A coincidence is ‘a remarkable concurrence of events or circumstances without apparent causal connection’ and a promotional campaign for Ariana Grande’s new record is, well, something we’re going to tell you about now.
Thank U, Next, bearing the same name as her 2018 banger, has dropped today, bearing lower-case tracks with names like needy, ghostin, fake smile, bloodline and new song break up with your girlfriend, I’m bored.
The latter has also got a new music video, in which Ariana gets mixed up with a couple. In a club, a blonde Ariana checks out a couple, dances with them. One is a handsome man, played by Charles Melton from Riverdale and the other is his Ariana-a-like girlfriend. At an afterparty, things get tense, as it’s revealed that Ariana, now with dark hair, looks a lot like the Ariana-a-like!
Just when Ari is about to get her guy, the one who she’s presumably been singing lyrics like ‘I only hate on her ‘cause I want you’ to, she makes a move for… the girl!
Though they look as if they’re about to kiss, the video cuts out just before it does, and that’s probably for the best. How controversial would it be for noted LGBTQ+ ally Ariana to capitalise off of a girl-on-girl kiss in order to get attention/speculation about her sexuality going?
As fans get busy dissecting this kiss - one theory is that Ariana’s fallen for herself, something she hinted in thank u, next when she said she found a girl: ‘I met someone else…her name is Ari’ - and the lyrics of each and every song - is NASA about Ariana being the actual universe? Is ghostin about Ariana’s ex, Mac Miller, who tragically died last year? - a feud between Ariana and Grammy’s bosses has emerged.
Ariana was slated to perform at the ceremony, where she is nominated for two awards, but Grammys producer Ken Erhlich told Associated Press that after weeks-long conversations with Ariana about her performance she ‘felt it was too late for her to pull something together’, adding ‘it’s too bad. She’s a great artist. And I’d love to get her in the show this year.’
Ariana screen-grabbed this and posted it to Twitter, adding: ‘i’ve kept my mouth shut but now you’re lying about me. i can pull together a performance over night and you know that, Ken. it was when my creativity & self expression was stifled by you, that i decided not to attend. i hope the show is exactly what you want it to be and more.’
She continued: ‘I offered 3 different songs. it’s about collaboration. it’s about feeling supported. it’s about art and honesty. not politics. not doing favors or playing games. it’s just a game y’all.. and i’m sorry but that’s not what music is to me.’
The huge paradox here, she pointed out, is that she’s on loads of the advertising for the Grammys: adding: ‘passed a Grammy’s bus with my face on it typing those’
Now, a cynic might say that the spat has helped Ariana get publicity right at the moment she needs ultimate promotion for her record. However, the Grammys were always going to give Ariana publicity, whether she performed at them or not.
Now, Ari’s going to be fine without the Grammys, especially when her reaction to Ehrlich’s comments have further solidified her reputation as a slighted woman who frequently gets hurt by bad guys, and comes out fighting. In this narrative, Ehrlich is Piers Morgan, he’s Kanye West, he’s the dude who made a sexist rendition of thank u, next. And Ariana is sitting pretty on top of a great album and stacks of great publicity. The Grammys, already devoid of one Taylor Swift, who is due to be filming in London (filming what?!) however, sort of need her more.
On the plus side, for the Grammys at least, the Oscar-nominated Lady Gaga will be in attendance. Though the event might have proved a scheduling conflict for the singer-actress, who was expected in London that night for the BAFTAs, she's only nominated for one award there, compared to five at the Grammys. And who said awards weren't about politics?