Positions
Unlike Ariana Grande’s last album, the contemplative and mournful *thank u, next*, which was released shortly after, and partly in response to, the tragic death of her ex Mac Miller, *Positions* is lighthearted and playful—a flirty wave from the other side. Her joy is deserved. During a grueling stretch that would have broken most musicians (a deadly terrorist attack at her own concert, Miller’s overdose, and her public breakup with then-fiancé Pete Davidson), Grande delivered two of the best albums—and one of the highest-grossing tours—of 2018 and 2019. That she might finally be experiencing some release, which is what these songs sound like, is a reminder to all of us that time and reflection can heal. So let’s move forward, shall we? Grande doesn’t waste a single second changing the tone. “All them demons helped me see shit differently/So don’t be sad for me,” she coos on “shut up,” the album’s sweeping, orchestral opener that puts trolls on mute. Strength and self-assuredness are themes throughout the album, and she gracefully takes credit for positive changes. She’s meditating and minding her karma (“just like magic”), blissing out on healthy habits and sexual vim (“nasty,” “34+35”), and diving into new romances without worrying too much about getting hurt (“safety net” featuring Ty Dolla $ign, “off the table” featuring The Weeknd). The implication is less about casual detachment and more about living in the moment: Pain and loss are a part of life, but so are pleasure and love. She seems acutely aware that we have little control over any of it. Accompanied by longtime collaborators like singer-songwriters Tayla Parx and Victoria Monét and producer Tommy Brown, Grande deftly explores new rhythms and moods—breathy retro-funk (“love language”), low-slung R&B (“west side”)—without drifting too far from soaring pop. “motive,” a duet with Doja Cat, tastefully shuffles between lurching trap and four-on-the-floor club beats. And the staggering “my hair,” easily an album highlight, feels like a late-’90s girl-group power ballad on which Grande effortlessly carries each part. Importantly, it never feels like she’s trying sounds on for size; she is the rare singer with a voice so powerful and an aesthetic so self-assured that subgenres, collaborators, rules, and trends all bend to her.
Her third album in two years searches for peace, tracing the quiet work of piecing yourself together and delighting in giddy new romance at the same time.
Although Positions’ orchestral flourishes add a fanciful vibe, the album's music overall is cohesive to the point of homogeneity. Ariana Grande and her team keep things almost too simple, with minimal trap beats and forgettable production.
Positions is Ariana Grande’s most carefree, playful, and mature work to date
The star's lyrical content is jaw-droppingly good fun, and this record does feature some massive pop tunes – alongside indistinct material
On her 2018 single, Thank U, Next, Ariana Grande’s past boyfriends were given a line each. The new one, high end LA estate agent Dalton Gomez, gets this entire album to himself. Positions is a loved-up wallow in every aspect of a newish serious relationship, from relaxed domesticity to worries about whether this one can really last, to extraordinary quantities of sex.
On her sixth album, Grande explores disco-funk, dirty-minded lyrics and neo-soul, but largely sticks to her comfort zone
Any confusion as to what sort of 'positions' Ariana Grande would be addressing on her sixth studio album, has been cleared right up. Read our review.
Months before the February 2019 release of thank u, next, Ariana Grande told Billboard she wanted to "put out music in the way a rapper does," meaning that she didn't want to be beholden to the strict release schedule of a pop singer.
No one is doing it quite like Ariana Grande. In 2018, she gave us Sweetener. In 2019, we got thank u, next. Amid the bleakness of 2020, Gran...
It’s never been a question whether Ariana Grande, pop music’s ever-respected overlord trendsetter and - for at least the last five years -
It might be time for pop’s reigning vocal acrobat to more fully commit to some new positions.
Ariana Grande's Positions is a perfect pop album in a very conservative sense of the term. The songs average under three minutes
The tabloids are frothing about the R&B singer’s ‘steamy’ new direction, but her sixth album blurs into one long slow jam
Ariana Grande - positions review: Ariana Grande continues to put her magnificent voice on display, but everything around it is beginning to crumble.
Ariana Grande leaves her traumas behind with an RnB album dedicated solely to sex – but it doesn’t quite hit the spot
Even though bangers are scarce, album solidifies Grande as one of pop’s leading voices