From Yours Truly to Eternal Sunshine, Ariana Grande has captured the hearts of millions around the world with her vocals that seem to reach no limit, immaculate music production processes, and a ponytail that has made her a decade-long household name. This past Friday, Grande released Petal, which has, expectedly, already gone triple platinum on my JBL speaker. In this album review, I will break down every little harmony, heartbreak, and 808 beat that Petal entails.
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Get notified of top trending articles like this one every week! (we won't spam you)Kiss Me - 4.5/5
Okay, I do have an embarrassing confession to make…that intro scared the living crap out of me. Honest to God, I flew out of my desk chair. Nevertheless, this song couldn’t have been a more perfect introduction to the album. I was constantly being transported back to Ariana’s dreamy pop roots, but there’s definitely a different sound to it. There are so many things to unpack with this song, so I would describe it as ‘textured’. Also, this might be a good time to say that I am a sucker for a synth.
Ariana stated in an interview earlier in the week that she would be experimenting with a sound that she’s never worked with before, which excited many. In addition to her (successful) attempt at experimenting at trying a newer sound, the value of production and musicianship continues to skyrocket. Project after project, Grande really proves herself and never fails to set the bar high in the industry.
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Hate That I Made You Love Me - 5/5
Do I even need to explain? Like I said, this song has already gone triple quadruple 10 times multi platinum in my Airpods. The instrumental to vocal ratio is flawless, so it's incredibly easy to listen to. I don’t think we give enough credit to Ariana’s lower register. I mean, we all know she can probably hit an A162 or something otherworldly like that … but it always mesmerizes me. This song is the definition of pop perfection and has rightfully earned a spot in the MM&BHOF (Morgan's Music and Bops Hall of Fame).
P.S. If that final chorus isn’t played as I’m ascending up to heaven, I’m not dying.
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Petal - 4.5/5
Another confession: I knew these lyrics before Friday. Whoops. Thanks, grainy Youtube concert clips. This is where we start to hear that shift in her sound, which has drawn in mixed reviews on social media. I’m sure that intro alone, though, can wake any Arianator up from a coma. The emotion in the lyrics are so raw and telling.
She discusses the hardships of the music industry and how persistent you have to be to keep your head above water when facing criticism.
Tell me who’s to blame is it the people or myself?
Can we also talk about the time signature changing? Just genius! I commend Ariana for being brave enough to experiment with her title track.
Stay - 5/5
Okay, I’m tapping my foot over here! This is such a fresh and rejuvenating sound. One thing that Grande does exceptionally well is layering her vocals, and we will continue to see this trend, specifically in the 2nd verses on all of the tracks. I just can’t get over how well-produced and adorable this song is. It’s like “supernatural”’s little sister. No notes.
Oh Well - 4.5/5
Oh don’t mind me, just patiently waiting for the PinkPantheress collaboration. This might be one of my favorite instrumentals on Ariana’s discography. The soft dance pop really stands out on an album like Petal, which really brings the whole record together.
2nd verse syndrome strokes this song, once again. If there was a Guiness World Record for most consecutive enjoyable 2nd verses, this album takes the cake. Additionally, that outro was a chef's kiss. What an marvelous 5th track.
Big Feelings - 5/5
Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, here we are… Song of the Year, ladies and gentlemen. I knew this was going to be my favorite track 3 seconds in. Y’all, she was not messing around in that studio. From the layering to that PERFECT bridge, this song sets itself up to be the most elaborate. Honestly, I have no notes. 12/10.
Freak - 3.5/5
Like I said, she put those layers to WORK! Now, I don’t know if this is just me, but I feel like the instrumentals are a little too loud in this track. Miss Grande has some of the most beautiful vocals and harmonies in the industry, so it was a little frustrating to hear that the balancing was slightly off.
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As we progress through the album, the more vulnerable her lyrics become. The most beautiful thing about artists’ writing processes is that you never know what side of them you’re gonna get. I feel like this album serves as a confessional for Ariana, and it's a pretty angry one, too.
Warning Signs (Interlude) - 5/5
Now THIS is how you do an interlude. The seamless transition from “freak” to a completely different beat was indescribable. This is essentially flipping the sounds, going from the dream pop to the alternative R&B. It really couldn’t have been done better. There is nothing I want more than an extended version of this. A million standing ovations for you, Ariana!
Like I do - 6/5
Yes, the 6/5 was intentional. I can’t lie, I knew she was about to go off before the beat even dropped. And man, what is with her on these 2nd verses? This entire song is a masterpiece, but everything really comes together with the effortless vocal layering. I think we can all agree that the beat is the main character here, though. And don’t forget the lyricism! Although not entirely appropriate to disclose, just understand that “her ego small but she still grande”. Absolute cinema.
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Never Get Over Me - 4/5
There is nothing I love more than Ariana singing in whatever genre this is. It does something to my soul. I was definitely getting “Past Life” vibes but put a bad girl vibe on it. I’m not sure if I have already gone over my limit of giving this production team a mention, but this very well might be their best performance on this album.
My favorite part of this song, though, is obviously the bridge. I am forever in awe of the transformative nature of all of the vocals and layering. It really accentuates the exotic nature of the album.
Bad Thing (Bunny Hop) - 4/5
Close enough, welcome back Olivia Rodrigo. How adorable is this song?! This would be her first song in this somewhat popular genre, especially over the past couple of years. Strategically, it would perform extremely well if it was to be a single. I’m glad that Ariana has stepped outside of her comfort zone and made such an incredible song. And, once again, the bridge can’t be touched. Perfection.
Nowhere, Nobody - 3.5/5
Nooo! How is it already over? The last track of Petal, a deep, soft pop track explores the themes of finding yourself and loving unconditionally. It sets itself up to be one of Grande’s most revealing and vulnerable tracks.
The album had so many emotions that were expressed, so I am very pleased that this final track serves as a soft, affirming hug.
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Oh, We’re So Back
I firmly believe this is a solid and competitive piece for the battle of AOTY. From the high-quality production to the pristine vocals, Ariana really did her big one. This is definitely my favorite album of hers at the moment. It explores so many styles and I think she executed them in such a professional manner.
As Grande continues her international arena tour, millions of fans celebrate her Eternal Sunshine album along with all of her biggest hits, “Dangerous Woman” and “Break Free” to name a few. This is an extraordinary step in Ariana’s career and I can not wait to see how she continues to promote this project.
In the meantime, please watch this masterpiece of a music video.
