“Thank U, Next” Should not be Skipped

Ariana Grande’s new single is more than just “a smash” hit about learning to love herself.

PHOTO | TNS

Ariana Grande performs at NBC’s “Today Show” Summer Concert Series at Rockefeller Center in New York City on August 29, 2014.

Ariana Grande’s new song “Thank U, Next” is the next new famous “diss-track” on the charts today. It’s the latest track about exes since the days of Taylor Swift and her constant stream of breakup songs. Even in spite of the amount of “diss-tracks” in music today, this song manages to shine through as one of the best.

The chorus is catchy, and the verses are great to sing along to. Grande’s unique voice and lyrics shine through. Her voice is light enough to glide through the chorus and the occasionally sarcastic lyrics, and changes when she pours her emotions into the verses. Her song also includes the classic Grande high notes that are executed perfectly. The song has a great message and is perfect for a winter formal playlist or singing along to in the car.

“Thank U, Next” was released Nov. 3 around 30 minutes before the start of Saturday Night Live, which stars her most recent ex, Pete Davidson. Grande and Davidson had previously gotten engaged in June, and the pair recently called it off late October. The song deals with her exes and how they formed her into the person she is today. Grande even sings in the song that she is “so (expletive) thankful for her exes” and what she has learned from them. However, in this powerful song, Grande expresses her new focus of love: herself.

Grande’s new song lets fans see into her mind and her healing process after her recent breakup. Grande expresses how she is now learning to love herself and is excited to begin that relationship. She mentions how she has taught herself “love,” “patience” and how to deal with pain. Grande expresses that “she turned out amazing” and is ready to move on to the next chapter in her life. Recently, Grande has been very private about the struggles she has been going through, so this single has been a way to see inside her head.

Grande’s new song came less than a month after the breakup, yet she was still able to come up with a great song in such a short time. It is the perfect pop song to add to playlists and adds a new beat with her distinctive voice. The emotional tribute to her late ex, Mac Miller, who died suddenly of an overdose Sept. 7, gave the song a different perspective by calling Miller “an angel,” rather than another mindless track.