Ariana Grande addresses Pete Davidson and Mac Miller on new single 'thank u, next'

4 November 2018, 11:14 | Updated: 4 November 2018, 12:01

By Sam Prance

The personal, surprise single has already inspired an array of memes...

Ariana Grande has surprised released a new single about her ex boyfriends Big Sean, Ricky Alvarez, Pete Davidson and Mac Miller... but it's not what you think.

Ariana is easily one of the hardest working people in music at the moment. In the past eight months alone, she has launched one of her biggest and most critically acclaimed eras to date (Sweetener topped charts around the world), released three hit singles ('no tears left to cry', 'God is a woman' and 'breathin'' are classics) and given brilliant performances at major award shows (the VMAs and the BBMAs).

And yet she's not even done yet. Last month, Ariana confirmed that she had already started to work on her next project AG5 and this week she took to Twitter to reveal that it's called thank u, next and it's basically finished. Not only that but Ariana let her fans know that the first single would be the title track and last night she surprised released it. It's early days but people are shook by how personal it is.

Ariana Grande references Pete Davidson, Mac Miller, Big Sean and Ricky Alvarez on personal new single 'thank u, next'
Ariana Grande references Pete Davidson, Mac Miller, Big Sean and Ricky Alvarez on personal new single 'thank u, next'. Picture: Instagram // Republic Records

'thank u, next' is a beautiful mid-tempo track which Ariana wrote with her longterm collaborators Tommy Brown and Victoria Monet. In it, Ariana reminisces on her previous relationships and the power that comes with being single and taking time to focus on yourself "I know they say I move on too fast // But this one gon' last '// Cause her name is Ari // And I'm so good with that".

Ariana even references her exes. She sings about Big Sean ("Thought I'd end up with Sean // But he wasn't a match"), Ricky Alvarez ("Wrote some songs about Ricky // Now I listen and laugh"), Pete Davidson ("Even almost got married // And for Pete, I'm so thankful") and Mac Miller "Wish I could say, thank you to Malcolm // 'Cause he was an angel".

Listen to 'thank u, next' below.

Ariana Grande - thank u, next (audio)

The song is remarkable. Ariana has been known to throw shade every now and then but 'thank u, next' sees her directly address her past boyfriends in way that doesn't feel petty, just honest. The tribute to Mac (who passed away earlier this year) is stunning. It is essentially a more stripped back, mature sister to Little Mix's single 'Shout Out to My Ex'.

Unsurprisingly, the internet and celebs alike are already living for it.

Here are just a few of the reactions and memes.

Something tells us that this is going to be a smash.

Read the full 'thank u, next' lyrics below.

VERSE 1
Thought I'd end up with Sean
But he wasn't a match
Wrote some songs about Ricky
Now I listen and laugh
Even almost got married
And for Pete, I'm so thankful
Wish I could say, "Thank you" to Malcolm
'Cause he was an angel

PRE-CHORUS
One taught me love
One taught me patience
And one taught me pain
Now, I'm so amazing
I've loved and I've lost
But that's not what I see
So, look what I got
Look what you taught me
And for that, I say

CHORUS
Thank you, next (Next)
Thank you, next (Next)
Thank you, next
I'm so fuckin' grateful for my ex
Thank you, next (Next)
Thank you, next (Next)
Thank you, next (Next)
I'm so fuckin'—

VERSE 2
Spend more time with my friends
I ain't worried 'bout nothin'
Plus, I met someone else
We havin' better discussions
I know they say I move on too fast
But this one gon' last
'Cause her name is Ari
And I'm so good with that (So good with that)

PRE-CHORUS
She taught me love (Love)
She taught me patience (Patience)
And she handles pain (Pain)
That shit's amazing (Yeah, she's amazing)
I've loved and I've lost (Yeah, yeah)
But that's not what I see (Yeah, yeah)
Just look what I've found (Yeah, yeah)
Ain't no need for searching, and for that, I say

CHORUS
Thank you, next (Thank you, next)
Thank you, next (Thank you, next)
Thank you, next (Thank you)
I'm so fuckin' grateful for my ex
Thank you, next (Thank you, next)
Thank you, next (Said thank you, next)
Thank you, next (Next)
I'm so fuckin' grateful for my ex

POST-CHORUS
Thank you, next
Thank you, next
Thank you, next
I'm so fucking—

BRIDGE
One day I'll walk down the aisle
Holding hands with my mama
I'll be thanking my dad
'Cause she grew from the drama
Only wanna do it once, real bad
Gon' make that shit last
God forbid something happens
Least this song is a smash (Song is a smash)

PRE-CHORUS
I've got so much love (Love)
Got so much patience (Patience)
I've learned from the pain (Pain)
I turned out amazing (Turned out amazing)
I've loved and I've lost (Yeah, yeah)
But that's not what I see (Yeah, yeah)
Just look what I've found (Yeah, yeah)
Ain't no need for searching
And for that, I'll say

CHORUS
Thank you, next (Thank you, next)
Thank you, next (Thank you, next)
Thank you, next
I'm so fuckin' grateful for my ex
Thank you, next (Thank you, next)
Thank you, next (Said thank you, next)
Thank you, next (Next)
I'm so fuckin' grateful for my ex

POST-CHORUS
Thank you, next
Thank you, next
Thank you, next
Yeah, yee
Thank you, next
Thank you, next
Thank you, next
Yeah, yee