George.keh

7. No Tears Left To Cry (Sweetener) ffxKSjUwKdU I am one of many still fuming the intro isn’t part of the official song but I’ve made do with the podcast housing the intro on Spotify that segways perfectly into this anthem. From first listen, Arianators around the world were stunned with just how brilliant this song is- using influences from garage music over spoken parts and the ascending chorus. Was this also the birth of “yuh”? Anyway, an undeniable fantastic song and one that will hopefully go down as one of her signature songs- let alone one of the defining songs of the decade! The lyricism in this song is beautiful and it was such a joy to see Ariana opt for such optimistic lyrics and production on something that could have easily been the exact opposite.

I also found the mini challenge so funny- I very rarely laugh at Drag Race but this was so funny

8. Test Drive (Positions) 1zNYZd94ui8 I promise, number seven onwards are very much conventional Ariana fan-favourites! This is Ariana at her highest form of nineties R&B diva and I could call it from hearing them opening chords. This song is strung with her usual silky runs and sing-a-long choruses and the pre-choruses have harmonies aplenty making Positions (Deluxe) actually worth it! Shame the song seems to start before it begins because this is one of Ari’s most giddy and fun performances in quite some time!

9. Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored (Thank U Next) LH4Y1ZUUx2g Thank U, Next’s first appearance on this countdown and I just know this is an unpopular opinion! Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored uses the same tongue-in-cheek delivery that makes so many of her songs so fun, but also doesn’t half-ass the trap element of the production- instead going full on with the snares and electronic beats which is what makes this song so successful to me. Throw in a clever NSYNC reference and you have one of her best.

I'm fully aware that 2 of the songs coming up are, odd choices but hey-ho I love them anyway! I'm fairly sure you'll all know which ones I mean when I post them :dance:

10. Greedy (Dangerous Woman) oa11bHIZNaE Beginning our top 10 is the single that never was, “may I keep it on please” meme-making, disco-pop, balls-to-the-wall banger, Greedy. How this was never given a big budget music video will forever baffle me as every element of this song sounds tailor-made for radio. The horns, the strings, the barbershop-quartet build-up of vocals in the middle eight, the key-change- the list goes on. Speaking of the key change- the song shifts from pop song, to pop behemoth at that point with Grande throwing every run, belt and riff she can down the microphone creating one of her most energetic and captivating vocal performances so far!

so my top ten consists- Yours Truly- 0 My Everything- 2 Dangerous Woman- 3 Sweetener- 2 Thank U Next- 2 Positions- 1

11. Honeymoon Avenue (Yours Truly) _tJM74eZy04 Next up is my favourite album opener from the woman of the minute, Yours Truly’s intro- Honeymoon Avenue. There are so many different parts of this song that make it such a favourite for me- it’s a very theatrical number at times- in its intro in particular as well as towards the end where her vocals are at their most impressive. The lyrics are very centred around the story-telling side of song-writing which is something I always appreciate and the production is constantly changing throughout it’s over five minute run-time and the car-horns and street noises heard at the beginning and end just give the whole song a very cinematic feel against the imagery Ariana creates. The bridge in particular is a moment of true Disney Princess balladry.

This Ain't A Scene It's An Arms Race - Fall Out Boy vs. With Every Heartbeat - Robyn with Kleerup Umbrella - Rihanna featuring Jay-Z vs. The Way I Are - Timbaland featuring D.O.E. & Keri Hilson Grace Kelly - Mika vs. About You Now - Sugababes Say It Right - Nelly Furtado vs. Rehab - Amy Winehouse

DWBM finished top 5 in the Zara singles rate last year actually!

12. One Last Time (My Everything) BPgEgaPk62M Remember this song being free on iTunes??? Even before the tragic events that gave this song an entire new meaning- this song was a firm favourite of mine- the David-Guetta production that slowly builds to the dance break that still feels somewhat emotional behind Ariana’s impressive vocals. The song never fails to hit me in the feels and make me think of all the loved ones in the arena that night and to see so many artists perform tributes as part of their sets in Manchester has been a very touching move. On a musical note, this kind of EDM, but make it low-key production of the song is something I’d love to hear Ariana on again as her voice belting over it sounds incredible.

Agreed

13. The Way (Yours Truly) _sV0S8qWSy0 Sampling the ever-iconic “A Little Bit of Love” by Brenda Russell, this is the quintessential early-Ariana song and what made so many fall in love with her. The Way, which features raps from the late, great Mac Miller, was the first top ten for the then Nickelodeon star and showed promise showcasing a nineties R&B sound fused with fifties doo-wop sound unlike anything big at the time. Whilst I’m glad she progressed from this sound, it’s always a listen I love and just a great, optimistic love song.

14. Break Your Heart Right Back (My Everything) 80Q30ebnXpU Similar to 34+35, Ariana just sounds like she’s having the time of her life on this track- as does Childish Gambino in his bizarre portrayal of Ariana’s ex. The song is one of Grande’s best story-telling moments as she tells of an ex-boyfriend that left her for another boy to the backing of Diana Ross’ I’m Coming Out. A topic that makes for a brilliant pop song it seems as many have dabbled in the “falling for a gay guy” cliché in pop. “Yes I’m a G, from the A and they ask why”-what a lyric?

Wow he’s just brilliant isn’t he

15. Breathin’ (Sweetener) kN0iD0pI3o0 Speaking of Sweetener’s three singles- here we are with the first of them in the mid-tempo pop bop that is Breathin’. The albums release was another clear case in what HAD to be the next single- with this track scoring a top ten peak in the UK despite the lack of any promotion- the power of a great song! The lower register appears on the verses again and really give the song these different moments and a soft element- particularly backed with the thoughts of the tragic Manchester attack being a strong inspiration behind the song’s lyrics. Also, the runs, the RUNS on this track!

what a song

16. Better Off (Sweetener) -mNEr0OGusU Sweetener was an interesting album, fans either seemed to be immediate fans or very critical- I took the route of the latter. Grande’s fourth album is for me, her weakest, but when she hits, she scores a home run- as shown by the three singles and this album cut which stands out amongst the Pharrell produced tracks and underwhelming performances. Her lower register on the verses is soothing and carries the entire song as she doesn’t go overboard on vocal ad-libs instead letting the minimal production do the heavy work. The lyrics are romantic and create the perfect imagery to match the backdrop of the strings and slight trap beat.

17. 34+35 (Positions) B6_iQvaIjXw We return to the latest effort from Ariana here, with a track from Positions. There was no speculation upon the release of the album that this track was going to be an instant fan favourite and a smash hit- with the song reaching top five peaks on both sides of the pond. Subtlety is Grande’s worst enemy on the song as she, rather graphically sings about her favourite extracurricular activities including drinking coffee, keeping it squeaky and of course… maths. The song works so well due to Ari’s tongue being very firmly planted in cheek- she’s aware of the campiness and silliness of the lyrics and sounds like she’s having the time of her life on the track! The less said about the Megan Thee Stallion verse on the remix, the better.

Let's get the first five out of the way tonight

18. Daydreamin’ (Yours Truly) eLQMGYHVJ_I Whilst not the most groundbreaking number, Daydreamin’- taken from Ariana’s debut album, Yours Truly, is three and a half minutes of dreamy lyricism backed by a 50s-doo-wop production and ad-libs a plenty telling the story of Grande’s time spent thinking about the one. Against some tracks on the album that sound trend-chasing and very of the time- this is one of a few tracks that sounded like a loving homage to musical theatre and the musical legends Ariana has cited as her influences. It’s a shame Ari likely doesn’t class this as a favourite as it’s a sugar-sweet listen and underrated vocal moment from our pop princess.

Lucky vs 3 Circus vs Toxic Everytime vs Me Against the Music (feat. Madonna) Break The Ice vs Stronger Work Bitch vs Baby One More Time My Prerogative vs Overprotected Womanizer vs Do Somethin' I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman vs Sometimes (You Drive Me) Crazy vs Make Me (feat. G-Eazy) Gimme More vs Till The World Ends Piece of Me vs Oops...! I Did It Again

Yay @ I Need Love doing that well- it is without a doubt one of the ones I've gone back to the most along with Need Someone and Poster Girl

19. Bad Decisions (Dangerous Woman) RlRgnsyR00Y Next up is the immensely catchy, Bad Decisions- a cut from Grande’s third studio album, Dangerous Woman- a project that sees her shifting genre from track to track. The song is a bouncy pop track backed by a refrain performed by guitars and drums. Disney-like in melody, the song captures Ari’s desire to make, you guessed it, Bad Decisions and the chorus sings about her lover that inspires these. The highlight of the track without a doubt comes from the bridge where Grande whispers “ain’t you ever seen a princess be a bad bitch” before production comes crashing in against her soaring vocals. If there was ever a song that summed up the movie cliché of driving in Miami with the top down and beach go-ers in awe at the bikini-clad passengers- it’s Bad Decisions.

It’s actually my second fave Ariana album as well surprisingly!