How Sweetener Reimagined Ariana Grande
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 มี.ค. 2024
- Nearly 5 years ago, Ariana Grande transformed into a cultural phenomenon with Sweetener. Following the tragic events of Manchester, Sweetener gave Ariana a platform to redefine herself and her music. It lead to multiple hit singles and universal acclaim. The exploration in Sweetener set her up as one of the pioneers of trap-pop as well. In this video essay, we dissect the era's history and briefly cover each track to uncover why this era was such truly a "cultural reset." #arianagrande #sweetener #eternalsunshine
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Before Eternal Sunshine, I had to revisit what I argue is her best record. What song did you love the most? 💛
everytime or better off! which i never r imagined could be tied together 😢
get well soon :)
breathin🤍
REM/better off 🤍
everytime and REM 😩 but they're all bangers
man the sweetener era was one of the first ever eras i was like a stan for, sweetener was big at my high school because of the music and the fashion and everyone connecting with no tears left to cry like the whole mental health aspect was something people needed to hear
The conversation she started about getting help I thought was really unique in that it felt genuine and truly transformative. Breathin itself is a perfect sorta song about really dissociating and feeling out of body.
sweetener is truly a healing album
A truly therapeutic piece of art, like it still hits especially after how wild the world is now!
I wish Ariana could have extended Sweetener's era a bit more. I know she reached another peak with "Thank U Next", but I can still imagine the possibilities of promoting the album a bit more. Fun to think about. And great job by the way!!
Thank you! 💛 Also, AGREED! everytime could have been a smash like everyone knew it when i went to the tour!
Sweetener is so nostalgic to me for some reason… every time I listen it feels like summer 2018 😔
Hands down, cannot forget how fun it was driving to Successful with my friends or putting on Goodnight n Go at the end of a night
we NEED more ariana and pharrell !! i really miss that unique rnb sound
They have this neat chemistry production and melodically! Even their vocals sound great together so it’s shocked me they haven’t linked up again.
Sweetener was just such a good era, her first cover in colour, the instagram feed and overall aesthetics of the era are unmatched. Sonically I do feel like it is unappreciated though as I would probably consider it her best album
Agreed! Visually I still think it’s one of the best curated ones in recent history, it truly looks like a multimillion dollar campaign with ambitious vision and clear storytelling. The music itself is just as strong too, I felt it was a bit overlooked awards wise (beyond its pop album win) to which TU,N had gotten a lot more noms as an apology.
We all know that as an ERA sweetener was her best era, HOWEVER TUN is her best album by far and yet one of her most boring albuns ( at least for me) but I know that TUN is her best album
I personally think the pharrel tracks ruined it. I feel like if all the songs were like the ones without pharrel, it would be one of my favorite Ariana albums.
@@thislovesposessingme The pharrel produced tracks are the stronger ones in my opinion
breathin is in my opinion her best track in her discography. that song has such a healing impact on me personally and it is pop perfection.
Literally one of the most important songs in recent pop music history
i get so sad that the intro to ntltc isn’t the one in the music video 😭 absolutely adoreeeee
Agreed! Like I have it burned into my head
one of my favorite albums by her, besides “yours truly”! she truly honed her craft as an artist with this album. she truly is so talented and i cannot WAIT for “eternal sunshine” !!!
She’s a talent and a joy! Pop, RnB, whatever, she’s got the pipes and the soul for it! Eternal Sunshine is gonna be amazing I think! I’m just sad everyone is using the whole SpongeBob thing to tear her down
i remember i was in my sophomore year of high school and this was the first era where i really started using social media and also developing an understanding of how artist’s release music and operate. this was such a special release and a dive into a certain direction + i love what you said about the covers. she loves to pull, sample, cover, but also go crazy with her vocals and interpretation and build a really cool experience to listen to. you ate with this tho 🖤
Thanks! It’s such a transformative piece of work that sees her like really adapt music, visuals, and ideas into a coherent cohesive vision. Her previous eras lacked a sense of urgency, this one felt like must-listen cultural reset stuff!
my favorite album forever 💛☁️💧
Excellent choice 💛☔️
her best album
No joke I’m praying Eternal Sunshine comes close, I’ve heard it’s got some tearjerking tracks in addition to bops but SWT was next level
@@EljohnMacaranaseternal sunshine>>>>>>>>> (imo)
Sweetener is my fav album from her! And it might be a hot take... but Blazed is one of my FAVORITE Ari tracks. It's so nostalgic to the music my mom used to play in the car as a kid.
It’s a really strong opener (if you don’t count Raindrops) like great at setting the tone
THIS IS THE ONE I WAS WAITING FOR!! Thank you for an excellent breakdown of my favorite Ari era!
Thank you for being patient! I really needed time to square away and sit down and really listen front to back! But wow! I’m floored how good this one hold up!
I just wanna say as an ari fan this is such a nice and concise video about this era like i feel like you really are completely encapsulating it
Thank you so much! I’m glad I was able to!
Great video and record! Mental health was just getting its footing then, and this record helped this much needed trend to happen mainstream.
I honestly am glad the younger generation definitely started the conversation. It’s imperfect at times (I’ve seen misused phrases and some inaccuracies) but I’m glad ppl are aware about themselves especially as we continue to exist an often times dark world.
While Sweetener has fallen in ranks in terms of Ariana Grande because I just don’t return to this album a lot but this album is definitely a quintessential pop album and Ariana album. The albums intro carry’s on the tradition of setting up the theme plus this time around Ari lays down the fact she’s a great vocalist, something she would’ve played with and only putting full vocal skills into some of the deep cuts only. Also Ariana got to be uniquely human at the time as with other pop stars that are known for being introspective and checking the culture such as Lana del Rey, Halsey, Taylor Swift and Billie Ellish (no hate I just think most people think of them when talking about this niche, especially at this time period) nothing feels heavy handed in trying to force the listener to “Get it” instead it invites the listener in and interpret it to one’s own life which the best of the niche offers. Breathing and successful feels like the natural conclusion to the hooks and chorus of Put your hearts up along with earlier songs from her debut era. The title track sweetener has the playful heart that animates Ariana grandes albums. I just really want to say thank you to the Sweetener era for all the memories I will never forget, I remember God is a woman coming out when I was in Canada visiting family and sneaking my Nintendo 3DS at night to watch the god is a woman music video when it first came out. The following morning when I got my IPad and Phone back the very first thing I did was screen shot the scene with Giant Ariana grande on both arms and knees. And googling Giant Patrick star, you know to find the clip of him from the goofy goober MV with the fish nests and heels, and sending both photos to my brother and asking who did it better. I also sent those same pictures to my mom because I didn’t notice people sucking on Ariana and didn’t notice until someone told me like a year later. I also remember running down the old loud stairs in my grandmothers and aunt/step grandmother (long story) house house when my mom and my aunt/ step grandmother were watching ET Live and TMZ and they started talking about the song and music video. On top of that’s the sweetener and thank you next tour got to be my first big Ariana show as any previous shows I got to see Ariana had to be small or my parents wouldn’t let me go. I remember being asked about the show when I returned to school after going. My sweetener shirt became some what of a on going class joke in my earth science class and then also eventually I did get made fun of for wearing it but it was ok because everytime it happened I would go home and ether play Breathin, God is a woman, Get well soon, or blazed on repeat until I had my confidence back up. Also my top songs on the album are No tears left to cry, breathin, Get well soon, Blazed, and successful. Also while this didn’t happen during the era itself, I did get to introduce one of my Aunts to Successful as a pick me up anthem after she was grieving a nasty break up. While she hasn’t given me her opinions on the song directly I’m assuming she likes it. Anyways sorry for this long comment, amazing video, and I love your videos so yeah…well actually i don’t really know how to sign off this comment but thank you sweetener
I LOOOOVE sweetener! It’s my favorite ariana album. Breathin’ still helps me to this day, better off is a masterpiece, god is a woman is such a bop, ntltc is her best lead imo. I miss that era a lot and it was beautiful witnessing it in real time. I’m very hyped for eternal sunshine this Friday (I feel kinda alone in this cause everybody seems to hate her these days)… esotsm is one of my favorite movies of all time, I kinda liked yes and as a comeback single, and I’m excited to see what she comes up with after 4 years of absence from music.
I’m distressed to see so many people wish her a Witness era or ill because of a messy relationship scandal which tbh is none of our business.
@@EljohnMacaranas exactly! “Your business is yours and mine is mine”
Eternal Sunshine is her best album!!! It’s so good!
To me, THIS is the defining record of the late 2010s and the only record from Ari's catalog, aside from her blockbuster My Everything, that I listen to front and back. Breathing is literally MY SONG in a sense that for years I've been struggling with panic attacks and anxiety. Definitely my fav single of 2018 and my fav Ari single. Goodnight n go makes me cry meanwhile better off gives me chills. Sweetener, the titular track, is a single worthy banger, meanwhile The Light is Coming will forever be iconic to me for how messy it is and how unhinged I felt after hearing for the time. God, 2018 was crazy, but still have fond memories of it!
I agree it was very much the definitive record of that 2018 ish cluster of years. And yes omg Breathin was really a track that had impact with listeners, I’m glad it had a positive impact on you! I agree TLIC is a really insane track and Sweetener itself could have been a hit. Can you believe that was nearly 6 years ago!
Man this era was everything for me I recreated all if her hairstyles cause i was in cosmetology school. Listening to this album feels so nostalgic now
Awwww! Sweetener was a lovely time when it was out and those hairstyles were iconic 💛
god is a woman💐
Literally deserved to smash at #1! Shocked it never hit it considering the radio play and impact it had!
Nice video!! ❤
Thank you 🥰
The sweetener era was so good! Absolutely loved this video!!! 💖💖💖
Thank you! It was an era to have witnessed like I feel bad for anyone who wasn’t like awake or around for it! A cultural event!
OMG THE STARBUCKS COLLAB WITH THE CARAMEL CLOUD MACCHIATO?!?!
I completely forgot about that! OMG!
the pharrel songs are not the best, but are underrrated
blazed, sweetener, TLIC, borderline are some of my favs
Sweetener (the song) is so underrated.
Tbh, those (and successful) are my skips on the album. I try to like them sm but I just can’t get into them 😭
Better off is way too good💐😭😭😭😭😭
It’s such a sad song especially if you connect it to Thank U Next
It’s so sad but beautiful
I'm not first but I AM early 😅🎉
TY 💛
@@EljohnMacaranas I truly Love your Video Essays. I'm the kinda guy who simply plays an album from beginning to end. No pausing, skipping, or anything. Your Videos give me further context and understanding of the Album. It's awesome 💽🎵🎶
Thank you so much! Also I’m glad there’s still albums listeners! I feel like now more than ever albums are like long movies and just listening to a handful makes you miss out on like the little interconnected story that makes a record
She’s gonna need to reset her image after her disastrous “Yes, and?” take on breaking up a family. ..
I think how the second single goes will determine if it really is a controversy or not because tbh “Yes and?” was a weak single choice but still was dragged to the top (with help of remixes). I doubt Wicked will actually lose any sales and by the image rehab will have worked. 🤷🏻♂️
no Billboard said even without the remixes she still would have been #1 regardless @@EljohnMacaranas
I love “yes, and?” honestly, it’s so overhated imo 😭
omg you reply to every comment…
Lmao sometimes I’ll check my phone in between editing or like going to the movies and pass my time that way
Sweetener is your fav album?????????????? -- no hate haha love that for you, my least fav tho I thought like the majority of ppl thought that too but cute to see ppl love it like how I love TUN & DW
I think it’s just my whole life situation, I’m at a time where I need it! One day I will return to being a TUN girlie hahaha
I do agree that sweetener is my least fav too.
she had an album before sweetner, for a vulgar album, even more than dangerous woman. Then things happened, which is a masterpeice
love the channel babe, but why bring up nicki feuding with another rapper in the same time as showing miss cabello doing blackface? very nothing burger miss thing
Oh i thought it was bc she was married to a literal weirdo lol
@@EljohnMacaranas and what does that have to do with meg beef and ariana??
@amazingunreleasedalbums no its was just a petty rap beef.. its not like she had a problem with sex offenders when she fucked them + had nickis husband in her video but go off
Lol
yuh
It didn’t. She’s a Homewrecker 😊
ok weirdo
@@EljohnMacaranas your mama ☺️
@@RapNB2011wow! You’re hilarious!! 😂
The Pharrell songs on Sweetener suck, has some good singles and a few solid album tracks, but it's not her best by any means. DW, TYN and Positions are way better.
My favorite album the one that made me a fan it’s her Daydream album.
Daydream is such a good record omg
@@EljohnMacaranas it’s a masterpiece
I don’t like this album but I love the singles. The production was kinda weird it has a lot of ⏭️