Ariana Grande, “7 Rings” | Controversial Tunes 😈🎶

Reading Time: 3 min read

On the 12^th edition of Controversial Tunes (2022), we explore the controversy behind the song, “7 Rings” by Ariana Grande.

ring on the controversy! Controversial Tunes is a column that provides background information and insight into songs that raised eyebrows and totally stirred the pot. The records that grace Controversial Tunes are old and new alike, with all genres of music welcome. On the 12^th edition of Controversial Tunes (2022), we explore the controversy behind the song,

“7 Rings” by

Ariana Grande.

Theme & Lyrics

“Been through some bad shit, I should be a sad bitch / Who woulda thought it’d turn me to a savage?” Ariana Grande sounds incredibly fierce on “7 Rings”, one of the many highlights appearing on thank u, next, among the best albums of 2019. While “7 Rings” ranks among the elite songs of 2019, it’s also polarizing – can you say CONTROVERSIAL? Some love “7 Rings” while others are annoyed by it or absolutely loathe it. Perhaps the key reason why folks have ‘a bone to pick’ with Ari on this “My Favorite Things”-lifted number – cultural appropriation. Yikes!

Bitmoji Image Re-examining “7 Rings,” the black influence of the record is undeniable. Ariana Grande is considered a pop artist, but she’s one who blurs the lines including plenty of R&B influence. R&B, of course, is an undeniably black genre, even if more and more white musicians have become ‘hip to the vibe.’ The way she sings it, with hip-hop influence, is part of the cultural appropriation argument against the hit:

“My wrist, stop watchin’, my neck is flossin’

Make big deposits, my gloss is poppin’…”

daaayum The music video also contributes to the argument against “7 Rings” if you will (that long hair, the dancing, the vibe). So, what have others said? Brooklyn White (Hello Giggles) writes, “right before the minute mark, ‘7 Rings’ takes a sharp, cringeworthy turn. The trap hi-hats come in, and Grande’s “Pretty Boy Swag” homage kicks off.” In her extensive article regarding the song, that’s just the beginning of White’s skepticism. A different writer, Jayna Viswalingam (Feminism in India) focuses on cultural appropriation from the Japanese perspective. Perhaps the more familiar publication is The Atlantic, where Spencer Kornhaber titles his article, How Ariana Grande Fell Off the Cultural-Appropriation Tightrope, with the headline, “With ‘7 Rings,’ the singer wears a culture as a costume.” Woo!

Final Thoughts

Bitmoji Image Worth noting, Ariana Grande did respond to cultural appropriation. I guess, take it how you will. If nothing else, “7 Rings” makes a worthy discussion piece. Personally, I like the song and always have BUT I completely understand the issues. “7 Rings” presents a different sort of controversy, but it’s controversial nonetheless.