"sweetener," by Ariana Grande

Photo: Billboard

Album: "Sweetener"

Release Date: August 17, 2018

Written by: Pharrell Williams and Ariana Grande

Produced by: Pharrell Williams

May 22, 2017, will be forever marked. An Islamist extremist suicide bomber detonated a shrapnel-laden homemade bomb as people left the Manchester Arena following Ariana Grande's "Dangerous Woman Tour."

A year later, the American singer returns with "Sweetener," an album that proclaims peace, light, and positive energies and how we should try to be "sweet" people in a world that can be so bitter. It's the motto of the sixth track that gives the album its name. The song produced by Pharrell Williams brings a different and creative rhythm, with energetic and dancing sounds from beginning to end.

In the first lines of the track, Grande tells us that when life gives us cards, we must look at it and face it from all the bitter things it can bring. So the secret is to add sugar, that is, to be sweet for life and everything surrounding us. Then, we reach that state of positivity. The name "Sweetener" refers to the message that you can make something good from a bad situation. The track starts as a ballad but has a catchy hip-hop-inspired post-chorus.

"When life deals us cards (Ayy, ayy, ayy, ayy)

Make everything taste like it is salt (Ayy, ooh, ayy, ayy, ayy)

Then you come through like the sweetener you are (Ayy, ayy, ayy, ayy)

To bring the bitter taste to a halt (Ayy, ayy, ayy, ayy, ayy)"

Besides the self-care and empowerment themes combined on the track, it seems that, in the second part, she's singing directly for her lover, who is dear and cheery as well with her. The singer also describes how she feels when she's with that person when they talk about the few things that make the world brighter, the best cure for happiness.

"And then we lay it back, talk the rest of the night

Things that we can light make me say oh (Sheesh!), oh (Sheesh!)

Talking 'bout what you wanna do, whether it's wrong or right

I am followin’ you 'cause you make me say oh (Sheesh!), oh (Sheesh!)

(Hey) Said I don't know what I'd do without you in my life (ayy), it'd be so sour (Sweetener, ayy)

I'm hoping that everybody can experience what we have in ours (Sweetener, sweetener, ayy, ayy, ayy, sweetener, ayy, ayy, ayy)"

"sweetener" was the first song off the project to be completed, and it's a catchy highlight on the record.