Sweetener

Album: Sweetener (2018)
Charted: 22 55
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The title track of Ariana Grande's Sweetener album is a song about finding an infectious positivity in dark times; the lyrical message being you can make something beautiful from being dealt bad cards. "It's about bringing light to a situation, or to someone's life, or somebody else who brings light to your life, or sweetening the situation," Grande told Jimmy Fallon.
  • This was the first song Grande wrote for the Sweetener sessions back in 2016. She penned the tune with Pharrell Williams, who produced about half the tracks on the album. It originated when she was talking about her emotions with Williams and he started coming up with the music mid-conversation. The producer explained at Zach Sang Show's Sweetener Slumber Party.

    "You're matching a feeling, if that makes any sense. You're feeling what's going on and you're kind of like a stenographer trying to figure out what that is, and to her point about making her feel comfortable - my point of view as a producer and as a writer, if she's not comfortable, she's never going to give me the pure her."
  • "Sweetener" went viral on TikTok in late 2024 thanks to a dance-related trend with two people trading off different moves.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Chris Tomlin

Chris TomlinSongwriter Interviews

The king of Christian worship music explains talks about writing songs for troubled times.

John Kay of Steppenwolf

John Kay of SteppenwolfSongwriter Interviews

Steppenwolf frontman John Kay talks about "Magic Carpet Ride," "Born To Be Wild," and what he values more than awards and accolades.

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

Sugarland

SugarlandSongwriter Interviews

Meet the "sassy basket" with the biggest voice in country music.

Song Titles That Inspired Movies

Song Titles That Inspired MoviesSong Writing

Famous songs that lent their titles - and in some cases storylines - to movies.

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," Kiss

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," KissSong Writing

After cutting his teeth on hardcore punk videos, Paul defined the grunge look with his work on "Hunger Strike" and "Man in the Box."