Ranking Ariana Grande’s First Single From Each Album
“thank u, next”-thank u, next
When “thank u, next” came out, it was a total surprise. She had just released Sweetener in August, so releasing a lead single for a new album in November was out of the blue. However, she had gone through a lot in those few months. Mac Miller had passed away and she had broken off her engagement to Pete Davidson. While you would expect a song about an ex to be more of a “f*** you,” it was more of an appreciation of what you learned from the relationship. I also feel like this song, album and the overall vibe were where Ariana Grande nailed her signature sound.
“The Way ft Mac Miller”-Yours Truly
This was a risky debut single (yes, we’re completely ignoring “Put Your Hearts Up,” Ariana does). It was very R&B heavy and featured a rapper who was mostly known for his stoner rhymes. However, it was the perfect introduction to the sound of Ariana Grande, an R&B tinged, trap-inspired song that while she did digress from for a little bit, she ultimately went back to it.
“Problem ft. Iggy Azalea”-My Everything
Ariana went full pop for this song, and it paid off. This is really when she started gaining popularity and became a pop princess. It’s a perfect kiss-off of a song, and the surprise Big Sean whisper feature brought texture to the song.
“no tears left to cry”-Sweetener
After the terrorist attack at her concert, Ariana took a much-needed break. But she returned with “no tears left to cry,” explaining how she was ready to move forward with her life while recognizing the pain she went through. It’s a great song to sing when you’re going through hard times and ready to stand up again.
“positions”-positions
This song just came out, so its ranking might move at some point. Ariana went in the same R&B direction as “thank u, next,” but this time it’s about acting crazy in love. While I love the song, not the biggest fan of the “kitchen” trope you often hear in love songs.
“Dangerous Woman”-Dangerous Woman
This song is different from anything Ariana did before or after. More of a rock-tinged song, a genre she usually doesn’t touch. I think the a capella version of the song does a better job of highlighting the lyrics and her voice.
fresh pair of iis 