Ariana Grande: Everything you need to know about her sixth album 'positions' 🎶
It's four years old!
Ariana Grande released her sixth studio album 'positions' in October 2020, making it now four-years-old! After releasing her fifth album 'thank u, next' in February 2019 AND 'Sweetener' six months before that in August 2018, Ari got right back in the studio.
Releasing title track 'Positions' on 23rd October 2020, the album was dropped just one week later on 30th! Ari also released '34+35' and 'POV' as singles, later re-releasing '34+35' as a remix featuring Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion. Here's everything else you need to know about the album...
When was Ariana Grande's album 'positions' released?
Ariana released her sixth album 'positions' without much warning on Friday 30th October 2020. She casually announced that she'd be dropping an album on 14th October later in the month on Twitter, writing: 'i can’t wait to give u my album this month,' driving fans absolutely wild with the news about the shock record.
She took to Instagram on the day of the release to announce it was available to listen to, simply writing: '🤍 positions (the album) is out now 🤍'.
What is the tracklist of Ariana Grande's album 'positions'?
1) 'shut up'
2) '34+35'
3) 'motive' feat. Doja Cat
4) 'just like magic'
5) 'off the table' feat. The Weeknd
6) 'six thirty'
7) 'safety net' feat. Ty Dolla $ign
8) 'my hair'
9) 'nasty'
'west side'
'love language'
'positions'
'obvious'
'pov'
Who wrote the songs on 'positions'?
Ari co-wrote on every song on the album 'positions', working with the likes of Tayla Parx, Victoria Monét, the Weeknd, Ryan Tedder and Social House among others!
Did it go to Number 1?
It sure did! Ari hit the top spot yet again in the UK, securing a debut place at Number 1 with 'positions', becoming her fourth record to do so. It also debuted at Number 1 in the US as well as seven other countries. It was certified Gold in the UK in February 2021, and has also been certified Platinum in the US.
Did Ariana tour the album 'positions'?
She did not! After finishing her massive 'Sweetener World Tour' in December 2019, Ari put 'positions' out less than a year later - and then almost immediately began working on her upcoming role in the Wicked live-action film, auditioning and prepping before being officially announced as a cast member in November 2021.
In May 2022, Ari was asked by a fan about a seventh album - which she subsequently released nearly two years later - and said: "This is a question I’m nervous to answer, but I feel like I want to have a little bit of transparency and honesty with my fans.
"The truth is, I have not begun an album. I hear through the grapevine that you have a lot of theories and expectations in that department."
She added that after releasing 'positions', she was busy working as a coach on The Voice as well and confirmed that Wicked had taken up her world: "I started hearing murmurs about a Wicked audition coming soon, so I went into full preparation mode while I was also shooting The Voice.
"I was shooting and then also doing lessons every day ’cause I just wanted to be prepared. I know that I know the material like the back of my hand, but I have so much to learn and I want to be prime condition, so I went pretty hard getting ready."
How many albums has Ariana Grande released so far?
'Yours Truly' (2013)
Ariana Grande's debut album 'Yours Truly' was released in September 2013, peaking at Number 1 in the US and Number 7 in the UK. The track listing of the album is: 'Honeymoon Avenue', 'Baby I', 'Right There' (featuring Big Sean), 'Tattooed Heart', 'Lovin' It', 'Piano', 'Daydreamin'', 'The Way' (featuring Mac Miller), 'You'll Never Know', 'Almost Is Never Enough' (with Nathan Sykes), 'Popular Song' (with Mika) and 'Better Left Unsaid'.
Of the album, Ariana told SheKnows: "They can expect a lot of honesty. It's like a direct... you know, it's like it used to be pages from my diary, instead of keeping diary, I would write songs about what was happening in my life. So it's really personal. It's a Motown throwback and pop at the same time, so it's '50s and '60s inspiration mixed with today."
'My Everything' (2014)
Her follow-up 'My Everything' was released in August 2014, again peaking at Number 1 in the US and this time going to Number 3 in the UK. As of August 2024, the album was certified 2x Platinum in the UK. The track listing of the albums is: 'Intro', 'Problem' (featuring Iggy Azalea), 'One Last Time', 'Why Try', 'Break Free' (featuring Zedd), 'Best Mistake' (featuring Big Sean), 'Be My Baby' (featuring Cashmere Cat), 'Break Your Heart Right Back' (featuring Childish Gambino), 'Love Me Harder' (with The Weeknd), 'Just a Little Bit of Your Heart' (written by Harry Styles), 'Hands on Me' (featuring A$AP Ferg) and 'My Everything'. The deluxe version also included 'Bang Bang' featuring Jessie J and Nicki Minaj.
She told Rolling Stone of the record: "It's an album that I want to do a little bit different. I don't want it to sound like an extension of Yours Truly. I want it to sound like an evolution. I want to explore more sounds and experiment a little bit. I have a bunch of ideas I'm very excited about and a lot of stuff cooking."
'Dangerous Woman' (2016)
Ari's third album 'Dangerous Woman' was released in May 2016, once again going to Number 1 in the US, and this time, also scoring the top spot in the UK. The track listing is: 'Moonlight', 'Dangerous Woman', 'Be Alright', 'Into You', 'Side to Side' (featuring Nicki Minaj), 'Let Me Love You' (featuring Lil Wayne), 'Greedy', 'Leave Me Lonely' (featuring Macy Gray), 'Everyday' (featuring Future), 'Bad Decisions' and 'Thinking Bout You'.
The album was nearly titled 'Moonlight', and Ariana explained the decision to change it: "'Moonlight' is a lovely song, and it's a lovely title. It's really romantic, and it definitely ties together the old music and the new music, but 'Dangerous Woman' is a lot stronger. To me, a dangerous woman is someone who's not afraid to take a stand, be herself and to be honest."
'Into You' has since been certified 3x Platinum.
'Sweetener' (2018)
Ariana's fourth album 'Sweetener' was released in August 2018, topping the charts in 27 countries including the UK and US. The track listing is: 'Raindrops (An Angel Cried)', 'Blazed' (featuring Pharrell Williams), 'The Light Is Coming' (featuring Nicki Minaj), 'R.E.M.', 'God Is a Woman', 'Sweetener', 'Successful', 'Everytime', 'Breathin', 'No Tears Left to Cry', 'Borderline' (featuring Missy Elliott), 'Better Off', 'Goodnight n Go', 'Pete Davidson' and 'Get Well Soon'.
'Sweetener' was Ariana's first record since the devastating attack in Manchester. Many fans and non-fans around the world praised her for her approach to the album - ensuring that what happened was in the bones of the record, but that it wasn't defining her.
thank u, next (2019)
Less than six months after the release of 'Sweetener', Ari released 'thank u, next'. It went to Number 1 in both the UK and the US, and the track list is: 'Imagine', 'Needy', 'NASA', 'Bloodline', 'Fake Smile', 'Bad Idea', 'Make Up', 'Ghostin', 'In My Head', '7 Rings', 'Thank U, Next', 'Break Up with Your Girlfriend, I'm Bored'.
The title track was hugely popular, partly thanks to the incredible music video in which Ari paid homage to many Noughties chick flicks. It also dealt with the death of her ex-boyfriend, Mac Miller, and her split from ex-fiancé Pete Davidson. Ariana promoted both 'Sweetener' and 'thank u, next' on her 'Sweetener World Tour' in 2019.
She said of the album to Billboard: "I feel like there are certain standards that pop women are held to that men aren't. We have to do the teaser before the single, then do the single, and wait to do the pre-order, and radio has to impact before the video, and we have to do the discount on this day, and all this, and it's just like, 'Bruh, I just want to talk to my fans and sing and write music and drop it the way these boys do. Why do they get to make records like that and I don't?' So I do and I did and I am, and I will continue to."
'positions' (2020)
After bagging a Grammy Award alongside Lady Gaga, the singer released her sixth album 'positions'. Ariana announced in mid-October that her sixth album would dropping that month, casually writing on Twitter: 'i can't wait to give u my album this month.'
She then released 'positions' on Friday 30th October 2020, made up of the tracklist: 'shut up', '34+35', 'motive' feat. Doja Cat, 'just like magic', 'off the table' feat. The Weeknd, 'six thirty', 'safety net' feat. Ty Dolla $ign, 'my hair', 'nasty', 'west side', 'love language', 'positions', 'obvious', 'pov'.
The record hit the top spot in both the UK and US album charts, and was in the Top 3 positions in 17 other countries. So far, it's been certified Gold in the UK by the BPI and Platinum in the US by the RIAA.
'Yours Truly' Deluxe Edition Re-Release (2023)
Ari re-released her debut album 'Yours Truly' in 2023 to mark its 10th birthday, made up of the original tracklist plus six tracks that were re-recorded in 2023 live in London studios: 'Honeymoon Avenue', 'Daydreamin'', 'Baby I', 'Tattooed Heart', 'Right There' and 'The Way'.
'Eternal Sunshine' (2024)
Ari's seventh album 'Eternal Sunshine' was released on 8th March 2024! She somehow found time to write, record and release a whole entire album while still working on the Wicked musical movie adaptations. It went to Number 1 in both the UK and the US, plus plenty of other countries around the world too, and so far has been certified Gold in the UK by the BPI - translating to roughly 100,000 album sales. In September 2024, The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the album Platinum.
The tracklist for the record is made up of: 'intro (end of the world)', 'bye', 'don't wanna break up again', 'saturn returns interlude', 'eternal sunshine', 'supernatural', 'true story', 'the boy is mine', 'yes, and?', 'we can't be friends (wait for your love)', 'i wish i hated you', 'imperfect for you' and 'ordinary things (feat. nonna)'. Although Ari is hugely busy working on the Wicked films, she has teased a tour could be on the way to take her most recent album on the road - watch this space!
In October 2024, to celebrate seven months since the release of her seventh album, Ariana released a live version of the record. Titled 'Eternal Sunshine Slightly Deluxe and Also Live', the album contained live recordings of seven songs from the original tracklist - with the singer also releasing accompanying videos alongside a group of talented musicians. The tracks included: 'Intro (End of The World)', 'Eternal Sunshine', 'Don't Wanna Break Up Again', 'Supernatural', 'Yes, And?', 'We Can't Be Friends' and 'Imperfect For You'.
You can hear Ariana Grande's biggest hits on the MFR playlist! 🎶
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