♡Дарья♡

these are all just my own opinions! i’m not a professional or a critic, just putting my thoughts out there about this new project.

shut up: this song was a delight for my ears. the strings, oh the strings. lyrically, we have heard this from ariana before—the token song about being a public figure. i don’t mind this theme too much but i think the real joy in this song is how it sounds. i adore the almost-parisian feel to it with a soulful cinematic finale. 8/10

34+35: a tongue-and-cheek song that we’ve definitely heard lyrics-wise before, but melodically it’s quite a delight. it’s light and blissful but doesn’t really say all that much. 6/10

motive: i honestly really like the retro feel to this song. the instrumental is giving me early 2000s vibes. i think the concept is interesting—it tells us a story of her skepticism in relationships being who she is and having gone through what she has. 6/10

just like magic: just ethereal. a day in the life with an insight into her process, and also her fatigue. the lyrics give you a sense of the almost robotic nature of routine in her world, but the upsides being her abilities to create. 7/10

off the table: i adore how lyrically honest this song is. the vulnerability that comes with the admission of her fears about finding love after tragedy. it gives you an insight into her insecurities about whether she’ll ever find the ending she wants. you really get the sense that her and abel, who represents her lover, seeking reassurance from each other in a beautiful building finale. and the STRINGS. 8/10

six thirty: a song on the simpler, but another melodic delight. it feels a little more stripped back and insecure, which is what i love about a lot of the writing in this album. i can’t say i understand the lyrics of the chorus or feel like they’re very cohesive, but i’m loving the verses.  7/10

safety net: the lyrics in this song tell a real story of the anxiety that comes with healing with a new love. she’s been hurt before, and she’s scared to fall again. i love “is it real this time or is it in my head” as a throwback to her song ‘in my head’. for me, melodically, it’s not as strong as some other tracks but i really admire this song lyrically. 7/10

my hair: truly a standout on this album. the experimentation with genre is something i’ve been craving from ariana, and a jazz-style track is so so wonderful to hear. i love the themes of her hair as her protective armour, something under constant scrutiny and attentive that almost defines her as a public figure. her inviting her lover to run his hands through her hair is inviting him into her life in a more intimate way, and opening up that barrier she’s built up. 10/10

nasty: a simplistic song—a pleasant listen and i know a fan favourite but for me, it fades a little into the background compared to some of the other tracks. 6/10

west side: probably the most forgettable song on the album. i can’t fathom why it’s called ‘west side’, to me this title has themes of social class and circumstance and i can’t help but feel that she is somewhat aestheticising this theme. 4/10

love language: this song is a riot to listen to—it’s so melodically interesting and so fun. it is a definite ear worm but one that strays from traditional pop music patterns in favour for a unique jazzy and r&b feel. 9/10

positions: this song is a sturdy grower—i wouldn’t say by any stretch that it’s the strongest track on the album, but it’s definitely the most palatable and in that sense i understand why it was the lead single. i don’t really think it should have a place as the title track, and it’s one of the most lyrically simple on the album, but a pleasant listen nonetheless. 5/10

obvious: a carefree and melodically sweet bop. it shows a side of ariana we’ve seen more of—idealistic, romantic and emotional and maybe somewhat unrealistic. 7/10

pov: an absolutely stunning end to the album. i am truly in love with this song. it leaves you feeling like she’s taking a turn for the better after the pain of her past. the acknowledgement that she should love herself rings true for many a listener. and melody-wise—god knows i LOVE a minor chord in a major song. the strong high notes and harmonies give me shivers and the strings make my heart swell. 10/10

OVERALL:

in truth i was quite skeptical in the lead up to this album. from hearing the fun, albeit plain lead single i was concerned that this record would be a return to dangerous woman form of generic meaningless songs about love, sex and relationships. however, having listened to it through and taking in each song and what they’re saying, i’ve realised that although this album’s theme is love and sex, it’s specifically about her healing process within this relationship. this entire album is a love letter to her new love—complete with admissions of fear, neediness, anxiety and guilt. it’s a cohesive journey of her adoration for this man, and the terror that comes with the possibility of finding something beautiful and hoping it won’t be taken from you. she has been through so much pain, and has addressed this in detail in previous music. this project takes time for her to bask in the love she’s found, as well as heal and learn to love again.

i feel as though some of the songs tend to blend into one another sonically, although i’m giving this a pass as my untrained ears aren’t familiar with r&b and not yet very good at discerning the minutia of this genre. I greatly appreciate ariana straying from pop and going into more explorative grounds. i definitely think her writing style is quite bizarre, and can often come across quite shallow (and sometimes it is) but upon further listening, you can glean a lot from her strange, bumbling, ungrammatical way of singing. i think it’s a valid form of self expression—you don’t need to write out long form pretty lines in the queen’s english to write a good song. i love how throughout the tracks, she includes references to her previous songs that give you a sense of how her journey now is still affected by then, but also how she is growing.

REALLY AM HAVIN ANBREAKDOWN OVER THIS ALBJM LADIE S