Ariana Grande, Positions (Deluxe) | Album Review 💿

Ariana Grande releases Positions (Deluxe), adding five additional songs, expanding her sixth studio album to a total of 19 tracks.

Ariana Grande has been one of pop’s most compelling and consistent artists of the 2010s.  Amazingly, Grande has only won one Grammy to date! Nonetheless, the hits that she’s racked up, particularly from 💿 Sweetener (2018) and 💿 thank u, next (2019) are absolute classics.  Thank u, next is her masterpiece – likely the album to beat for years to come.  That said, Grande moved on early to the next chapter of her discography with 💿 Positions, which arrived with very little notice in October 2020. Positions, her sixth album, is another welcome addition to an incredible discography, even if it doesn’t come close to topping the aforementioned masterpiece.  In February 2021, she issued 💿 Positions (Deluxe) which added five addition tracks to the original 14.

“Shut up”

“All them demons helped me see shit differently / So don’t be sad for me.” Yeah, 🎵 “Shut up” definitely sets the tone on Positions.  Grande is assertive and profane, just like the title suggests. That said, at the same time she urges the haters to shut their mouths, she’s backed by an ultra-classy, orchestral backdrop. Go figure. The strings don’t exit on ✅ 🎵 “34 + 35,” where the math adds up to “69” – just in case you missed it. Once again, it’s a case where the production is refined and incredibly classy, yet Ariana totally ‘can’t be tamed.’ Case in point, the chorus:

“Can you stay up all night?
Fuck me ‘til the daylight
Thirty-four, thirty-five (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah).”

Wow.  Furthermore, Grande makes sure she’s taking care of herself so that she can keep him and of course, so the sex can remain lit.  The innuendo is over the top, but as naughty and risqué as “69” – I mean “34 + 35” – is, it’s definitely quite a ‘fucking’ bop (pun intended).  On 🎵 “motive,” Ariana collaborates with 🎙 Doja Cat, who had a big year on the charts in 2020.  As expected, this is another joint chocked-full of attitude and a dash of profanity, not to mention a hella groovy danceable beat.  As always, Grande sounds absolutely fantastic, barely breaking a sweat as she questions this man’s motives (“I could call bullshit out from a mile away”).  Doja also brings attitude, but Ari holds things down just fine on her own, all said and done.

“Just like magic” 

“Say it’s tricky at the top, gotta keep a slim ego for a thick wallet / Losing friends left and right, but I just send ‘em love and light.” BOOM! Even scoring a collaboration with Doja Cat on the enjoyable “motive,” I’d argue the following solo joint, ✅ 🎵 “Just like magic,” is the better record.  First and foremost, the vocals continue to be top rate – angelic! Ariana continues to sing with ease, yet simultaneously packs a mean punch.  “Just like magic, just like magic,” she sings on the chorus, “Middle finger to my thumb and then I snap it.” Even as she continues to exude an attitude, as well as her potty-mouthed ways, she still manages to keep a halo on head – at least to some extent.

Things remain hot on ✅ 🎵 “Off the table,” which marks her second duet with 🎙 The Weeknd (“Love Me Harder”, My Everything, 2014).  Since their first collaboration, it’s clear that both artists have matured.  This contemporary R&B slow jam was readymade for The Weeknd – the man excels when there’s a lethargic tempo in play.  That said, Grande shines bright like a diamond, giving us a blend of her usual cool energy as well as some grittier, more aggressive vocals as the record progresses.  In addition to gorgeous vocals (including the ad libs and layering), the listener is blessed with gorgeous, ear catching production.

So, why does Ariana tell time on the sixth track, 🎵 “six thirty?” Well, it’s because she’s “Down like six thirty.”  Look at your clock and when 6:30 comes along, both hands are pointed down to the 6.  Basically, she’s into it with him. Pendulum doesn’t swing with this record but, it’s another enjoyable number all in all.

“Safety net” 

With ✅ 🎵 “Safety net,” Ariana Grande brings in another popular collaborator, 🎙 Ty Dolla $ign, whose ‘bread is buttered’ when collaborating with others.  Here, his unique voice gives this record that little extra something, something.  Also, making this a sweet gem is the chill, lush production work, the melody, and catchy pre-chorus and chorus sections.  The vocal ad-libs incorporated throughout the production don’t hurt either.

Grande gets a bit funkier on ✅ 🎵 “My hair,” which continues to add to the R&B tilt of Positions.  Short and sweet at just over two-and-a-half-minutes in duration, that’s plenty of time for Ari to drop another bop.  This one definitely hearkens back to the past, making it contrast everything else on the LP.  You won’t be able to get the chorus unstuck out of your head:

“To run your hands through my hair
Baby, ‘cause that’s why it’s there
Come run your hands through my hair
Ooh, baby, so don’t you be scared
So, come run your hands through my hair.”

Adding to the allure – her whistle register! Following “My Hair,” she indeed gets 🎵 “Nasty.” That includes referencing her private parts, continuing the expansion of female musicians speaking openly about their sexual desires.  Not only is “Nasty” sexual, but it is also sexy.

“West side” 

🎵 “West side” marks another shorter record, of which Positions has quite a few.  This brief number is as sleek as everything else, with Grande’s attitude, confidence, and sexiness translating superbly. “West side” feels like it lacks the oomph to be a hit (part of that is its brevity), but it’s another vibe-laden moment in an album with no shortage of them.  ✅ 🎵 “Love language” is more complete, though still maintains brevity – three-minute runtime.  From the start, the record is groovy, inciting head nodding and foot tapping.  That said, it’s not groovy in the banger sense.  This is a classy, throwback soulful cut, with some jazz sensibilities as well as soul and blue-eyed soul.  The most surprising occurrence in “Love language” happens at the end with an outro that seems to come out of nowhere.  

✅ 🎵 “Positions” was the sole single issued in advance of Positions.  While some folks were mixed to some extent, it’s a cool, sensual jam overall.  “Positions” checks off many of the expected boxes: fiery vocals, sound production (🎛 Tommy Brown, 🎛 Mr. Franks, and 🎛 London on da Track) balancing R&B and pop, and of course, sexy songwriting. That said, “Positions” thrives more on vibe than being a lyrical/songwriting tour de force.  The chorus is the catchiest, most recognizable section of the song. The verses are relatively short and lack transcendence.  That said, they’re a vibe, while the pre-chorus and that standout chorus shine brightest.

“Obvious”

🎵 “Obvious” keeps things brief, once again.  Like many of the songs from Positions, Grande balances classy vocal and production with less sophisticated, punchier lyrics.  “I’m prying we don’t fuck this up” definitely doesn’t match the refined backdrop which Grande sings over, not to mention those celestial pipes. ✅ 🎵 “POV” concludes Positions exceptionally, giving the album that one last, truly potent hurrah.  “POV” checks off most of those boxes referenced throughout this review: masterful vocals and top-notch production.  Add to “POV” more resonant, thoughtful lyrics, capped off by the empowering chorus:

“I wanna love me
The way that you love me
Ooh, for all of my pretty and all of my ugly, too
I’d love to see me from your point of view.”

Deluxe: “someone like u – interlude”

🎵 “someone like u – interlude” commences the deluxe edition of Positions.  Lyrically, Ariana Grande certainly doesn’t reinvent the wheel. That said, thematically, “someone like u” continues to the love-fueled theme of Positions and finds Grande clinging to the hope that this relationship is ‘the one.’ The interlude features the usual top-rate, buttery smooth vocals by Grande and lush, soulful production (Tommy Brown, 🎛 “Pop” Wansel, 🎛 Sam Wish, 🎛 Marqueze Parker, and 🎛 Travis Sayles).  She follows up with the short but sweet and sensual 🎵 “test drive.”  Like much of Positions, the sex is pronounced – lit to the nth degree. Just think about the number of instances cars have been used as sexual metaphors and you’ve got the modus operandi of “test drive” down pat.  On the chorus, Grande tells her man, “No, I don’t feel the need to test drive nothin’” because “Baby, I’m sold on you.” On the second verse, she asserts, “I drop the top on that body / That’s candy paint on my body.” Da-yum!

On the ✅ 🎵 “34 + 35 (Remix)”,  The first verse remains intact, where 🎙 Ariana Grande ensures she’s taking care of herself so that she can keep him and so the sex can remain lit.  Where things change on are the second and third verses. Doja Cat appears on the second verse, playing off the sexual vibes of the theme (“I want that six-nine without Tekashi / And I want your body and I’ll make it obvious”), with Grande following up with the sexy chorus. Then, 🎙 Megan Thee Stallion drops the third verse, remaining unapologetic and sexed-up to the nth degree (“I’m up like Starbucks, three pumps, ooh / This pussy good for your health, call it superfood.” Grande closes out with chorus once more, followed by the original outro.  All in all, the original magic of “34+35” is retained on the “34+35 (Remix).”

“worst behavior”

With 🎵 “34+35 Remix” being the longest cut of the deluxe tracks, the final two numbers keep the duration two-minutes-and change.  The penultimate joint finds Ariana Grande on her 🎵 “worst behavior” – anyone shocked? Obviously, there’s pleasure involved on this sleek bop, but the surprising takeaway is the secrecy of this particular relationship within the narrative.  Per Ms. Grande, “No phone, no pics, no postin’ us / This love just ain’t disposable / Just take what’s yours, don’t run from it / Don’t be actin’ like that…” Okay then!

Positions (Deluxe) concludes with 🎵 “main thing,” another enjoyable, sensual joint.  The vocals continue to wow, while the production (Tommy Brown, Mr. Franks, 🎛 Xavi, 🎛 Yonatan Watts, Travis Sayles, and 🎛 Josh Conerly) is simply marvelous – the synths, those trap drums! While Grande has always consistently incorporated R&B into her music, “main thing” might be one of the best examples yet.  Again, there’s not much song but the aesthetic – the vibe – it’s popping to say the least.

Final Thoughts 💭 

Positions, in both standard and deluxe editions, is another welcome addition to an incredible discography.  It doesn’t top thank u, next, but it is indeed another great album by Ariana Grande.  It’s not her best or most memorable, but there are many a pop artist who would kill to make a pop album this good.  The big thing that knocks it down a peg is honestly just how good her discography, particularly sweetener and thank u, next, has been to this point.  Positions just happens to join elite company.

✅ Gems 💎: “34 + 35,” “just like magic,” “off the table,” “safety net,” “my hair,” “love language,” “positions,” “pov,” “34 + 35 Remix” & “worst behavior” 

🎙 Ariana Grande • 💿 Positions • 🏷 Republic • 🗓10.30.20

[ 📷: Republic]