Positions
by Ariana Grande
  • Record Label: Republic
  • Release Date: Oct 30, 2020
User Score
7.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 5940 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4,157 out of 5940
  2. Mixed: 417 out of 5940
  3. Negative: 1,366 out of 5940
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  1. j1train
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    Could have made a great EP with half of these songs, like real high points 34+35, Just Like Magic, the title track, Love Language and POV, which could all fit in well on her best album, Sweetener. But most of this is low-impact and feels unfinished.
  2. vitortfv
    Dec 3, 2020
    6
    After 'Sweetener', it turns difficult to listen to Ariana's albums willingly. I look forward to the day that she will step out of her comfort zone, as all the latest albums sound the same. And 'Positions' is no different, it has powerful vocals as always, but songs with repetitive and somewhat sickening verses. Highlight for 'pov', which proved to be the most interesting song, perhapsAfter 'Sweetener', it turns difficult to listen to Ariana's albums willingly. I look forward to the day that she will step out of her comfort zone, as all the latest albums sound the same. And 'Positions' is no different, it has powerful vocals as always, but songs with repetitive and somewhat sickening verses. Highlight for 'pov', which proved to be the most interesting song, perhaps overshadowing even 'off the table' and 'safety net', songs that also deserve some recognition. Besides, a forgettable album which seems to have been made in a hurry.… Expand
  3. edjoeheras
    Nov 9, 2020
    6
    A very lackluster album, but definitely not a bad one. Love that R&B feeling. I just wish Ariana would've put a little more of love into it. POV is my favorite. 34+35 is such a fun track too.
  4. LilScience
    Jan 13, 2022
    6
    Um álbum r&b que não impressiona por muita coisa, faixas aceitáveis, confesso que esperava mais do sucessor do 'thank u, next', o primeiro single de primeiro não gostei, mas fui ouvindo e agradou; já o seu segundo single 34+35 achei o clipe bem produzido porém acho que a letra ficou a desejar, seguindo o mesmo estilo das músicas que estão sendo sucesso nas paradas.

    Faixas favoritas:    Um álbum r&b que não impressiona por muita coisa, faixas aceitáveis, confesso que esperava mais do sucessor do 'thank u, next', o primeiro single de primeiro não gostei, mas fui ouvindo e agradou; já o seu segundo single 34+35 achei o clipe bem produzido porém acho que a letra ficou a desejar, seguindo o mesmo estilo das músicas que estão sendo sucesso nas paradas.

    Faixas favoritas: motive, positions, just like magic e nasty.    … Expand
  5. LCLC3
    Oct 31, 2020
    6
    Extremely meh...was hoping for at least one obvious, instantaneous smash but alas there isn’t one.
  6. aleppo
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    A pleasant if forgettable collection of songs, Positions sees Grande fail to chart new territory sonically or thematically for the first time in a few albums. The singer's powerhouse vocals, however, remain intact.

    Highlights include 'safety net' and 'pov.'
  7. sammyanthony
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    In her sixth album, Ariana gave us BGM to be played in coronavirus quarantine. The lovey-dovey theme is making the album lovely but combined with her more R&B-based beautiful vocal also with her subpar songwriting makes 'positions' a little bit complicated.

    It's more like Ariana's side project to enrich and broaden her music catalog.
  8. LancerReviews
    Oct 31, 2020
    6
    Positions has few hits and mostly misses, and it’s quite disappointing that such record that succeeds in coherence, has a unified sound and vision, fails at crafting memorable production and engaging lyricism.
  9. CriticSaul
    Dec 4, 2020
    6
    I love ariana but, what is this? I like only 5 songs, and that featuring with the weeknd, i really expected more
  10. viniciussawate
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    This album is lyrically the best representation of her enviable joviality and her ability to swing between genres at will gives life to everything, an aureolar invocation that so much anticipates the end of a cycle that makes it clear that she still has a lot to say to us. But the production she tries to be a polished version of Lil peep without emo rock and herself.
  11. nurhikmattew
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    The concept is a huge great, she can truly express herself. And all tracks is genuinely awesome and catchy but the whole tracks won’t be long-last listened, and bit much repetitive. And idk i am much expect the tracks more seductive than bit innocent. I think this era quiet short for her.
  12. andreroberto618
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. looks like ripped songs from the last two albums, but it has its highlights, the album should have a maximum of 8 tracks… Expand
  13. josesalher
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    I don’t think it sounds like her previous records, as a lot of people say, I just think it could have been better.
  14. davifontenelle
    Mar 26, 2023
    6
    Positions, Ariana Grande’s 6th studio album came after a streak in her career. 2 successful albums and the predecessor being her biggest to date. With this said, Positions feels a little bit rushed and one of the weakest albums of the year. Still, there are some highlights in this record, such as “pov”, “safety net” and the vocal masterpiece “my hair”.
  15. soundmate
    Nov 25, 2020
    6
    As an enormous Ariana Grande fan, it hurts a lot to say that, for the first time in seven years, I dislike an Ariana Grande release.
    As she reached the legend and pop star status, Ariana didn't move from her confort zone of R&B popped songs sang with a trap basis. At one point every new release reminded us of her previous work and "Boyfriend" is the perfect example of it. Ariana knows she    As an enormous Ariana Grande fan, it hurts a lot to say that, for the first time in seven years, I dislike an Ariana Grande release.
    As she reached the legend and pop star status, Ariana didn't move from her confort zone of R&B popped songs sang with a trap basis. At one point every new release reminded us of her previous work and "Boyfriend" is the perfect example of it. Ariana knows she can do whatever she pleases musically without being afraid of being unsuccessful as she has one of the strongest and most loyal fan base to ever exist. Coming from a critically-acclaimed album like "Thank U, Next", Ariana had it very diffucult to top it. But, instead of moving to idk chamber pop, soft rock or even alternative reggaeton she has sticked to what she knows will work. I don't really know if she had to release an album in 2020 due to a contract but, if she has released it because she felt to, let me tell you dear this has been a mistake. Idk, I feel like it is quite forced to release a "quarantine album" specailly if you are sticking to the same formula. I personally wanted another "Sweetener" aka a quite experimental work with many anticipation and calculation to make this era perfect. Oh because that's another one: sadly, even the aesthetics are being recycled since they are almost the same as the ones used during the "Sweetener" era back in 2018 like... step out of your comfort Ari idk move to a farm in Montana and make an album that feels like a connection with nature or go to Jamaica and make a tropical album or to the deep England and make a soft British rock album, I'm just tired of hearing the same, I'm sorry. You have so much to tell from Manchester to Mac Miller and, even though that happened some time ago, we still haven't got the one where you sing your feelings nakedly. Life isn't always fun and games, don't make it seem like it, we also want to relate and feel safe and sound listening to your music while crying lol.
    Anyway, "Positions" is a quite boring, monotone album that I'm afraid will be the first of many other same projects. A true dissapointment for someone who thought this would be an extended version of "Step on Up" with some elements of "The Sound of Music" I don't know what I was thinking about.    … Expand
  16. amandasev
    Dec 13, 2020
    6
    de fato não é um álbum ruim. as músicas são bem genéricas, a sonoridade é bem parecida com a do thank u, next, mas na minha opinião tun ainda é superior.
    as letras são medianas também, mas pra quantidade de compositores que são creditados no álbum é de se esperar algo superior.
    de longe as melhores músicas são positions e pov.
  17. martam
    Nov 2, 2020
    6
    Without a doubt a more mature content but it is lacking something, lyrical weak, production is average, nothing we haven't heard before, vocally is amazing as always.
    Her vocals carry the album, this record does not say anything relevant, it is bland and she didn't show any growth, not her worst work but not her best either. Maybe she could just take her time with the next one. I feel    Without a doubt a more mature content but it is lacking something, lyrical weak, production is average, nothing we haven't heard before, vocally is amazing as always.
    Her vocals carry the album, this record does not say anything relevant, it is bland and she didn't show any growth, not her worst work but not her best either. Maybe she could just take her time with the next one. I feel like she has a lot more to give.    … Expand
  18. VGrijalvaG
    Nov 7, 2020
    6
    Ni chiste, no le echaste ganas primaaaa cantas muy chulo y asis pero te fallo, nada mas se salva Safety net porque me pone muy asi y POV esta chistosa triste, espero que mejores y escribe sola, gracias Postada
    Echale ganas x2
  19. Ranit
    Nov 4, 2020
    6
    Cute record, have a few bops like Motive, Safety Net and Just Like Magic, but it's still missing it's own sound, cause it has a lot similarities with tun and sweetener.
  20. MARTINCARDENAS
    Jun 9, 2021
    6
    "Positions".... what can we say, this album could have been better if Ariana had kept the magic that she used in her previous work. Most of the songs do not make sense and get confused, they sound similar, or like a single and long song
  21. duda_
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    não é uns dos melhores trabalhos da Ariana Grande, esse álbum parece uma mistura de descartes do Sweetener e do thank u, next, mas como é um álbum de Ariana Grande, sabemos que ela nunca decepciona com os vocais, embora esse álbum não parece nem um pouco coeso, achei genérico demais com seus 100 compositores
  22. nemojr3
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    1 shut up - 4
    2 34+35 - 7
    3 motive - 5
    4 just like magic - 7
    5 off the table - 8
    6 six thirty - 6
    7 safety net - 6
    8 my hair - 9
    9 nasty - 6
    10 west side - 6
    11 love lenguage - 7
    12 positions - 7
    13 obvious - 7
    14 pow - 6.5

    album: 6.5
  23. RiccardoDN
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    Trivial melodies and poor lyrics! Few songs stand out: positions and west side
  24. macnardin
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    um bom álbum, mas esperava mais. as músicas não me surpreenderam e não me prenderam.
  25. Vitor_Eros
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    Not that it's bad, but the album sounds more like a big 42-minute song is 14 seconds. Positions the only one we can venture to say is different.
  26. bisdakbarbie
    Nov 23, 2020
    6
    Not Ariana's best work. She has this beat that sounds the same in almost all of her newer music.
  27. RajP
    Jul 30, 2021
    6
    Repetitive production and boring lyrics. She doesn't exploit the full potential of her beautiful voice on this album.
  28. beysdragon
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    She took a step back with this album... I thought she can’t make worse album than Sweetener but here we are.
  29. Carlesff
    Dec 15, 2020
    6
    Just the same as TU,N. All songs sound the same, nothing new from her, she could have done better.
  30. YanReis240206
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    Embora seja um trabalho bem produzido, a maioria das faixas soam semelhantes na sonoridade. Seus vocais estão bastante agradáveis, como sempre. Ariana é incrível, mas sinto que "Positions" não conseguiu demostrar o quão talentosa ela é como artista.
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Awards & Rankings

6
#6 Most Discussed Album of 2020

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 24
  3. Negative: 0 out of 24
  1. Paste Magazine
    Dec 2, 2020
    72
    Grande is making no effort to be discreet, instead explicitly owning her sexuality—the album is called Positions, after all. The juxtaposition of beautiful violin sounds and risqué lyrics has become one of Grande’s signature sounds, and it suits her well.
    Read full review
  2. The Observer (UK)
    Nov 9, 2020
    80
    Grande laid bare may well be seen as a stopgap in her canon, using taboo to checkmate her past trauma, but it does pull off the rare feat of at least sounding effortless.
    Read full review
  3. PopMatters
    Nov 5, 2020
    80
    With little conflict and few psychological insights, Positions zeroes in on the enviable confidence that only pop stars on top of the world and with nothing to lose can afford. It's easy to write it off as empty calories, but pop has always been described in such terms: cake, candy, chocolate, confection. Positions isn't a "sweetener" but pure sugar.
    Read full review
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