occurred at her Manchester, UK concert.
The most impressive concept Sweetener offers is that it reflects human nature and emotions. The upbeat chords and synth also boost the “lovey” mood the album radiates. The pop star acknowledges how swift and brash her new budding romance is, but it clearly makes her the happiest she’s ever been, which can only lead to more great music.
5 stars