Even a quick glance at pop star Ariana Grande reveals her personality. The singer’s high ponytail and pink lipstick channel a younger personality than her age, at 21, would suggest. Her appearance is rooted in her career, which began as somewhat of a child star. Her first album Yours Truly was recorded as the artist worked on Victorious and was released while she was starring on Sam & Cat, both Nickelodeon shows targeted toward tween girls. Although it was merely her first, the record was commendable for putting a younger voice on the charts and catchy hooks in listeners’ heads. Because it drew a younger audience, Iggy Azalea initially denied to work with Grande on Yours Truly because she believed the pop star to be too young. Ariana Grande’s second album, My Everything, seeks to be more mature, but the end result is not as unique and refreshing as its precedent.
The album’s first single, “Problem” is evidently Ariana Grande’s first shot at a more mature sound, featuring Iggy Azalea. The song starts out softly, to light drums, but soon transitions into a more mature chorus featuring Big Sean, heavier beats, and saxophones. It is a catchy and empowering track, and its popularity is well-earned.
“Bang Bang”, with Jessie J and Nicki Minaj, is catchy, with a powerful chorus and confident rap by Minaj. The lyrics and strong backing horns and claps represent how Grande is trying to change her image as it shows contrast to prior tracks. “See anybody could be good to you/You need a bad girl to blow your mind,” she sings, but the confident and raunchy feel of the song is driven primarily by Jessie J and Nicki Minaj.
Harry Styles cowrote the ballad “Just A Little Bit Of Your Heart”, and it showcases Grande’s quieter side as she croons romantic lyrics over swelling string section. The track is sweet but repetitive. Title track “My Everything”, another ballad, is a powerful display of Ariana Grande’s vocal skills and emotion. It is driven by Grande’s sweetly powerful voice, and is accompanied by a simple piano melody and few complex vocal runs; her voice stands out on its own.
Grande’s voice still seems too sweet for songs like “Be My Baby”, a dance anthem. “Hands On Me” is a much more mature song than the tracks on her first record, and although Grande can pull off the kind of drum beats and sultry lyrics that belong in a club, that brand of music does not display her talents as well. “One Last Time”, an EDM-sounding track cowritten by David Guetta, contrasts a strong beat against Grande’s gentle singing. By the end of the song, however, her voice is more powerful, and the vocal riffs she sings blend well into the rhythm.
Though Ariana Grande accomplished her goal of growing up musically and making a more mature album, the album leaves much to be desired. It is missing a lot of Yours Truly’s virtues: vocal runs that display Grande’s voice and the bubblegum-pop sound she perfected. It is, however, more suited to a slightly older audience, with the kind of pop-infused rhythms found on Top 40 radio. My Everything is worth listening to, even if just to note Ariana Grande’s transformation.
