ICONIC: Ariana Grande released the highly anticipated music video for her prominent new song “thank u, next.”
By Emma Carson, Staff Writer
On November 3, 2018, Ariana Grande released her new song “thank u, next” unannounced, rattling the music world. The song calls out four of Ariana Grande’s exes, Big Sean, Ricky Alvarez, Pete Davidson, and the late Mac Miller, with Grande sarcastically thanking her exes for the time they spent together. On the day of its release, the song soared to the top of the charts.
Grande was already having a fantastic year professionally, with the release of her fourth album “Sweetener” in August. Earlier in the year, she teased the album with the release of her single “no tears left to cry” in April, and the groundbreaking release of “God is a woman” in July. Despite her musical success of 2018, Grande has had one of the worst years of her life personally. In May of 2018, Grande ended her two year relationship with Mac Miller, and less than two months later, she and Pete Davidson announced their engagement. From the time that she became engaged to when the relationship ended, Grande released her music and audiences everywhere could see the happiness radiating from her.
On September 7, Mac Miller passed away due to a drug overdose. A little over a month later, Grande and Davidson called it quits on the engagement, and shortly after, Grande released “thank u, next,” turning the adversities she’s faced into art. Ariana Grande is an example of turning raw emotion into fresh new music, becoming even more iconic while doing it.
During the month of November, Grande teased the “thank u, next” video by posting pictures on social media. The themes and aesthetic in the photos seemed familiar, but mouths dropped everywhere when she announced a “Mean Girls” (2004), “Legally Blonde” (2001), “13 Going on 30” (2004), and “Bring it On” (2001) inspired music video. Anticipation grew even more when fans saw who would appear in the video, with cast members including Grande’s “Victorious” co-stars Elizabeth Gillies, Matthew Bennett, and Daniella Monet. The video also includes YouTube personalities Colleen Ballinger and Gabi DeMartino, musician Troye Sivan, Kris Jenner, and actors from the original movies such as “Legally Blonde”’s Jennifer Coolidge, and Aaron Samuels himself, Jonathan Bennett.
Grande centers herself in each of the movies by playing the leading ladies. In the “Mean Girls” portion, she plays Regina George, with Karen, Gretchen, Aaron Samuels, and a very convincing Cady (Elizabeth Gillies) at her side. She writes in her Burn Book to all of her exes, writing funny and witty references under pictures of them, and even performs the iconic “Jingle Bell Rock” dance, with a cameo from Kris Jenner as Regina’s mom. As Torrance Shipman from “Bring it On,” she includes the happy, heart-wrenching tooth brushing scene with brown eyed, curly haired Matt Bennett, then makes her way onto the field with a cheerleading routine and more of Grande’s friends by her side, even including the Compton Clovers rebranded as the “Lovers”, cheering along with the Torros. The next portion of the video includes “13 Going on 30,” with Ariana as Jenna Rink carrying the dollhouse with tears streaming down her face. She is singing a verse of “thank u, next” about her parents, a sweet part of the video considering that tear jerker of a scene in the original film. She rounds the video out as Elle Woods from “Legally Blonde,” with a cameo from her dog Toulouse. Grande studies law books, including some toying with the current political climate. She visits the salon to get her nails done by Paulette (Jennifer Coolidge), taking some time to discuss their lives and relationships. She includes the iconic “bend and snap” from the movie, and was even praised by Reese Witherspoon, the original Elle Woods, who tweeted “Can we please talk about @Arianagrandes Bend and Snap?! 10/10 nailed it!”
By becoming Regina, Torrance, Jenna, and Elle, Ariana highlights what many young people go through. Growing up with these movies and eventually having complex relationships like Grande’s gives the audience a sense of nostalgia and brings them closer to reality. Many people go through what Ariana has, all to different extents. She uses her connection to pop culture as a platform along with these iconic movies to share her pain and empowerment.