Ariana Grande 'thank u, next' Album: Track Meanings Explained
30 January 2019, 11:44 | Updated: 30 January 2019, 11:49
Ariana Grande's new album 'thank u, next' is released on February 8th, including the title track, new single '7 rings' and early fan-favourite 'break up with your girlfriend, i'm bored'.
Ariana has revealed what some of the songs on the album are about and others can be explained from the lyrics.
We've dived in and taken a look at the meanings behind the twelve tracks on Ariana's new album...
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Imagine
'imagine' is the album's opening track and was released as a promotional single back in December 2018.
The song is believed to be about Ariana's ex-boyfriend Mac Miller, who tragically died from an accidental drug overdose in September last year.
Some of the song's lyrics mirror Mac's 2016 song 'Cinderella', which Ariana has previously confirmed was written about her.
MTV Video Music Awards After Party. Picture: Getty -
Needy
'Needy' is the second track on the album and was previously believed to be called 'tell me how good it feels to be needed' after Ari shared a snippet back in October 2018.
Ariana talks about some of her 'negative' traits - that she thinks she's "obsessive", "I love too hard" and "good at overthinking with my heart".
In the chorus, she explains how she wants to be loved by someone.
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NASA
Ahead of the album's release, Ariana hasn't teased much about 'NASA'.
The title appeared in the music video for Sweetener single 'breathin' and, according to industry rumours, Ari has filmed a video for 'NASA' with it possibly being a new single.
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Bloodline
There's not much info about this track yet but Ariana has confirmed that 'Bloodline' is about "wanting somebody but not enough to have them in your bloodline."
wanting somebody but not enough to have them in your bloodline ksjskjskj
— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) January 23, 2019 -
Fake Smile
We've got nothing on 'Fake Smile' yet...
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Bad Idea
...or 'Bad Idea'...
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Make Up
Ari hasn't revealed anything about 'Make Up' yet either.
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Ghostin
Ariana revealed to a fan that 'Ghostin' is about "feeling badly for the person you're with [because] you love somebody else. Feeling badly [because] he can tell he can't compare.... and how I should be ghosting him."
Ghosting is where you end a relationship by suddenly stopping contact with the person, without any explanation or warning.
feeling badly for the person you're with bc you love somebody else. feeling badly bc he can tell he can't compare.... and how i should be ghosting him.
— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) January 23, 2019 -
In My Head
Ari has said that 'In My Head' is a song about "being in love w[ith] a version of somebody you've created in your head. Falling for someone that they are not."
being in love w a version of somebody you've created in your head. falling for someone that they are not.
— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) January 23, 2019 -
7 Rings
'7 Rings' is the second single to be released from Ariana's thank u, next album.
It's about a real-life incident where - following her break-up with Pete Davidson - Ariana went on a shopping spree with her friends and bought them seven engagement rings at Tiffany's, which she reimagined as friendship rings.
The song is a "friendship anthem" that carries on the message of the album's previous single and title track 'thank u, next'.
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Thank U, Next
'Thank U, Next' is the album's title track and lead single, released in November 2018.
The song name-checks four of Ariana's ex-boyfriends - Big Sean, Ricky Alvarez, Pete Davidson and Mac Miller - but instead of criticising them, as it's common to do in music, she instead thanks them for helping her to become the woman she is today.
Ariana also thanks her parents and talks about how much she's grown as a person as a result of the break-ups and other "drama" in her life.
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Break Up with Your Girlfriend, I'm Bored
'Break Up with Your Girlfriend, I'm Bored' is the closing track on the album and - given the title - one of the tracks that fans have been most excited to hear.
Ariana shared a snippet on Instagram in January 2019, ahead of the album's release.
