Ariana Grande, thank u, next (Republic) *****
ON release, thank u, next (kindly note the lower-case styling) is well on the way to becoming a greatest hits collection.
As of this week, not only have the album’s first three singles have all reached number one in the American singles charts, but Ariana Grande is charting at number one, two and three in the same week. Only The Beatles have beaten this amazing feat.
For the record, the hits featured here are Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored, the title track thank u, next and 7 Rings. Of course, 7 Rings includes a slightly irritating sample of My Favourite Things from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound Of Music.
The facts speak for themselves, Grande is the biggest recording star of 2019 and has captured the youth audience. It goes without saying that Grande’s fifth solo set, which follows very hot on the heels of last year’s Sweetener, is crammed packed with potential future hits, as well as repeating the use of a distinctive upside-down portrait of Ariane on the cover.
Imagine, Needy and Bloodline could all chart, from an album penned and produced by the world’s greatest talent. A very polished set indeed, thank u, next is surely poised to be the Thriller or True Blue for the Class of ’19.
Ian Sime
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