Ariana close to finding true music persona in Sweetener

I am sure that by this time next week, Billboard Magazine would have already released its weekly tabulations and announced a new No. 1 album. The current holder is hip-hop star Travis Scott but news was rife last week that Sweetener, the latest by the tiny vocal powerhouse Ariana Grande, was surefootedly winging its way to the top.

If that happens, then Sweetener will be Ariana’s third No. 1 seller. Her debut Yours Truly made No. 1 in 2013. This was followed by My Everything one year later. The only Ariana album that did not top the charts was Dangerous Woman from two years ago. It peaked only at No. 2, thanks to Drake’s clingy presence at the top with his album Life. Ariana must be very happy that Drake’s Scorpion is now down to No. 3.

However, Ariana is still in trouble. She faces extreme danger next week and might see her Sweetener kicked out of No. 1. The reason is BTS, that tornado of song-and-dance boys from North Korea, who is set to release a new album titled Love Yourself.

But anyway, whether she stays on top or not, Ariana can be rest assured that with Sweetener, she has come up with the best album of her career. Her first two were largely formulaic and mainly impressed with her scintillating vocal runs. Her third was more varied but was sadly without cohesion or a definite identity. But with Sweetener, 25-year-old Ariana is now close to finding her true music persona. This is not the best album ever but it is an excellent indication of the good places she is headed for.

One of those places is the happy one she inhabits with her fiancé, comedian Pete Davidson. The two met when she guested in the TV show Saturday Night Live. They dated for a week, decided to shack up and have been happy together since. Hear how she croons his name in the track titled what else but, Pete Davidson.

Another one is in the way she set an inspiring example helping the victims of the bombing that happened after her concert in Manchester, UK. The song No Tears Left To Cry was a nice gesture but the maturity with which she handled the aftermath of the incident showed poise and an empathetic heart.

Other highlights of Sweetener are Get Well Soon, the inspiring soul ballad about recovery for herself and anybody in pain that is the best track in the album; Raindrops (An Angel Cried), a cover of a Four Seasons song; Blazed ft. Pharrell Williams, who is also co-writer and producer of most of Sweetener; The Light Is Coming, the new single ft. Nicki Minaj; and R.E.M., where Ariana does music with tongue clicks and sexy panting.

Then there is God Is A Woman. Is this blasphemy? This is the song behind that all-female Last Supper inspired number at the recent Video Music Awards and Ariana’s nude, body paint only pictorial. She probably just wants to show how grown-up she has become. Why the former Nickelodeon star even has an Explicit edition of Sweetener out in the market. I do wonder how Explicit she has become.

And now here is a look at the Top 20 titles in Billboard Magazine’s Hot 100 chart this week. Canadian rapper Drake is still holding on to No. 1 with In My Feelings. 

Here are the rest: Girls Like You by Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B.; I Like It by Cardi B, Bad Bunny and J. Balvin; FEFE by 6ix9ine ft. Nicki Minaj & Murda Beatz; Better Now by Post Malone; Lucid Dreams by Juice WRLD; Sicko Mode by Travis Scott; Taste by Tyga ft. Offset; Boo’d Up by Ella Mai; No Brainer by DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber & Chance the Rapper.

Love Lies by Khalid & Normani; No Tears Left To Cry by Ariana Grande; Psycho by Post Malone ft. Ty Dolla $ign; Nice For What by Drake; Yes Indeed by Lil Baby & Drake; Delicate by Taylor Swift; Youngblood by 5 Seconds of Summer; Barbie Dreams by Nicki Minaj; Meant To Be by Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line; and Perfect by Ed Sheeran.

 The Top 20 albums are: Astroworld by Travis Scott; Queen by Nicki Minaj; Scorpion by Drake; Life’s A Trip by Trippie Redd; beerbongs &  bentleys by Post Malone; Goodbye & Good Riddance by Juice WRLD; 30 Greatest Hits by the recently departed Aretha Franklin; Invasion Of Privacy by Cardi B; Know by Jason Mraz; ? by the late XXXTENTACION.

This One’s For You by Luke Combs; The Greatest Showman, the movie soundtrack by Various Artists; Stay Dangerous by YG; reputation by Taylor Swift; Mamma Mia! Here I Go Again, the motion picture soundtrack by Various Artists; Harder Than by Lil Bobby; Stoney by Post Malone; ¸Divide by Ed Sheeran; Red Pill Blues by Maroon 5; and Swimming by Mac Miller.