Positions (album)

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"Positions" redirects here. For the title track, see Positions (song). For the book by Jacques Derrida, see Positions (book). For other uses, see Position (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with The Positions, the 2015 album by Gang of Youths.

Positions
Ariana Grande - Positions.png
Standard cover[A]
Studio album by
Ariana Grande
ReleasedOctober 30, 2020 (2020-10-30)
Studio
Genre
Length41:14
LabelRepublic
Producer
Ariana Grande chronology
K Bye for Now (SWT Live)
(2019) 		Positions
(2020)
Singles from Positions
  1. "Positions"
    Released: October 23, 2020
  2. "34+35"
    Released: October 30, 2020

Positions is the sixth studio album by American singer Ariana Grande,[1] released on October 30, 2020, by Republic Records.[2] The singer worked with a variety of producers on the album, including Tommy Brown, Anthony M. Jones, London on da Track, Murda Beatz, The Rascals, Scott Storch, Shea Taylor and Charles Anderson. Positions is a midtempo R&B, pop and trap album that primarily discusses themes of sex, and features guest vocals from Doja Cat, the Weeknd and Ty Dolla Sign.

Two singles have been released to promote the album; the title track was released as the lead single on October 23, 2020, and "34+35" was made the second single alongside the album release on October 30. Positions received generally favorable reviews from music critics, with compliments towards Grande's vocals but criticism for its lyricism and production.

Background

On April 19, 2020, it was first reported that Grande was working on new music.[3] She also declared in May 2020 that she had recorded a song with Doja Cat earlier that year.[4][5] In the same interview, however, Grande stated that she would not release an album during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.[6] On October 14, 2020, Grande announced on social media that her upcoming sixth studio album would be released the same month.[7][8] Three days later, she posted a slow-motion video in which she types out the word "positions" on a keyboard.[9] That same day, Grande's official website launched two countdowns counting down to October 23, 2020 and October 30, 2020.[10][11] On October 23, 2020, she confirmed via her Twitter account that the album was coming on October 30 and posted the cover art.[12] The tracklist was revealed the following day.[13]

Promotion

On October 27, 2020, Grande announced that two physical album covers are to be released in CD format in conjunction with the album. They were available for preorder on her website that day.[14]

Singles

The title track "Positions" was released on October 23, 2020, as the album's lead single.[15] The music video for the song was released on the same day.[16][17] "34+35" was released on October 30, 2020, serving as the second single from album.[18][19]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?6.8/10[20]
Metacritic71/100[21]
Review scores
SourceRating
Clash8/10[22]
Consequence of SoundB+[23]
Slant3/5 stars[24]
The Daily Telegraph3/5 stars[25]
Evening Standard3/5 stars[26]
The Guardian3/5 stars[27]
The Independent3/5 stars[28]
The Irish Times4/5 stars[29]
NME3/5 stars[30]

Positions received generally favorable reviews from music critics, who commended Grande's vocal performance and confidence, but criticized the lack of innovation in its production and lyrics.[31] At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 71 based on 11 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[32]

Louise Bruton of The Irish Times labeled Positions a "big orgy of breathless R&B songs", and added that, even though "bangers" are scarce on the album, it solidifies Grande as one of pop music's leading voices.[29] Mary Siroky, reviewing for Consequence of Sound, detailed the album as daring, "showy", "wildly theatrical", and filled with romance and flirtation, establishing a blend of Dangerous Woman (2016), Sweetener (2018) and Thank U, Next (2019). Siroky dismissed the guest appearances as the weakest points of the track-list.[23] Brenton Blanchet of Clash called the album refreshing, giving plaudits for its "beautifully layered" orchestral runs and sweet harmonies, but asserted that Grande stays in a comfortable genre "she's all too familiar with".[22] Vulture's Craig Jenkins appreciated Grande's "effortless" vocals, and pinpointed how the album is "risqué and unsubtle" in nature, but underlined its safe formula and presence of filler tracks.[33]

Hannah Mylrea of NME affirmed that Positions is "jaw-droppingly good fun" as a record that finds Grande thriving, however, observed that the washy melodies result in a "swathe of indistinct songs", with inflated string arrangements, deficit of Grande's "trademark sparkle".[30] Chris DeVille, writing for Stereogum, lauded Grande's "impeccable" vocals and "powerhouse" melodies, but downplayed the "least stimulating" production. He dubbed Positions as a solid Grande album, but deemed it premature and a "disappointment" in comparison to Sweetener and Thank U, Next.[34] The Telegraph's Kate Solomon described the album as "sultry sexjams and thinly veiled euphemisms" with X-rated lyrics, softened by Disneyfied strings, but despite Grande shining new confidence, Positions "doesn't quite hit the spot".[25] The Independent writer Adam White highlighted Grande's "spectacular" vocals and the album's push-and-pull dynamic, but felt the singer sticks to her comfort zone; White noted that Positions has "a touch of Spotify syndrome", with short songs to aid playlisting.[28]

David Smyth, writing for the Evening Standard, praised Grande's voice as "a thing of great beauty", but remarked that she "isn't firing as hard as she was when she released her last two albums".[26] Alexis Petridis of The Guardian concluded that the album reaches no climax, as it proceeds at a tiring pace, causing individual tracks blur into "one long slow-motion shot".[27] Classifying Positions as a misstep in Grande's career, The Fader's Shaad D'Souza denounced its conversational style of vocals, "low-effort" lyrics and trend-chasing production. He thought the songs lacked distinction and punch, dissolving into a "swamp of icy drum hits and aimless melisma".[35] Calling it a product of pandemic fatigue, Alexa Camp of Slant wrote that the album leans on "the same midtempo trap-pop" that were on Grande's previous two albums, and criticized the lyricism for its "empty" pillow talk and repetitive hooks.[24] Bobby Olivier of Spin found Positions "sultry yet forgettable", with several "uninspired" or "unmemorable" tracks.[36]

Track listing

Positions track listing[13]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Shut Up"
  • Brown
  • Foster
  • Franks
  • Johnson
  • Sayles
2:37
2."34+35"
  • Grande
  • Brown
  • Franks
  • Johnson
  • Parx
  • Victoria Monét
  • Scott Nicholson
  • Courageous Xavier Herrera
  • Brown
  • Franks
  • Johnson
  • Xavi
2:53
3."Motive" (with Doja Cat)
2:47
4."Just like Magic"
  • Brown
  • Franks
  • Taylor
2:29
5."Off the Table" (with the Weeknd)
  • Brown
  • Franks
  • Sayles
  • Shintaro
3:59
6."Six Thirty"
  • Grande
  • Brown
  • Franks
  • Taylor
  • Hamilton
  • Nami
  • Brown
  • Franks
  • Taylor
  • Nami
3:04
7."Safety Net" (featuring Ty Dolla Sign)
3:28
8."My Hair"
  • Brown
  • Storch
  • Jones
  • Anderson
2:38
9."Nasty"
  • Grande
  • Brown
  • Monét
  • Sayles
  • Riddick-Tynes
  • Thomas
  • Nami
  • Brown
  • Sayles
  • The Rascals
  • Nami
3:20
10."West Side"
  • Grande
  • Brown
  • Monét
  • Herrera
  • Ammar Junedi
  • Brown
  • Junedi
  • Xavi
2:12
11."Love Language"
  • Brown
  • Sayles
  • Parker
2:59
12."Positions"
  • Grande
  • Brown
  • Franks
  • Charles
  • Angelina Barrett
  • James Jarvis
  • London Holmes
2:52
13."Obvious"
  • Grande
  • Brown
  • Franks
  • Charles
  • Sayles
  • Johnson
  • Ryan Tedder
  • Josh Conerly
  • Brown
  • Franks
  • Sayles
  • Conerly
2:28
14."POV"
  • Grande
  • Brown
  • Franks
  • Parx
  • Oliver Frid
  • Brown
  • Franks
  • Frid
3:21
Total length:41:07

Notes

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[37]

Musicians

  • Ariana Grande – vocals, backing vocals
  • Doja Cat – vocals (track 3)
  • The Weeknd – vocals (track 5)
  • Ty Dolla Sign – featured vocals (track 7)
  • Peter Lee Johnson – strings (tracks 1–2, 6, 8, 14)
  • Madison Calle – harp (track 1)
  • Paula Hochhalter – cello (tracks 5–6, 11)
  • Ross Gadsworth – cello (tracks 5–6, 11, 14)
  • Gerry Hilera – concertmaster (tracks 5–6, 11, 14)
  • David Walther – viola (tracks 5–6, 11, 14)
  • Rodney Wirtz – viola (tracks 5–6, 11, 14)
  • Ana Landauer – violin (tracks 5–6, 11, 14)
  • Ashoka Thiaragarajan – violin (tracks 5–6, 11, 14)
  • Ellen Jung – violin (tracks 5–6, 11, 14)
  • Gerry Hilera – violin (tracks 5–6, 11, 14)
  • Lorand Lokuszta – violin (tracks 5–6, 11, 14)
  • Mario De Leon – violin (tracks 5–6, 11, 14)
  • Michele Richards – violin (tracks 5–6, 11, 14)
  • Neil Samples – violin (tracks 5–6, 11, 14)
  • Phillip Levy – violin (tracks 5–6, 11, 14)
  • Dammo Farmer – bass (track 8)
  • Tarron Crayton – bass (track 11)
  • James Jarvis – guitar (track 12)

Production

  • Tommy Brown – production
  • Mr. Franks – production (tracks 1–2, 4, 6, 12–14), co-production (tracks 3, 5)
  • Peter Lee Johnson – production (tracks 1–2)
  • Travis Sayles – production (tracks 1, 9, 11, 13), co-production (track 5)
  • Xavi – production (track 10), co-production (track 2)
  • Murda Beatz – production (track 3)
  • Shae Taylor – production (track 4), co-production (track 6)
  • Shintaro – production (track 5)
  • Nami – production (track 9), co-production (track 6)
  • Keys Open Doors – production (track 7)
  • The Rascals – production (tracks 7, 9)
  • Scott Storch – production (track 8)
  • Tommy Parker – production (track 11)
  • London On Da Track – production (track 12)
  • Josh Conerly – production (track 13)
  • Oliver "Junior" Frid – production (track 14)
  • Ariana Grande – vocal production, vocal arrangement
  • Joseph L’Étranger – co-production (track 3)
  • Anthony M. Jones – co-production (track 8)
  • Charles Anderson – co-production (track 8)
  • Ammar Junedi – co-production (track 10)

Technical

  • Ariana Grande – engineering (tracks 1–8, 10–14)
  • Billy Hickey – engineering (tracks 1–8, 10–14)
  • Brendan Morawski – engineering (track 8)
  • Sam Ricci – engineering (track 9)
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing
  • Randy Merrill – mastering
  • Brandon Wood – assistant recording engineering (tracks 4, 6)
  • Andrew Keller – assistant recording engineering (track 8)
  • Sean Klein – assistant recording engineering (track 8)

Notes

  1. ^ Limited physical editions of Positions were issued DTC with two other cover artworks, that feature the same photograph as above, except Grande is looking at the camera, with repositioned hands and face angle.

Release history

Release formats for Positions
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Various October 30, 2020 (2020-10-30)
Republic [38][39][40]

References

  1. ^ "Ariana Grande reveals new album to be called Positions and will be out in two weeks". ET Canada. October 17, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  2. ^ Mendez, Michele; Garrison, Cianna (October 17, 2020). "Ariana Grande's 'Positions' Album Details: Release Date, Song Titles, & More". Elite Daily. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  3. ^ Richards, Will (April 19, 2020). "Ariana Grande looks to be recording new music while in lockdown". NME. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  4. ^ Kaufman, Gil (May 13, 2020). "Ariana Grande Talks Unreleased Doja Cat Collab". Billboard. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  5. ^ Lindsay, Kathryn (May 13, 2020). "TikTok Is Not Ready For Ariana Grande & Doja Cat's Upcoming Collab". Refinery29. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  6. ^ Shafer, Ellise (May 13, 2020). "Ariana Grande Explains Why She Won't Release an Album During Quarantine". Variety. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  7. ^ Chan, Anna (October 14, 2020). "Ariana Grande Just Revealed She's Releasing a New Album Really, Really Soon". Billboard. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  8. ^ Krol, Charlotte (October 14, 2020). "Ariana Grande is releasing a new album this month". NME. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  9. ^ Peters, Mitchell (October 17, 2020). "Ariana Grande Mysteriously Types 'Positions' on Keyboard Ahead of New Album: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  10. ^ Hussey, Allison (October 17, 2020). "Ariana Grande Teases "Positions," Coming Next Week". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  11. ^ Iasimone, Ashley (October 17, 2020). "Ariana Grande Launches Countdown to 'Positions'". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  12. ^ @ArianaGrande (October 23, 2020). "positions the single out now. positions my 6th album out friday the 30th. 🤍 arianagrande.lnk.to/positions" (Tweet). Retrieved October 23, 2020 – via Twitter.
  13. ^ a b Iasimone, Ashley (October 24, 2020). "Ariana Grande unveils 'Positions' track list". Billboard. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  14. ^ @ArianaGrande (October 27, 2020). "i've been so excited to show u these !!! three (slightly) different versions of the physical albums are now available to preorder on my website. :) photos by dave meyers creative by @photokohli arianagrande.lnk.to/shop" (Tweet). Retrieved October 27, 2020 – via Twitter.
  15. ^ "Ariana Grande Announces New Single 'Positions'". Idolator. October 18, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  16. ^ Curto, Justin (October 23, 2020). "Get Into Ariana Grande's 'positions' Song and Video Now". Vulture. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  17. ^ Aniftos, Rania (October 23, 2020). "Ariana Grande Leads the White House In 'Positions' Music Video: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  18. ^ Gonzales, Erica (October 30, 2020). "Ariana Grande Gets Cheeky on Her New Positions Song, '34+35'". Harper's Bazaar. Retrieved October 30, 2020. ... Ariana Grande's new Positions single, '34+35.'
  19. ^ Knight, Kathryn (October 30, 2020). "Ariana Grande '34+35' Lyrics Real Meaning Explained". Capital. Retrieved October 30, 2020. ... along with a brand new single '34+35'.
  20. ^ "Positions by Ariana Grande reviews". Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  21. ^ "positions by Ariana Grande Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  22. ^ a b Blanchet, Brendon. "Ariana Grande -Positions". Clash. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  23. ^ a b Siroky, Mary (October 30, 2020). "Ariana Grande's Positions Is a 2020 Pop Fairytale: Review". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  24. ^ a b Camp, Alexa (October 30, 2020). "Review: Ariana Grande's Positions Too Often Defaults to a Familiar Pose". Slant Magazine. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  25. ^ a b Solomon, Kate. "Ariana Grande, Postions, review:plenty of lust, but where all the hits?". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  26. ^ a b Smyth, David (October 30, 2020). "Ariana Grande's Positions is a loved-up ode in the simplest terms". Evening Standard. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  27. ^ a b Petridis, Alexis. "Ariana Grande: Positions review – all-night romps but no climax". The Guardian. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  28. ^ a b White, Adam (October 30, 2020). "Ariana Grande's Positions is woozy and flirtatious but lacking in surprise". The Independent. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  29. ^ a b Bruton, Louise (October 30, 2020). "Ariana Grande: Positions review – Big orgy of breathless R&B songs". The Irish Times. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  30. ^ a b Mylrea, Hannah. "Ariana Grande – 'Positions' review: lots of banging, but not so many bangers". NME. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  31. ^ "Ariana Grande's Positions: Album 'solid but doesn't sparkle' say critics". BBC. October 30, 2020. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  32. ^ Positions by Ariana Grande, retrieved October 30, 2020
  33. ^ Jenkins, Craig (October 30, 2020). "Positions Flirts With Greatness But Isn't Ready to Commit". Vulture. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  34. ^ DeVille, Chris (October 29, 2020). "Premature Evaluation: Ariana Grande Positions". Stereogum. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  35. ^ D'Souza, Shaad (October 30, 2020). "Positions is the first real miss of Ariana Grande's career". The Fader. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  36. ^ Olivier, Bobby (October 30, 2020). "Ariana Grande Delivers Sultry Yet Forgettable R&B on Positions". Spin. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  37. ^ "Positions / Ariana Grande". Tidal.
  38. ^ "Positions Digital Album". Ariana Grande. October 30, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  39. ^ "Positions CD". Ariana Grande. October 30, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  40. ^ "positions - triple cassette bundle". Ariana Grande. October 30, 2020. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2020.

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