Positions is the sixth studio album by American singer Ariana Grande. It was released by Republic Records on October 30, 2020. Grande worked with numerous producers on Positions, including frequent collaborator Tommy Brown, accompanied by longtime co-writers Victoria Monét and Tayla Parx. Inspired by her "emotional healing", Grande desired to emphasize her vocals on the album.
Built around themes of sexual intimacy, attraction, and romantic devotion, Positions expands on the trap-infused R&B and pop sound of its predecessors, Sweetener (2018) and Thank U, Next (2019).
Doja Cat, the Weeknd, and Ty Dolla $ign appear as guest features, alongside Megan Thee Stallion on the deluxe edition. Upon release, Positions was met with generally favorable reviews from music critics; Grande's vocal performance was often praised, though the album's lyrics and production style drew criticism. Publications ranked the album on various year-end best albums lists of 2020.
The title track was released as the lead single, which debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100 and marked Grande's fifth number-one single in the United States, making her the first act with five number-one debuts on the chart.
The song was her third Hot 100 chart-topper in 2020, following "Stuck with U" and "Rain on Me". All 14 tracks on Positions charted simultaneously on the Hot 100, with the second single, "34+35", arriving at number eight on the chart and peaking at number two, following the release of its remix with Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion. In 2021, the album was promoted by a series of performances of its tracks, presented by Vevo, and the release of "POV" to US radio as the third single.
Musically, Positions is an R&B and pop record with trap inflections. Its tracks also contain elements of hip hop, neo soul, disco, funk, microhouse, electro house, and orchestral pop.
Grande's vocals have been described as evoking mumble rap. The opening track, "Shut Up", has been described as "a jewel box of an orchestral-pop number in which the singer tells off people too concerned with how she spends her time".
The second track, "34+35", is an uptempo pop song that has sexually suggestive lyrics, juxtaposed over orchestral strings. The song incorporates R&B and trap music in its production.
The third track, "Motive", is a collaboration with Doja Cat. Grande had declared the two worked on a track together during an interview in May 2020.
The two would collaborate again on the remix of "34+35" alongside American rapper Megan Thee Stallion.
"Off the Table" is a collaboration with The Weeknd, and "tackles the idea of loving after loss head-on and with grace".
"Six Thirty" sees Grande "[shatter] established language norms and creates a new metaphor paradigm, comparing a person to a very specific hour of the day as represented on a clock".
Vulture's Rachel Handler described "My Hair" as "a witty, clever little ditty about reassuring an uneasy lover that it is, indeed, okay to touch Ariana Grande's almost frighteningly giant ponytail.
It's also a classic horny bait and switch, kicking off like a sexy, swingy, '70s-esque doo-wop about fuckin'."
The ninth track, "Nasty", is described as a "X-rated, lo-fi R&B" song incorporating elements of trap and bedroom pop music.
The eleventh track, "Love Language", is described as "disco-meets-new jack swing".
The title track, "Positions", is a mid-tempo, "slinky" pop-R&B song over a trap beat, violins, and guitars played in the pizzicato technique.
PopSugar and Idolator respectively reported that "Off the Table" sampled "2009" by Mac Miller, while "West Side" sampled "'One in a Million' by Aaliyah".
With the debut of Positions atop the Billboard 200, Grande earned her fifth number one album in the United States. It spent two consecutive weeks at number one in the country, was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, and became the eighth most consumed album of 2021 in the US. Elsewhere, the album reached number-one in Argentina, Canada, Croatia, Ireland, Lithuania, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom. Positions contended for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards (2022); Grande tied Kelly Clarkson for the most nominations for an act in the category, with five each.
Track listing
1. Shut Up - 2:38
2. 34+35 - 2:54
3. Motive (Featuring – Doja Cat) - 2:48
4. Just Like Magi - 2:30
5. Off The Table (Featuring – The Weeknd) - 4:00
6. Six Thirty - 3:04
7. Safety Net (Featuring – Ty Dolla $ign) - 3:28
8. My Hair - 2:38
9. Nasty - 3:21
10. West Side - 2:12
11. Love Language - 3:00
12. Positions - 2:52
13. Obvious - 2:27
14. POV - 3:22
Deluxe Edition (bonus tracks)
15. Someone Like U (Interlude) - 1:16
16. Test Drive - 2:02
17. 34+35 (Remix Featuring – Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion) - 3:02
18. Worst Behavior - 2:04
19. Main Thing - 2:08
Notes
Released: October 30, 2020
Recorded at: Studio Grande's home (Los Angeles) / Champagne Therapy (Los Angeles) / Windmark (Los Angeles) / Capitol (Los Angeles) / Jungle City (New York City)
Genre: R&B, pop, trap
Length: 51:41 (deluxe edition)
Producer(s): London on da Track, Mr. Franks, Murda Beatz, Nami, Oliver Frid, Peter Lee Johnson, Scott Storch, Shea Taylor, Shintaro Yasuda, The Rascals, Tommy Brown, Tommy Parker, Travis Sayles, Xavi
Label - Republic Records
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