All the Hidden Meanings in Ariana Grande's New 'Thank U, Next' Album

From ELLE

Ariana Grande officially announced the tracklist for her Thank U, Next album this week, along with its release date, February 8. The album is still a little ways away, but Grande has been very generous on Twitter about sharing the meaning of her songs ahead of their release. Here, everything Grande has said so far about what-and in some cases who-her tracks are about. (This post will be updated with any new tweets and insights Grande shares.)

Track 1: Imagine

"Imagine" has already come out and is believed to be about Grande's late ex Mac Miller. Ahead of the song's release, Grande herself described the single as being about "a simple, beautiful love that is now (and forever) unattainable" on Twitter. She clarified her interpretation of the song further to a fan. "Kind of like... pretending it never ended. Denial. But I look forward to you hearing it and having your own experience with it. You may take away something totally different and specific to your life! Love u."

She also compared it narratively to other tracks on her album. "A lot of this album mourns failed yet important, beautiful relationships in my life (as well as celebrates growth/exploring new independence)," she wrote in a screenshot she shared on her Instagram Story. "But for those of you asking about ‘Imagine’: I would say if ‘Thank U, Next’ = acceptance… ‘Imagine’ = denial. Hope that makes sense."

See a full analysis of "Imagine" and its lyrics here.

Track 2: "Needy"

Grande has been teasing this one for months now; she's shared two clips of herself playing the song, which seems to be about being needy in a relationship. Lyrics include, "I can be needy/So hard to please me/I know it feels so good to be needy," and "I know you're not far but I still can't handle all the distance/You're traveling with my heart."

Track 3: "NASA"

Grande hasn't tweeted anything about this one yet, but she's talked before about her fascination with space and fangirled when NASA retweeted her in May.

She also reminisced about it this week, and her mother chimed in to praise NASA's work and Grande's song by the same title:

Her then-fiancé Pete Davidson also wore a NASA shirt alongside her when they went to the MTV Video Music Awards together.

Track 4: "Bloodline"

Grande tweeted this song was about "wanting somebody but not enough to have them in your bloodline ksjskjskj." So, someone you want to be with but not permanently commit to or have children with.

Track 5: "Fake Smile"

Nothing on this one yet, though fans have asked.

Track 6: "Bad Idea"

Grande hasn't tweeted about this one yet either.

Track 7: "Makeup"

No hints about this one for now.

Track 8: "Ghostin'"

Grande gave pretty direct detail on what this one is about. "Feeling badly for the person you're with bc you love somebody else. feeling badly bc he can tell he can't compare.... and how I should be ghosting him," she said. Fans have already speculated that person for Grande is likely Pete Davidson, whom she started dating and got engaged to shortly after her breakup with Mac Miller. Miller and Grande dated for two years before calling it quits, and Miller's passing had a profound effect on Grande later that year. She and Davidson broke up shortly after Miller died.

In her "Thank U, Next" music video, Grande wrote in her Burn Book entry about Davidson, "Sry I dipped," which could be seen as her apologizing for the way she ended things.

Track 9: "In My Head"

Grande tweeted that "In My Head" is about "being in love w a version of somebody you've created in your head. Falling for someone that they are not." So, perhaps it's a track about Pete Davidson or someone else...

Track 10: "7 Rings"

Grande just released "7 Rings" and explained ahead of it coming out that she envisioned the song as a friendship anthem. "I guess 'Thank U, Next' is more vulnerable and gentle lol," she wrote. "Seven rings is jus like.....a flex. Friendship anthem. How the homies WANT u to feel. What the ‘thank u next’ energy evolves into while embracing a new chapter (even tho both moods /energies are v present)."

See a full analysis of "7 Rings" and its lyrics here.

Track 11: "Thank U, Next"

The single that started it all, the thank you song to Grande's exes Pete Davidson, Mac Miller, Ricky Alvarez, and Big Sean. Grande tweeted ahead of its release that "Thank U, Next" that the song and the album named after it would have "no drags.... no shade..... jus love, gratitude, acceptance, honesty, forgiveness ... and growth."

See a full analysis of "Thank U, Next" and its lyrics here.

Track 12: "Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I'm Bored"

Grande described this as a "fun" song and teased a bit of the audio.

Originally, a track called "Remember" was teased on Grande's album. (She showed some of the track list in her "Breathin" music video.)

But Grande later tweeted that she changed the album's setlist. "I added a fun one (lol) to replace one that I decided I don’t think wanna share w the world. So we back to twelve tracks. I appreciate u understanding in advance," she wrote to her fans earlier this month. Fans took it to mean that "Remember" may have been about Mac Miller.

Grande also explained that fear wasn't holding her back with the song she chose not to share when a fan told her to not let fear conquer her. "Ain’t about fear or anything like that, love," she wrote. "Honestly. I just want to feel stable and ok sharing, promoting, performing the songs for u which I wouldn’t. I decided to keep it private for many reasons. Thank u again for understanding n respecting this decision."

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