Released: October 30, 2020
Genre: R&B pop trap
Label: Republic
Producer: London on da Track ∙ Mr. Franks ∙ Murda Beatz ∙ Nami Oliver ∙ Frid Peter ∙ Lee Johnson ∙ Scott Starch ∙ Shea Taylor ∙ Shintaro Yasuda ∙ The Rascals ∙ Tommy Brown ∙ Tommy Parker ∙ Travis Sayles Xavi
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Ariana Grande has accomplished so much in her music career since the release of her debut album Yours Truly in 2013. Selling over 90 million records, Ariana has blessed audiences with timeless masterpieces that’ll stand the test of time in the 21st century.
Ariana Grande’s sixth studio album Positions was released on October 30, 2020, by Republic Records. With themes that center around romantic devotion, sexual intimacy, Positions picks up where 2018’s Sweetener & 2019’s Thank U, Next leaves off at with elements of trap, R&B, hip hop, Neo soul, Disco, new jack swing, electro house and much more.
Positions has become one of my favorite Ariana albums as of lately, and rightfully so. She’s so sexually confident on this record that she’s ever been, and it gives me LIFE. Every song had potential to be a single and dominate on the charts. That’s how you make an album loves.
Positions debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, with 174,00 album equivalent units in its first week of sales, becoming Ariana’s fifth number one album to accomplish such a feat. The album also became Ariana’s second consecutive album where all of the tracks on the album charted within the top 75 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, expanding her single entries to 66. Positions has since been certified as platinum by the RIAA.
Ladies & Gentlemen, I present to you Ariana Grande’s Positions.
Shut Up
Written by Ariana Grande ∙ Tayla Parx ∙ Michael Foster
Positions opens with the orchestral pop influenced Shut Up. From a lyrical perspective, Shut Up has the singer updating audiences with her life after the release of her prior album and clapping back at those critics who are too obsessed with what she does with her time.
34+35
Written by Ariana Grande ∙ Scott Nicholson ∙ Tayla Parx ∙ Victoria Monét
34+35 (pronounced thirty-four thirty-five) follows up, and is one of the best pop songs of the decade so far. From a lyrical perspective, the song has the singer speaking about her sexual appetite and desiring to have some fun all night. It’s a fun song, and I mean look at what you get when you add 34+35! 69. Get it?
34+35 was released as the second single from the album, peaking at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was certified 2x platinum by the RIAA. The song’s remix had the singer collaborating with rappers Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion.
Motive (with Doja Cat)
Written by Ariana Grande ∙ Victoria Monét ∙ Nija Charles ∙ Amala Diamini
Motive has become one of my favorites since I’ve been revisiting Positions, and I’m glad it is! Marking the first collaboration with Ariana and Doja Cat. Lyrically, the song is about the singer examining a possible love interest’s intentions with her. The elements of electro house makes the song even more intriguing!
Just like Magic
Written by Ariana Grande ∙ Priscilla Renea Hamilton
Just like Magic is a masterpiece and is definitely one of my favorites from Positions. Written by Ariana and Muni Long, the song is lyrically about the singer maintaining a positive outlook in her life and in her future. It ties back to the law of attraction if you ask me because when you speak positivity into your life, positive things happen and vice versa. Ari even pays tribute to her late ex-boyfriend Mac Miller with the lyric “take my pen and write some love letters to heaven” 🥹
Off the Table (with The Weeknd)
Written by Ariana Grande ∙ Abel Tesfaye
Off the Table is the second collaboration that The Weeknd & Ariana Grande has worked on, and it is truly an amazing R&B ballad from two of my faves from the new school. Lyrically, the song speaks about Ariana not wanting to rekindle a serious relationship with someone she’s still trying to heal from, and Abel is giving her the reassurance that he can be patient and is in a different head space than he was when they were together.
I can also see this as a response to Mac Miller at the beginning of the song with the lyrics:
Will I ever love the same way again? (Way again)
Ariana Grande, Off the Table, 2020
Will I ever love somebody like the way I did you?
It’s like she wants the idea of love again, but the healing process has her questioning if she is really ready after experiencing traumatic events in her life. A top tier record for sure. Off the Table debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at 35.
Six Thirty
Written by Ariana Grande ∙ Priscilla Renea Hamilton
Another song penned by Ari and Muni Long, Six Thirty has the singer asking her lover if he’s ready for a relationship and cleverly asks if he is down like the sunset, which is usually at 6:30. Get it?
Safety Net (featuring Ty Dolla Sign)
Written by Ariana Grande ∙ Tyrone Griffin, Jr. ∙ Leon Thomas III
Described by Ty Dolly Sign as a melodic and amazing tune, Safety Net is a wonderful collaboration and has the singer falling for a lover even though she’s scared. A safety net is used as a metaphor of that she’s falling with no safety net, which means she learning to let her guard down. A song!
My Hair
Written by Ariana Grande ∙ Victoria Monét ∙ Tayla Parx
I remember being at work one day and My Hair came on and it flipped me OUT because I was literally screaming justice for My Hair for sure!!! A neo soul/R&B influenced record, My Hair is lyrically about the singer allowing her partner to touch her hair. It is about intimacy, and it shows a different side of Ariana on this record. My Hair is so fucking sexy! Omg & the 70s vibes I get from this song is important to note too!
Nasty
Written by Ariana Grande ∙ Victoria Monét
Nasty is literally NASTYYYYYY honey! Add this song to your sex playlist because it’s soooooo fire during. Don’t ask me how I know 🫣🤭 but anyways lyrically the song is about the singer craving her partner sexually. It is really a vibe in the bedroom.
West Side
Written by Ariana Grande ∙ Victoria Monét
West Side is lyrically about the singer letting the man she’s digging that he need to close the door on the other girls cause she’s the one and never the two! & to meet her on the west side of course! 😘
Love Language
Written by Ariana Grande ∙ Victoria Monét ∙ Tayla Parx ∙ Kam Parker
Love Language is the most new jack swing influenced song I’ve ever heard in a long time. Actually, it’s new jack swing meets disco, and it’s just a top tier record to me. From a lyrical perspective, Love Language is about Ariana trying to understand her partner in and out so she can be a better significant other and loves how much they understand her. Whew!
Positions
Written by Ariana Grande ∙ Nija Charles ∙ Angelina Barrett
Released as the lead single, the title track is lyrically about the singer’s commitment to showing her man how much she is willing to try new things for him. A real R&B and trap influenced record, Positions debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Ariana’s fifth number 1 single and third consecutive number 1 as well.
The song was nominated for Best Pop Solo Performance at the 2022 Grammy Awards, and was certified 2x platinum by the RIAA.
Obvious
Written by Ariana Grande ∙ Ryan Tedder ∙ Nija Charles
Obvious is lyrically about the singer believing in love again after being convinced that she couldn’t. A SONG!
POV
Written by Ariana Grande ∙ Tayla Parx
I wanna love me (Ooh)
Ariana Grande, POV, 2020
The way that you love me (Ooh)
Ooh, for all of my pretty and all of my ugly too
I’d love to see me from your point of view
The standard version of Positions closes with POV, a relaxing ballad with a remarkable melody. Lyrically, the song talks about how she wants to view herself how her lover, loves her! It’s truly a beautiful song and one of my favorites as well.
Ariana Grande gave us a fire ass album during a global pandemic, and I am still shook at how much this album has been one of my favorites released this decade so far. Positions showcases Ariana’s versatility as an artist once again with timeless songs and themes that we experience as adults. Chef’s kiss. -MW.
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