Ariana Grande has just released her new single “Dangerous Woman” and it’s dangerously good. Initially, the song reminded me a bit of a modern day “Natural Woman” (by Aretha Franklin) - and it could very well become that kind of a classic – but right now, it’s one of the best new songs I’ve heard all week. Yep, this one’s going on repeat.
I am always a bit puzzled when it comes to Ariana Grande. Her innocent look always makes me think she couldn’t be older than 18 and her song lyrics, at times, show her real age. That is, if you can make out what she’s singing in the first place. She has a particular way of pronouncing her words in her songs and it always reminds me of the “Ew!” sketch she did with Jimmy Fallon. In the sketch, it’s over exaggerated, but I think a mild version of that makes it onto her records.
Luckily, she’s got a great voice, great range and she’s generally easy to listen to. The Mariah Carey influence, is there in everything she does. From her own look, to her sound. It just reminds me of Mariah Carey at the height of her fame with Sony.
With that, I always wonder if that innocent girlie girl look is not something fabricated. Mariah Carey, in her Sony days was struggling being the pop star, when she was more an R&B girl. But even other female teen stars, similar to Ariana, like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, have all become sexy femme fatals somewhere down the line to shed the skin of the girlie teeny bob image.
Maybe I’ve just gotten so used to seeing these girls rebel, that I can’t believe someone is actually like that, for real.
“Dangerous Woman” though, seriously seems to be a step into a different kind of Ariana. Her voice sounds stronger than ever. The music is sultry and powerful, due to the guitar that is added later in the song. The lyrics are mature.
Ariana is definitely getting ready for the next phase of life. Before releasing her previous single, “Focus”, she’s switched management teams. Usually, this is a sign of an artist making major changes in the choices of image and the sound of music. Because her mom was managing her before, it seemed logical to assume that an edgier Ariana would be more able to emerge under somebody else’s management, but “Focus” continued the, already proven, success formula as it was.
This song could very well be a cross over though. We’ll have to wait to find out. The latest rumors are that she’ll be releasing her new album later this month.
