The queen of scandalous tongue-in-cheek bubblegum pop has returned with a softer R&B sounding album. Late last Thursday night, Ariana Grande released her sixth album sending her fans, known as Arinators, over the moon. 

2020 has been a quiet year for Grande aside from her collaboration “Rain On Me” with Lady Gaga. It came as a surprise to many, as Grande alerted her fans through Twitter by casually saying, “I can’t wait to give u my album this month.” Grande sent her fans into a tizzy with the weeks leading up the release with social media posts hinting at possible lyrics. 

“Positions” is the name of her latest album and the lead single that she dropped on Oct. 23 along with a music video that was also released right after the last presidential debate. Grande has been very outspoken on politics in the past, constantly posting information on social media for her young audience to become more educated on the voting process. So it comes as no surprise that her latest music video is layered with presidential themes. Grande is presumably President in the video, she is shown talking with the press, working with the postal service, hanging out in the Presidential kitchen, and walking her dogs across the White House lawn. A plethora of first-lady-esque outfits were worn by Grande and a mostly female cabinet surrounded her.

Regarding the album as a whole, if you thought Grande sang about sex before, wait until you hear this album. The album is chock full of subtle and not so subtle nods towards sex. For example, she sings, “Watching movies / But we aint seen a thing tonight” and “If I put it quite plainly / Just give me them babies” in her song “34+35.” The lyrics are blunt, but contain elements of romance throughout. NPR’s Latesha Harris, writes that her lyrics “are simple, honest, flippant and full of desire all at once.”

Grande’s new album is not as electrifyingly upbeat as her previous albums. But if every song was unbelievably upbeat, it would seem out of place, given that we are in a pandemic. Grande manages to keep audiences in awe with her whistle singing, ‘can’t believe she just said that’ lyrics, and her ability to remain candid and vulnerable with her fans. 

Fans were delighted to see that Grande once again collaborated with The Weeknd with their new song “off the table,” with their first song being “Love Me Harder” from 2014. Grande collaborated for the first time with Doja Cat on “motive” and Ty Dolla Sign on “safety net.”

“Positions” follows her last album “thank you, next” (2019). Grande’s past rollercoaster of emotions have been fueled by tears, break ups, and loss. With “Positions,” the listener gets the feeling that things are looking up for Grande. She has a new love in her life who undoubtedly inspired this new album. Hopefully, there will be no tears left to cry in Grande’s future. Grande manages to create something new along with all of the classic Grande elements that her fans have come to adore.