![]() ![]() Immediately, the media latched onto this story for its humorous potential and Grande’s light-hearted attitude toward her mistake. To top it all off, Grande attempted to tattoo “7 rings” in kanji onto her palm as homage to her new single but made the mistake of tattooing “tiny barbecue grill” instead. But, as evidenced by the clear lack of respect in the video, they neglected to do even that. Even without being a part of the culture themselves, they still could have done research to hold themselves accountable before moving forward. In fact, it seems as though no one on the creative team that chose to use these “ kawaii ” aesthetics has any insight on the culture, as neither the director of “7 rings” nor the cover art designer of “imagine” is Japanese. Not even a single person of Japanese descent is featured in the music video itself. These seemingly innocent “nods” toward Japanese culture become concerning upon realizing that the song, once again, has nothing to do with Japanese culture. Many other references crop up throughout the music video: the alcohol featured seems to be sake, a Japanese rice wine Grande eats sushi with a pair of chopsticks in one scene and Japanese kanji can be found on an assorted number of props on the set. Her use of kanji extends to her official merchandise as well, though she has taken down all merchandise featuring kanji (except for one) after facing significant backlash from her fans.Īdditionally, the “7 rings” music video heavily features Japanese aesthetics-once again, the song title is written with Japanese kanji instead of English. Therefore, there seems to be no purpose in including kanji on the album cover in the first place. Maybe the ride is just starting.“Whoever said money can’t solve your problems must not have had enough money to solve ‘em,” sings Ariana Grande on one of her newest singles, “7 rings.” While her unapologetic lyrics have already garnered mixed reactions-with some claiming that she’s entitled to use her money in whatever way she wants and others suggesting that blatantly flaunting her “retail therapy” habit is rather arrogant and distasteful-the real reason for which the pop star should be coming under fire has rarely been discussed by the media, if at all: her cultural appropriation of Japanese culture.īack in December, Grande released one of the earliest singles off of the album: “imagine.” The album cover art quickly drew ire for featuring the name of her single in Japanese kanji instead of English, since the lyrics read as a typical song about unattainable love with no references to Japanese culture at all. ![]() “I know it ain’t right/But I don’t care,” she sings. A week before the album’s release, she swapped out a particularly sentimental song called “Remember” with the provocative, NSYNC-sampling “break up with your girlfriend, i'm bored.” As expected, it sent her fans into a frenzy. Surely embracing all of that is its own form of self-empowerment.īut Grande also isn't in a rush to grow up. As Grande wrestles with what she wants-distance (“NASA”) and affection (“needy”), anonymity (“fake smile") and star power (“7 rings”), and sex without strings attached (“bloodline,” “make up”)-we learn more and more about the woman she’s becoming: complex, independent, tenacious, flawed. The album doesn't arrive a minute too soon. “He just comes to visit me/When I’m dreaming every now and then.” Like many of the songs here, it was produced by Max Martin, who has a supernatural way of making pain and suffering sound like beams of light. “Though I wish he were here instead/Don’t want that living in your head,” she confesses on “ghostin,” a gutting synth-and-strings ballad that hovers in your throat. thank u, next, mostly recorded over those tumultuous months, sees her turning inward in an effort to cope, grieve, heal, and let go. ![]() ![]() Shortly after the album’s release in August 2018, things fell apart again: Grande’s ex-boyfriend, rapper Mac Miller, died from an overdose in September, and she broke off her engagement a few weeks later.Īgain, Grande took solace from the intense, and intensely public, melodrama in songwriting, but this time things were different. Her hopeful fourth album, Sweetener-written after the deadly attack at her concert in Manchester, England-encouraged fans to stay strong and open to love (at the time, the singer was newly engaged to Pete Davidson). What do you do when things fall apart? If you’re Ariana Grande, you pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and head for the studio. ![]()
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