Ariana Grande’s sweetest album yet

Ariana Grande’s fourth album, Sweetener is her second album to reach Number One on Billboard’s 200 list. Photo courtesy of Instagram

Ariana Grande’s fourth album, Sweetener is her second album to reach Number One on Billboard’s 200 list. Photo courtesy of Instagram

People all across the world are buzzing over Ariana Grande’s new album, Sweetener. With a combination of her old music style and some new elements, Grande’s fourth album is a refreshing blend of upbeat and soulful sounds.

“I’ve always been a fan of [Ariana], but in this album she seems way more genuine and honest,” said junior Macey Earle.

Unlike her past albums, Sweetener delves deeper into Grande’s personal life. One track, “Pete Davidson” is named for her new fiancée. The lyrics of this song speak about her newfound love for Davidson and how it has made her feel incredibly happy. In another song, “Get well soon,” which is featured last on the album, Grande sings about her experience with mental illness and encourages others who are also suffering. According to the Chicago Tribune, the last 40 seconds of silence in this song are for the victims of the Manchester bombing at her concert in May of 2017.

Although there are aspects of Sweetener that sound similar to her past albums, Dangerous Woman and My Everything, Grande has an assortment of different sounding tracks on this album. Some tracks offer variety by featuring other artists such as Nicki Minaj, Pharrell Williams, and Missy Elliot.

In August, Grande’s album reached number one in Billboard’s 200, replacing Travis Scott’s album, Astroworld, and becoming her second album to reach number one status.

Earle admits to playing Sweetener on her ride to school in the morning sometimes because while it is mellow and soothing, it is also has upbeat rhythms.

“I like listening to it because it’s not as aggressive as rap music, but it doesn’t put me to sleep either,” said Earle. “It’s like a perfect mix.”