Ariana Grande for Dummies

Our girl Ariana gets a lot of hate from non-pop fans. “She mumble-sings. Her music is over-sexualized. Her lyrics are unimaginative. Her fashion style is immature. She licked a donut once.” The list goes on and on. As the Pop Apologist, I feel that these arguments overshadow the amazing work that she is doing and prevent discerning audiophiles from exploring her discography. But never fear! I have created this handy guide for anyone who is still unsure about this superstar’s legitimacy. Here are six good reasons to listen to Ariana Grande, no matter your listening preferences.

1. THAT VOICE: It’s the obvious answer. Ariana Grande has one of the greatest voices of our time. Range, agility, expressive capabilities, tone quality- she is simply unparalleled. Her concerts are always performed live, and despite having a technically challenging discography and a demanding performance schedule, I’ve never seen a single clip where she is under-supported or pitchy. If that doesn’t convince you that Ariana is the real deal, further evidence of her consistent vocal delivery can also be found on her live album “K, Bye For Now.”

2. VERSATILITY: A lot of people think that Ariana is a one-trick pony who only sings about sex. While the superstar is extremely sex-positive in her music, a closer look at her discography shows a much wider range of topics with personal and nuanced perspectives. One of my favorite tracks “off the table” is a ballad about moving on after the death of a loved one. “NASA,” is a clever, mid-tempo bop about needing space, and “fake smile,” is a song about admitting that you are not okay. Those who are willing to listen will find that Ariana has an abundance of wisdom to share about life and love.

3. GIRL POWER: Ariana has always been a vocal advocate for women’s rights. She not only talks the talk- boldly striking down those who seek to silence female sexuality- but she also lives it. One look at her track listings will reveal a number of female collaborators including Tayla Parx and Victoria Monét. She regularly partners with iconic music video director Hannah Lux Davis, and has appeared as a featured artist with trailblazing women like Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj, and Demi Lovato. Supporting Ariana IS supporting women’s rights.

4. VOCAL PRODUCTION: Ariana is heavily involved in the vocal production of her albums. A close listen to some of her most recent tracks will reveal layers upon layers of tasty vocal harmonies, all dreamed up by Miss Grande herself. She adds just the right amount of harmonic support to the lyrics, and is careful not to overwhelm the mix with unnecessary or distracting elements. Personally, I love her taste and her attention to detail. This behind-the-scenes video of her work on “Positions” shows how Ariana arranges her vocals in real time.

5. INSPIRATION: Ariana Grande is an artist who has been through a lot. She has experienced trauma on the world stage with the 2017 bombing of Manchester Stadium. She lost a soulmate with the passing of rapper Mac Miller. She was the center of media firestorms during the most vulnerable times in her life. Her body of work tells the story of a survivor- someone who was broken and reassembled so many times, it’s a wonder she is still here at all. We can all learn something from her strength and resiliency. The following track from “Sweetener” was inspired by the anxiety and PTSD that Grande experienced following the stadium bombing. Fittingly, the track ends with a moment of silence that culminates at the 5:22 mark, commemorating the date of the tragedy.

6. INSTRUMENTALS: Ariana Grande has a slew of producers that she regularly partners with, and each combination produces a unique sonic brand. Most notably, pop gods Max Martin and Ilya Salmanzadeh have produced over thirty of Ariana’s songs, including hits like “Problem,” “Break Free,” and “Into You.” However, if flawless bubblegum instrumentals are not your thing, there is another important partner in the superstar’s arsenal: Producer Tommy Brown. Brown is responsible for the RnB-infused production that you may hear across Ariana’s discography. Tracks like “Thank U, Next” and “Positions” showcase his knack for laid back, hypnotic beats that pair perfectly with Ariana’s honeyed vocals. If that isn’t enough variety, the singer partnered with funk-pop icon Pharrel on her album “Sweetener,” creating some of the most experimental sounds in her discography. Here are some examples of the various instrumentals you can expect to hear in her body of work: