Culminating a steady, multi-year build-up that’s contained everything from celebrity break-ups to genuine tragedy, 2000s-era nostalgia, and even—horror of horrors—some actual top-notch pop music mixed with a razor-sharp sense of cultural messaging, Ariana Grande’s thank u, next has finally arrived for public consumption. Grande dropped the 12-track album this evening (along with a new music video for “break up with your girlfriend, i’m bored”), and it’s already on every streaming service, from now until we’re all old and dead, but Ariana remains young and eternal.
As the freshest nexus for our culture’s particular pop obsessions, Grande’s already had a busy week: She’s currently feuding with the Grammy’s—and specifically producer Ken Erlich—over a canceled performance at this year’s show, and got into a weird confrontation recently after she accidentally got “Japanese BBQ finger” tattooed on her hand. (It was supposed to be “7 rings,” referencing one of the songs on thank u, next.) Of course, we only care about any of this stuff because she’s also one of the biggest names in music right now, wielding her celebrity with practiced skill married to legitimate musical talent, with the release of the album tonight serving as yet another milestone on her trip upward into the pop culture pantheon.
Ariana Grande—thank u, next
1. imagine
2. needy
3. NASA
4. bloodline
5. fake smile
6. bad idea
7. make up
8. ghostin
9. in my head
10. 7 rings
11. thank u, next
12. break up with your girlfriend, i’m bored