Is she R&B? Is she Pop? Is she both? While these questions can be asked for dozens of singers, when it comes to the new crop of singers, I find myself often asking these questions about Ariana Grande. Regardless of what genre you categorize her, it's easy to see why she is one of the industry's most popular new comers in the last thee years. Like a few notable artists (especially among the young pop singers), she got her start on television through the show Victorious on Nickelodeon. That's how many people knew of her before hand. But with the good start that her music career has already taken, she'll soon be known as just a singer. This is her sophomore album My Everything. Last year she made her debut with the album Yours Truly. An album that unfortunately I was never able to review. I regret that because I heard it and it was a pretty good album for a debut. This time around it's the same thing. Another good project. You get a bit of everything from this album. Some hip hop, some R&B, some pop/dance, some funk, even a bit of jazz. The production is the biggest stand out by far. Probably the best production of any R&B album I've heard this year. What's really amazing is how her beautiful voice (which also is very strong for a petite 21 year old) is able to go so perfectly with all these sounds. Killing every high note she sings. True talent right there. Here now is my song by song breakdown:
1. Intro
Nothing special here. Just a few lovely vocals to start the album off with.
2. Problem (featuring Iggy Azalea)
I've actually liked this song since I first heard it on the radio. It's the beat that truly sells it. It's the perfect bend of a hip hop/dancy pop beat. Iggy Azalea's verse is one of the best I've ever heard from her as well. Just a overall catchy and addicting song.
3. One Last Time
This was an okay song. It has these African drum like sound and sped up tempo. Kinda sounds something like Drake and Rihanna's song "Take Care". I can't say much else on it but like I said it's okay. May be fun for some people to dance to as well.
4. Why Try
This song perfectly shows why myself and many others compare her to Mariah Carey. This sounds so much like vintage Mariah. Here she sings about the struggles of a relationship (the arguing, the fighting etc) and how she still wants to stay because the love is that strong. This, as well as many other topics on this album I'm sure is very relatable for most women. Especially the ones that are madly in love.
5. Break Free (featuring Zedd)
This is the albums second single and it's another cross blend of pop and dance. It's songs like this that confuses me as to what genre to put her under. Regardless, it's a okay song. Not really my cup of tea but I can understand why a lot of people like this.
6. Best Mistake (featuring Big Sean)
Well...this is certainly one collaboration that I'm sure no one is surprised to see. Considering the recent news of these two dating and all. Anyway, this is actually a pretty good song. Clearly they're talking to each other. Ariana calls him "the best mistake she's ever made" and how she pretty much can't let him go. Meanwhile Sean shares his love for her right back and where he sees them in the future and things. It's a rather well..."cute" song. Wouldn't be surprised if this becomes a single. This will most likely be the first of many songs they will do together.
7. Be My Baby (featuring Cashmere Cat)
I swear there are so many single worthy songs on this album and this is another one. It's also another favorite beat of mine on here. Props to Benny Blanco and Cashmere Cat on the production. Nothing much else to say about it. She showing affection to a guy that she really likes. Not on some thirsty shit but more on some high school crush type of shit. It's a cool song.
8. Break Your Heart Right Back (featuring Childish Gambino)
Pay back is a bitch. That's pretty much the underline moral of this song. Getting your heart broken but breaking theirs right back in the same way they did. I myself don't agree on handling the situation like that but hey...to each his own. Gambino gets on a drops some dope lines in typical Childish Gambino fashion ("I'm a G from the A", "flow so gross my nickname school lunch"). This was one of my favorites on the album definitely.
9. Love Me Harder (featuring The Weeknd)
This one I'm still kinda on the fence about. The production is okay but I'm really not sure if The Weeknd was the person to put on this song. He doesn't really mesh too well with this pop sounding production. It wasn't awful but it just was too enjoyable in my opinion. Some will like though I suppose.
10. Just A Little Bit Of Your Heart
This is the first of two R&B slow ballads. Great vocals over mostly pianos. This sounds like a song that I personally would like to hear performed live. It just really amazes me how her voice can go so well with such a variety of beats. Nice song here.
11. Hands On Me (featuring A$AP Ferg)
Ariana Grande and A$AP Ferg? This is probably the most bizarre pairing I've seen all year. However this is another favorite of mine. This is solely because of the outstanding beat well produced by Darkchild. Nothing against Ferg (he did what he was supposed to do on a song like this I guess) but there a so many other rappers I would have put on this song and beat that would have sounder a hundred times better. Also, again, another single worthy track. But I hope this becomes one more than the others.
12. My Everything
The second of the slow R&B ballads. Pretty much the same thing going on here as the last one. Soft but great vocals over mostly pianos. Although it's only a two and a half minute track, it's a great way to end the album off on a beautiful note.
13. Bang Bang (featuring Jessie J. and Nicki Minaj) [BONUS TRACK]
If you tuned in to this year's MTV VMA's then you caught a glimpse of this song as these three ladies performed it together. The sound this gives off actually sound a bit throwback. Like this song could have came out in any era. 80's, 90's doesn't matter. Nicki and Jessie were the perfect people to put on this high energy track. They mesh very well with each other. Cool collabo, cool song.
14. Only 1 [BONUS TRACK]
I don't really understand why this is a bonus track. This would have went perfectly with the main album. Especially this production which has been solid up to this point. This is probably my favorite out of the three bonus tracks.
15. You Don't Know Me [BONUS TRACK]
On an album chock full of dope beats, this was probably my least favorite. It kinda sounds rushed in comparison to the rest of the album. But luckily it's a bonus track so it's not too much of a concern.
Overall, this was a enjoyable listen and a good sophomore album from Ariana Grande. Whether it's R&B or pop, you can't argue that this was one of the best listens this year out of both genre's. I give this a final grade of B+. You certainly cannot deny this young ladies talent. She to me has a once in a lifetime voice. She sounds perfect in all genres dealing with singers. She definitely has potential to be the next Mariah Carey as some people are saying. At only 21 years old, she has a long career ahead of her. I personally think we have a star in the making. Without a doubt. End.
Final Grade: B+
CREDITS
Executive Producers
Ariana Grande-Butera
Scott Braun
Wendy Goldstein
Lead Artist
Ariana Grande-Butera
Production
Max Martin
Ilya Salmanzadeh
Peter Carlsson
Rami Yacoub
Carl Falk
Savan Krotecha
Giorgio Tuinfort
Ryan Tedder
Benjamin Levin
Noel Zancanella
Dwane Weir II
Peder Losenegard
Magnus Hoiberg
Andrew Wansel
Warren Felder
Ali Payami
Peter Svensson
Johan Carlsson
Rodney Jerkins
Paul Dawson
Tommy Brown
Victoria McCants
Kuk Harrell
Travis Sayles
Harmony Samuels
Maurice David Wade
Collaboration
Amethyst Kelly
Anton Zaslavski
Sean Anderson
Magnus Hoiberg
Donald Glover
Abel Tesfaye
Darold Ferguson, Jr.
Onika Maraj
Jessica Cornish
Label
Republic Records
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