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. 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.
  2. Moon_Luigi
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    Ariana no sale de su zona de comodidad, aunque es un álbum cohesivo en su mayoría, aburre un poco con líricas un poco clichés y un sonido repetitivo y plano en algunos aspectos. Un retroceso en comparación con Thank U Next
  3. MusicNerdViking
    Feb 21, 2021
    6
    This album is pretty meh to me. I do like the combination of orchestral instruments and electronic beats on some of the songs (shut up, 34+35, love language, etc) but sadly the album doesn't explore that sound as much as I thought it would. Everything after track 3 kinda felt like listening to a vacuum of pop noise, but then after "Nasty", everything gets good again. So I dunno what to sayThis album is pretty meh to me. I do like the combination of orchestral instruments and electronic beats on some of the songs (shut up, 34+35, love language, etc) but sadly the album doesn't explore that sound as much as I thought it would. Everything after track 3 kinda felt like listening to a vacuum of pop noise, but then after "Nasty", everything gets good again. So I dunno what to say about this album really, other than it reeks with lost potential and that the production is somewhat decent.
    Overall score: 5-6/10
    The album is: Filled with lost potential, has a nice aesthetic(?), it's pretty okay
    Fav tracks: 34+35, West Side, Love Language, Positions
    Least fav tracks: POV, Shut Up    … Expand
  4. Shara16
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    On my first listen I couldn't bear to hear it in full as i found it too bad... Though some songs are growers, I hope Ari's next album is better.
  5. Penguu
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    Lyrics are kind of like the same thing. I still prefer Dangerous Woman and thank u, next over this though.

    pov is such a good song too. Definitely my favorite off the album.
  6. chelseaharvey
    Nov 1, 2020
    6
    Good album, but not as best as her previous work. Should have been an EP with 34+35, just like magic, my hair, nasty, love language and pov. There are some songs in the album that feel lackluster such as west side and obvious. She releases music so quickly that she it’s just quantity over quality which is a shame. Dangerous Woman is still her best album to date.
  7. RonniJhay
    Dec 25, 2020
    6
    I can best describe this album as Dangerous Woman mixed with thank u, next. Two very different albums from an incredible artist but sadly it didn't worked this time. Ariana was stuck in her thank u, next era production. Very weak lyricism as always, you can't even barely understand some of them tbh. pov is the best one here, I enjoyed obvious, motive, just like magic and 34+35 not gonnaI can best describe this album as Dangerous Woman mixed with thank u, next. Two very different albums from an incredible artist but sadly it didn't worked this time. Ariana was stuck in her thank u, next era production. Very weak lyricism as always, you can't even barely understand some of them tbh. pov is the best one here, I enjoyed obvious, motive, just like magic and 34+35 not gonna lie but the rest of the album felt rushed. In conclusion, I think that it's better for her to take a rest, reinvent herself, a ballad album would be great, but if she keeps on putting out Rnb albums, i'm afraid she will experience a major decline.… Expand
  8. Jarthinking
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    La verdad es que esperaba algo mejor. Pero en general suena muy monótono, en lugar de ser cohesivo. Cómo sea, algunas canciones tienen buenos ritmos, y letras divertidas tales como My Hair, o Off The Table.
  9. Tay2000
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    É um bom álbum, mas não gostei muito apesar de ser fã da artista. Tenho esperanças que ela lance um dia algum álbum no mesmo hype de Yours Truly. Apesar de Sweetener e TN, ele ainda acaba sendo meu álbum favorito. Acredito que este tenha em alguns momentos uma vibe parecida, mas infelizmente, não me conquistou.
  10. 2Jai
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    Positions apparently is a combination of the album Gracias, Next and Sweetener, it has good songs but not enough.
  11. Hvidtsen
    Nov 2, 2020
    6
    This new album by Ariana left me disappointed. Her last record "Thank you next" was her best yet, and "Positions" could not live up to it. There is nothing special about the production on the tracks and it seems like the team behind the record only cared about streams on this one. One of the positive things about the record is Ariana's voice, but its really the only thing about the recordThis new album by Ariana left me disappointed. Her last record "Thank you next" was her best yet, and "Positions" could not live up to it. There is nothing special about the production on the tracks and it seems like the team behind the record only cared about streams on this one. One of the positive things about the record is Ariana's voice, but its really the only thing about the record that is fantastic.… Expand
  12. SofiaGonzalez13
    Oct 31, 2020
    6
    Es un album bueno pero esperaba más y sigue el mismo camino de los anteriores
  13. daebu_char
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    Love love love L-O-V-E Ariana, but this isn't her best work. Still, God bless her - while this album lacks the obvious wow moments like God Is a Woman, Breathin', or Into You - she was clearly doing this album out of fun and followed her heart. A lot of the songs on the album show potential, but ultimately suffer from sounding undercooked. The first two songs are hands down the worst songsLove love love L-O-V-E Ariana, but this isn't her best work. Still, God bless her - while this album lacks the obvious wow moments like God Is a Woman, Breathin', or Into You - she was clearly doing this album out of fun and followed her heart. A lot of the songs on the album show potential, but ultimately suffer from sounding undercooked. The first two songs are hands down the worst songs she's ever recorded. Starting from track 3, the mood shifts and the songs get progressively better. I particularly enjoyed my hair, nasty, love language & pov. Nevertheless, none of the aforementioned tracks can hold a candle to her biggest hits. The cohesive production is also one of its downsides... it is very hard to tell the songs apart after a while since all of them sort of sound alike. I still think she deserves respect for doing an album that's less commercial in nature and probably more reflective of her own taste though. 6/10… Expand
  14. Moacirnegrelli
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Esse álbum me transpareceu que a Ari sofreu pressão da gravadora para lançar um TUN 2.0, só pq teve muito hype, e números. Mas não deu muito certo... ficou enjoativo, chato.… Expand
  15. nauflm
    Oct 31, 2020
    6
    positions is the only bop song on the album, motive is kinda bop because doja's verse. the rest of the album is boring and sounds like ariana's old discography
  16. DaveWarren
    Dec 15, 2020
    6
    The first single is very good, the music video it's great. The album sounds good but the the songs are too repetitive.
  17. vote4ghosts
    Nov 28, 2020
    6
    There's not enough variety in this album for me, the tracks are too similar. Luckily they're not bad tracks and overall pleasant to listen to, but there's nothing about this album that stands out to me. pov is a major highlight from this album - so great!
  18. julesroses
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    In general it's a good work but it seems to me that it lacks in some aspects. The whole album seems to have the same songs with the same subjects as always. Sounds better than her previous one but its lyrics could be better.
  19. Kinda
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    it's a good album, but the songs look the same. There is nothing very innovative or different on the album, it’s just that album with good songs to listen to while driving.
  20. benko13
    Nov 2, 2020
    6
    Positions is step back in Ariana's career if we compere it with her previous two albums Sweetener and Thank U, Next which were truly great albums. Album is very cohesive but at some point it turns in monotony. Lyrics are good and personal, production is also fine, but it's just something with this album that doesn't work properly, I'm afraid it will be forgotten quickly.
  21. connordalzin
    Dec 1, 2020
    6
    Very underwhelming after the amazing "Thank You, Next." I like the vibe she's going for. I love that it's all about intimacy, but it's very one note. There are a handle of songs I enjoy that I return too: "34+35, Just Like Magic, Love Language, My Hair, POV", but for how long it is there are a lot of skips.
  22. mp8817016
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. O álbum inteiro está muito repetitivo a sonoridade está muito parecida de uma faixa pra outra, não vejo hits nesse álbum, ele apenas serviu pra mostrar a versatilidade de Ariana. Não é um pop com o sempre esperamos dela.… Expand
  23. BillieMercury
    Oct 31, 2020
    6
    So, partially why I am mixed about this one is my own fault. Over the course of the year I have been listening to the snippets (like "Dirty Secrets" and "i hate u (i love u sm)"), which unfortunately turned out to fake...So I kinda already got excited for a sound that was never going to happen in the first place. That being said, I'll try not to let that affect the review as much asSo, partially why I am mixed about this one is my own fault. Over the course of the year I have been listening to the snippets (like "Dirty Secrets" and "i hate u (i love u sm)"), which unfortunately turned out to fake...So I kinda already got excited for a sound that was never going to happen in the first place. That being said, I'll try not to let that affect the review as much as possible.

    For me, the most disappointing part of the album would be the instrumentals. This is where the snippet thing comes in most, since all the ones I listened to were all so good and memorable, unlike the ones on the album. "My Hair" is such a bop with cute lyrics (those whistle notes girl!!!), but the beats really let me down, honestly. It could have become one of her best ever, I think, if not for that. Still one of my favorites nonetheless. My favorite instrumental on the album would probably be "Motive" and is one of the best on the album in my opinion. As a Ghostin' fan, its probably no surprise that i adore "POV." It has a better instrumental, personal lyrics, and the drops in the chorus are GORGEOUS! As for collabs, not the best and kind of predictable, as many have pointed out, but Doja Cat was really good.

    The biggest complaint in the other reviews seems to be her lyrics, and I can't fully disagree. Not too many of them are memorable, but there ARE a few that stick out, at least for me. The chorus from POV and a few particular lines from Nasty (lol) being the main ones.

    The best part of this album is that I feel it is the first time Ari has consistently and repeatedly shown what she could do with her voice. She's given us whistle and belted notes before, but not this much in a single album. (Ex: "imagine" was really the only one that did that on its parent album, while she used her voice to its full potential numerous times on this one.) I hope this makes sense!

    Is this my favorite album from her? No. But is it terrible? Also no. I think its a good start to the next chapter of her career and sound, but its lacking something. It doesn't have the bop factor like "Side To Side" or the vulnerability/memorability of "Thank U, Next." It also wobbles a little too much and can't make up its mind if it wants to be pop or R&B, nor whether it wants to be fun/club or chill/sultry. I think it would have fared better with a more "solid" genre choice, but again, that falls on the poor production. I love the new confidence and don't mind the themes, but overall I don't think she hit the nail on the head with this one. 7/10

    This is my first ever review, but I hope I did good and was constructive.

    TL;DR

    Favorites: POV, Motive (ft. Doja Cat), My Hair
    Least favorite (so far): Six thirty, Positions, Obviously
    Don't know yet: West Side, Safety Net (ft. Ty Dolla $ign), Off The Table (ft. The Weeknd), 34 + 35    … Expand
  24. Bigbronk
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    It’s a trash and I don’t know how Ariana Grande did this, repetitive sounds, tempo and sexist lyrics. All this time I was waiting for a different style of music from her, but what a pity!
  25. classydwarf
    Aug 20, 2021
    6
    gosto de metade das músicas, não gosto da outra metade. as músicas boas são muito boas, mas as ruins são muito ruins. não é o melhor álbum dela mas também não acho ele tão horrível assim. dá pra salvar.
  26. raresrevenge
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    Some tracks of this album, for example “pov” and “nasty” are for the books, but alot of the songs on this album are mainly fillers/skips. I do think that the album doesn’t deserve the hate that it’s receiving though.
  27. anadsa
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    The good part is her voice. Flawless as always!
    The bad part? You listen the entire album and it sounds like a only song. Doesn't give you a mountain of feelings.
    But I would recommend just because of her voice.
    PS: The Weeknd made a really difference in this album! Love it!
  28. blackpopgirl
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    I thought this album was actual quite enjoyable for the most part. I did think it needed an extra kick though, it’s an overall mediocre body of work with very few songs i’d go back to. This record didn’t really give me anything I didn’t already get from her previous album & therefore shows no real artistic growth.
  29. kevss
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    this album has a good production, Ariana's vocals are amazing like always, but the songs is not impressive or something extraordinary, is kinda repetitive in certain moments
  30. Euphemiaxx
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    The lyrics and the melody is not it. I love her to death but this is probably her worst era for me.
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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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