Introduction

The 2019 studio album, thank u, next, was released on February 8th, 2019, by Republic Records. It was released in the midst of the end of her engagement with Pete Davidson, as well as her mourning the loss of her ex, Mac Miller. The album is essentially centered around those two events and the effects they had on her, citing this as her most personal album. Apart from that, two singles preceded the album, those being: “7 rings” and “thank u, next.” The hype worked out in her favor, as the album finished 2019 as the number two album on the Billboard Top 200. It was the eighth best-selling album of 2019, leading the album to be two times platinum. Now, let’s take a deeper dive into this personal outing by Ariana.

12. “ghostin’”

Produced by: Victoria Monet, ILYA, & Max Martin

While “ghostin’” is certainly not a bad song, it is the weakest track on the album to me. Ariana’s songs consistently use synths throughout, often to open the tracks. Here, the synth creates a more mysterious opening, leading into a slower song. Personally, as I’m sure you know, I am not the biggest fan of slower songs. And that is certainly the case here. Ariana utilizes the full capacity of her voice, hitting every note perfectly. As a result, this song shows how talented Ariana truly is, demonstrating how high of a pitch she can reach. Between her vocals and her background vocals, she provides some of the most heartfelt lines of the whole album, but none of this saves the slower feel of the song.

Taking a deeper look into the meaning, the whole song talks about Ariana falling in love with someone while still being in love with someone else. Many speculate that this song connects to her relationship with Pete Davidson, while still mourning the loss of Mac Miller. I believe this is the case, and this takes a focal point throughout the whole project. This song, however, provides a humbler feeling to this theme, as she hates herself for compromising one’s happiness for her own healing process. She finds security and shelter in Pete’s love, consoling herself from the death of her ex.

11. “make up”

Produced by: Tayla Parx, Victoria Monet, Malik Baptiste, & TBHits

“Make Up” again, isn’t a bad song but there is nothing that makes it stand out. The song itself is more deep-sounding opposed to the higher vibes created by the other tracks. Not that it sounds off and doesn’t seem to fit, but it doesn’t really stand out either. Ariana brings a different style of vocals to this song, which I liked, but I also never disliked her vocals anywhere else. They are certainly weaker here, as is nearly every other element. Nothing makes this track stand out, which holds it back in the ranking. It is that simple.

Looking at the meaning, “make up” is a play on words, and smartly so. Ariana compares makeup to cosmetics, which is commonly thought, but also compares it to relationships. She feels like she enjoys the making up part of conflicts, which is a hot topic in the lyrics, literally stating: “I might break up with you just to make up with you.” Of course, she connects this to her uncertainty of her engagement to Pete. Apart from this double meaning, the song pretty much consists of many sexual references throughout. Overall, the song lacks in structure, production, and meaning, which are three heavy hitters on a track list like that of thank u, next.

10. “7 rings”

Produced by: Scootie, Michael Foster, & TBHits

Yes, I understand your request. How would you rate arguably the most popular song on the album at a ten? Let me explain. The production here is simplistic, much more so than the rest of the tracks. Speaking of simplicity, her vocals follow that same pattern. There is nothing in this song that makes me feel it deserved the hype it received. Yes, I have never really liked the song, so maybe I have a little bias; however, there truly isn’t anything special here, especially in terms of production and vocals.

You can further support this ranking through the meaning. The entire album is about how human Ariana is and how vulnerable she is. Why change that sentiment? Well, she did it here. This song talks all about how wealthy she is. Sure, some parts talk about it as humbly as possible, but it doesn’t save the true meaning behind the track. Yes, she does talk about spending her riches on her friends and family, but as I mentioned, this deviates from the meaning behind the rest of the album. So, while many people like this song based on the sound, I feel it is simplistic in that aspect, but truly lacks in its meaning and purpose for being on the album.

9. “NASA”

Produced by: Victoria Monet, Scootie, & TBHits

Another controversial ranking is here. “NASA” is highly regarded on the album as one of the best; however, I don’t really see it. The track doesn’t sound too great. The meaning is there, but I don’t feel the execution was. It has a very similar production to the rest of the album; however, I don’t feel that it is where the track is dragged down. I feel that the track lacks in the structure and vocal performance from Ariana. The chorus is where the song lacks, with Ariana bringing a much different style to her vocals, which I didn’t like. I like her vocals everywhere but the chorus. Apart from that, that is really the only downfall of the song.

Like I had said, this track really benefits from the genius lyricism and meaning behind it. A little deviation from what “thank u, next” is all about, this track is all about needing space from a man. Of course, NASA and space itself are referenced throughout the entire track. She refers to herself as a star in the chorus, talking about herself and an actual star in the sky. One of the cleverest lines in the song comes when she says, “Usually, I would orbit around you, but gravity seems to be the only thing that’s pulling me.” That line refers to her losing actual connection to her partner and only being pulled by habit. All in all, the meaning and lyricism are fantastic, but it lacks in vocals for sure.

8. “break up with your girlfriend, i’m bored”

Produced by: Max Martin & ILYA

This song is definitely on a different level from the previous four. This marks the level up in the tracks from thank u, next. There isn’t, however, much to talk about with this song. It is pretty generic, but it does sound fantastic as well. It’s a much more upbeat feel in comparison to the previous songs in the actual track list. The production is very simple but gets the job done, especially with the wonderful, soft vocals from Ariana. There isn’t much meaning to this song; however, it does provide a fitting close to the album. The title essentially is her breaking up with her boyfriend to love herself, which fully rounds out what the album’s purpose was.

7. “bad idea”

Produced by: Max Martin & ILYA

Another song produced by the likes of Max Martin and ILYA, and better yet, back-to-back. This song also doesn’t have much to it, apart from sounding great. There isn’t a clear meaning to this song, nor is there a story it really follows. The vocals sound a bit off at certain times in the chorus, but they also sound very good in other parts. The production is certainly a highlight here, with a different guitar opening and clapping coming together to create a beautiful instrumental. The outro sounds great, apart from the vocals, with the usage of strings. All in all, this song is quite pointless, but it does sound good, so that’s a plus!

6. “needy”

Produced by: Tayla Parx, Victoria Monet, & TBHits

“needy” is certainly a great number two song on this album. The synth sound is new to the listener, and it takes strong advantage of that. The production sounds great, even bringing in strings and a piano to round it out. Ariana’s vocals are again a highlight, being able to carry her voice in certain lines, which didn’t really seem possible. Her utilization of background vocals, which are commonly used on thank u, next, are also a clear highlight here. The song sounds fantastic, and it is clear there was a lot of detail put into the creation of the instrumental and the song as a whole.

Furthermore, this song certainly is one of the more personal ones on the whole project. She talks about her deepest insecurities and her desire for attention. She discusses everything she has gone through, such as the suicide bomber attack at her show in Manchester. Obviously, she also mentions her relationships with Pete and Mac; however, she depicts herself as a human, not a typical celebrity. She goes into how she hides her emotions through dressing up and even expresses herself as a hopeless romantic. All in all, this is a very human track and wonderfully portrays Ariana as not the stereotypical celebrity that is portrayed nowadays.

5. “fake smile”

Produced by: Happy Perez & Pop Wansel

“fake smile” is a track that nearly everyone can relate to at one point in their lives. As the title suggests, the track talks about Ariana’s dissatisfaction with life and how she refuses to hide her emotions, contradicting the title. thank u, next explores these themes further, as she embraces her flaws and addresses the backlash she has received over the years. Some of the criticism she addresses includes accusations of cultural appropriation, backlash for promoting “imagine,” and accusations of plagiarism. Despite being a slower song, her vocals perfectly match the vibe created here. With its meaningful lyrics and polished production, Ariana has delivered a well-rounded and captivating song.

4. “thank u, next”

Produced by: Michael Foster, Scootie, & TBHits

The title track is arguably the second most popular song, only behind “7 rings.” The track certainly deserves its praise, but the song at number one is better by a mile. This song has a higher synth instrumental, which sounds great. The producers keep it simple, but it again works. Ariana’s voice is absolutely phenomenal here, truly showcasing her skills. She brings a soft touch, and it works with the simplicity of the track as a whole. She name-drops all of her exes in this song and thanks them for the role they have had in her personal growth. The whole track is about her belief that every relationship has had a positive impact on her, leading up to her eventually fully loving herself.

3. “bloodline”

Produced by: ILYA & Max Martin

“bloodline” has a different sound to it than the rest of thank u, next. One of the standout elements of the song is the production. ILYA and Max Martin do a fantastic job of making a song that is similar to the rest of the album, but have it stand out. The inclusion of trumpets, while still keeping the same feel with the synth sounds, is wonderful. The attention to detail here is apparent, and I am all for it. Also, Ariana brings out her all, with her vocals again being another one of the highlights. The way she can carry certain words for emphasis is top-notch. All in all, from a sound standpoint, this song certainly deserves to be in the top three on the album.

2. “in my head”

Produced by: NOVA WAV, Happy Perez, & Pop Wansel

The runner-up for number one goes to “In My Head.” Excelling at everything, this song truly is a masterpiece from Ariana’s catalog. Starting right at the beginning of the song, the intro is a wonderful way to start this track off, bringing a more personal connection by using her friend Doug’s vocals. The beat feels more hip-hop-like, which brings some liveliness and diversity to the album. Moving towards the vocals, she sounds very similar to the rest of the tracks, but she hits some higher notes in comparison to some of the other tracks on the project.

This song also features a meaning that many people can connect to. Ariana talks about her relationship with Pete and how she fell in love with a version of him that he wasn’t. A lot of people, I’m sure, can relate to this feeling. Building on this, she believes her relationship was one-sided with him, believing he was only in it for their sexual relations. All in all, this song really is just Ariana trashing all over Pete Davidson’s parade, but she does so in a classy style.

1. “imagine”

Produced by: Happy Perez & Pop Wansel

Yes, I have “imagine” in my one slot. I fail to see any flaws in this song. The opening track certainly sets the bar high for the album. Being a very simple and mellow instrumental, it opens up the synth feel of the album. The outro also features strings that sound great. Apart from the wonderful production on this track, Ariana opens the album with wonderful vocals. Grabbing my attention early, she hits the high notes early on, and it shows. She doesn’t seem to be out of her comfort zone either when hitting these notes, which just goes to show that she has one of the best voices in all of pop.

Opening the album by talking about an unattainable love, Ariana displays her feelings right off the bat. The whole song is really a tribute to Mac Miller, which gives it quite a personal feel. Many of her lines mimic those of Mac’s song “Cinderella,” which really tops off a very heartfelt send-off to her late ex-lover. All in all, everything on this track is performed outstandingly, and it proves to be one of Ariana’s best songs ever.

Final Notes

Song rankings are always subject to change over time, so don’t take these too to heart. They also are just my opinion. With that being said, I would love to hear your opinions, so leave them in the comment section below. We also suggest subscribing to our blog. To do so, go under the tab “Contact” and fill out the form. That will allow you to receive emails of new blogs. Finally, go give thank u, next a listen for yourself, as I highly recommend this album to anyone who enjoys emotionally-structured albums, especially by one of the best pop singers of the recent years.