Ariana Grande is again — and she or he has some issues to say.
On Friday, Jan. 12, the pop star returned along with her inquisitive and gleaming new single “Sure, And?” The tune serves as the primary style of Grande’s forthcoming seventh album.
Impressed by late ’80s dance-pop manufacturing, the catchy monitor is made all the higher by Grande’s unshakeable confidence and luxury in her personal pores and skin. “Sure, and? Say that s— along with your chest, and, be your personal f—ing greatest pal,” she instructs, seeming to guide by instance.
The general message is loud and clear: she’s seen the feedback, and she or he’s not taking s— from anyone.
“I’m so performed with caring what you suppose, no I received’t disguise beneath your personal projections or change my most genuine life,” she sings in a tender and syrupy candy tone, evoking a “kill ’em with kindness” vitality.
And later, throughout a spoken phrase interlude, Ari even declares: “Your vitality is yours and mine is mine…don’t touch upon my physique, don’t reply.”
And whereas her message is agency, the upbeat and retro manufacturing is much less so, serving to drive house Grande’s laid again, carefree perspective. Written and produced by the pop star alongside Max Martin and Ilya Salmanzadeh, and recorded in New York Metropolis, the thumping and rallying refrain is prime for a dancefloor — there are even parts that decision again to Madonna’s “Vogue,” which may very properly be a tease to the album’s total sound.
Yesterday, on Thursday, Jan. 11, Grande launched a teaser clip to the tune’s visible. It opened with a hand holding a pink card that learn “AG7.” The opposite aspect of the cardboard learn: “Your presence has been solely requested.”
The clip then cuts to numerous voices saying issues like: “You already know, I feel I favored her higher when her ponytail was just a few centimeters larger”; “I imply, who cares if she’s blissful? I don’t need blissful. I need Ari.”; and “Nicely, I learn it on the Web, so it have to be true!”
“Sure, And?” is a direct response to such critiques. And in typical Ariana trend, she leans into considered one of her best strengths: being oh so candy.
Stream “Sure, And?” and examine the only artwork and beneath.
Katia Temkin