I love Problem, it's iconic and it did wonders for her career, but I am shocked it placed that high! The top 9 is SO right.

Problem is one of her weakest for me now x

 

9 8.38 thank u, next

Highest: Josh! (11) / Lowest: LMLou (4)

 

If anything can be called Ari’s signature song then I think it has got to be this. Released on a Saturday night (Sunday in the UK) to coincide with an episode of SNL where ex-fiancé Pete Davidson had shaded her in its promo and instantly taking over the world. It broke records on Spotify and in turn became both her 3rd UK #1 (4 years after her previous two) and her long-awaited first Billboard #1.

 

She then quickly began teasing the star-studded video with cameos aplenty, including many of her friends, people from the films referenced and even Kris Jenner. The video recreates iconic scenes from 4 of the biggest teen movies of the 00’s: 13 Going On 30, Bring It On, Legally Blonde and, of course, Mean Girls. The hype of Ariana portraying Regina George was enough for it to momentarily become the fastest viewed YouTube video of all-time with 55.4 million views in its first 24 hours. It has since been overtaken by 3 videos which were quite randomly all released in April 2019. With all these records broke, memes being born and the emergence of ‘thank you next’ as a phrase, it is hard to deny the cultural impact of this song but it does also feel like it hasn’t held up as well as you’d expect for a song that made it this huge. After such a fast start, the views on the video have dried up quickly and it is still currently only her 10th most viewed mv on the site.

 

The song itself is deceivingly straight-forward with the references to her exes (Sean, Ricky, Pete & Malcolm) originally appearing to make it look like a dishy diss-track but, as made clear by the 2nd verse, it ends up evolving into a self-love anthem where she appreciates how her past has helped her to grow as a person. But what the song really has going for it is that killer chorus. It is indeed simple (it’s mainly just repeating ‘thank you next’) but sometimes that’s what works best. Paired with the pre-chorus with the meme-making ‘love-patience-pain’ line, it gets elevated into something much bigger and, for me, is the peak of late 10’s pop music. It may have dropped out her at only 9th but to quote Ariana herself “least this song is a smash”.

 

thank u, next was the ultimate grower for me.

 

I’ve said this before but at the time I was genuinely baffled. I was like what she’s just released a trio of incredible career best singles and none of those went to #1 here or in the US but this has in both and it’s not a Friday release and it’s breaking records what is happening.

 

It clicked after the music video but I still think the Sweetener trio are all better. It is a genius song though and one I go back too a lot. I’m a bit shocked at myself now for not seeing its appeal and potential right from day one.

Edited March 11, 20205 yr by Jordan Lee

Yeah 'thank u, next' was a huge grower for me too! On first listen I was really underwhelmed, the line about Mac aside, but over time I slowly got the hype. Especially when the video dropped! Mean Girls is my favourite film so I really appreciated the homage. Pleased that '7 rings' is the highest 'thank u, next' single :heart:

'Thank U Next' was such an unexpected & turning point in Ariana's career, it brought her career to a whole new level that officially made her the biggest pop star in the world. This was a great and welcomed surprise, especially as she was still on her very successful 'Sweetener' era, with the brilliant 'Breathin' just taking off, then that got pushed to the side for a whole new era in such a short amount of time.

But thankfully(no pun intended) this track was fantastic with its cool 90's sounding R&B/Pop vibe & catchy verses, & of course that awesome throwback music video, (Kris Jenner as her mum, just genius).

Just realised 7 rings is the highest single from TUN era.

 

About right I’d say. 7 rings was the most instant of the official singles from that era for me and it is a BOP.

 

 

I still don't think 'thank u, next' is that great but I like it a bit more than when it was first out.

Still don't get TUN one year on. Its rare that I don't even get the appeal of a song but this is literally two notes

Santa Tell Me is phenomenal. It should be top 5! So, SO good :wub:

 

Problem, I agree. It's not aged badly but it's definitely "of it's time", to me.

 

tun is very good, but I HATE that that was the song to send her stratospheric when ntltc, Giaw & breathin' all came just months before </3

 

8 8.41 7 rings

Highest: Cqmerqn (11) / Lowest: Dan.G (4)

 

OPULENCE, YOU OWN EVERYTHING Ms Grande.

 

I think it's pretty fitting that this "Friendship anthem" is out next seeing how it's often compared to it's predecessor. Many including Ariana herself describe the track as an "evolution" from 'thank u, next'. Most of you agreed also, with the track scoring two more 10s than the last out, however it must be noted there is barely anything in it comparing the final average score.

 

'7 rings' caught many peoples attention for it's en-trend use of a trap beat, whilst sampling 'Favourite Things' from 'The Sound of Music'. The intro beat was cleverly edited into the beginning of the the 'thank u, next' video.

 

It was another certified smash, following the trend of her previous single of breaking streaming records, including most Spotify streams in week Worldwide and overall streams for a week in the UK (incl. Apple Music etc). '7 rings' is also significant in that it was her 2nd single to debut at #1 on the Billboard 100, making herself, Mariah Carey and Britney Spears the only female artists to achieve two #1 debuting songs. As you can imagine it topped the charts all over the world.

 

The visual for the track is absolutely stunning and full of looks, attitude and choreo, with Ari serving us all FACE for days. I can't quite work out why it hasn't reached 1bill yet, but it will come.

 

Was anyone else expecting this to finish a tiny bit higher or just me? Still a GREAT placement for this one.

 

'7 rings' really brought the era to life for me after feeling initially underwhelmed by the title track, a loveable banger from the very start :wub: I agree that the video is great too. But I am actually surprised that '7 rings' finished higher than 'thank u, next' as it was the other way round for the 'thank u, sweet' rate, although I checked the votes for that and Calum gave '7 rings' a -1 that time and didn't vote this time, so that will have helped :kink:

I think I would just about rank 7 Rings above TUN too. I did expect it to be above one or two of the other tracks that are still to come though. One of her most quotable songs and one that always makes me want to sing along, no doubt helped by the sample.

 

It is such a shame to see the whole TUN album out already as it might just be her strongest album overall. I guess some of her other albums (especially Sweetener) were all about the singles.

It is such a shame to see the whole TUN album out already as it might just be her strongest album overall. I guess some of her other albums (especially Sweetener) were all about the singles.

 

Yeh I you're right, they could have released pretty much any track from TUN as a single and it would have worked (Similarly with Dangerous Woman I'd say), whilst her other albums have only a few major highlights minus the singles.

 

7 rings is super. I'd score it much higher than TUN which prob would barely hit my top 20. A deserved #1 from that era.

PS guys, great writeups so far! Super effort & its great to read all the trivia

I enjoy '7 Rings' if I hear it, but I never listen to it out of choice. I do love the "You like my hair?" line though.

 

Gah, that era was literally all about 'Bloodline' and 'Bad Idea' for me. Such a shame neither got singled. :(

PS guys, great writeups so far! Super effort & its great to read all the trivia

 

I know I can speak for us all by saying we're super happy you're enjoying it! ^_^ :wub:

I know I can speak for us all by saying we're super happy you're enjoying it! ^_^ :wub:

 

Yes 100%. It’s a joy to write about music you love and is really nice to hear others are enjoying it. :D

Yeah it's a pleasure to write about Ariana's music <3 glad this thread has gone down well, I always love reading everyone's posts in here!