Ariana Grande's 10 Best (and Worst) Songs
Ariana Grande has emerged as one of the most influential pop stars of the past 10 years. She's consistently been a chart-topper and achieved just as many headlines for the ups-and-downs of her personal life. Now, the world hangs on her every move—and song. Her past two albums, Sweetener and Thank U, Next, served as almost diaries of her life and ushered in pop's current wave of authenticity over showmanship. Listeners don't just want style in their top 40 anymore. They want substance.
Grande's best songs seamlessly combine both: sonic excellence that works for both headphones and a dance floor but also lyrical brilliance—words that make you think, make you cry, and make you move. Some of these songs emphasize lyrics over beat or vice versa, but both elements are always there.
As for her “worst” songs, well, Grande is a talented artist, so even her weaker moments still have things to enjoy. These are just instances where there really isn't much to latch onto; the beat is so-so, the words are blah. When you have hundreds of grade-A songs, like Grande does, you're bound to have a few misfires.
So as we prepare for her next album, Positions (out October 30), let's look back at Ariana Grande's 10 best (and worst) songs ever.
Best
10. “The Way,” featuring Mac Miller
Mac Miller, who tragically passed in 2018 from an accidental overdose, dated Grande for years, and he's deeply beloved by the fandom. One of the only songs they recorded together, “The Way,” now serves as an almost symbol of their relationship. The track is silky-smooth R&B-pop, perfectly pitched and a precursor to the sound Grande would master on her later albums.
9. “No Tears Left to Cry”
Grande is a pro at anthemic, scream-from-your-lungs choruses, and “No Tears Left to Cry” has maybe her best ever. It's arguably one of only three pure-pop songs on her 2018 album Sweetener—"Breathin'" and “God Is a Woman” are the others—but that's enough to give you quite the sugar rush. “No Tears Left to Cry” alone is all the candy you need.
8. “Thank U, Next”
For cultural magnitude alone, “Thank U, Next” earns a spot on our list. With lyrics that name-drop her exes and a video spoofing all your favorite rom-coms, this song was a gargantuan moment in culture. It's truthfully one of the last times a pop artist made a splash big enough to get the whole world talking (and thanks to the song's breezy earworm hook, we didn't stop talking).
7. “Needy”
Fans lauded Grande's Thank U, Next album for its honesty, and that's perhaps best encapsulated on “Needy," a downtempo moment in which she confesses hard truths about herself. “I'm obsessive and I love too hard/Good at overthinking with my heart,” she sings over a simple, stunning beat. “Lately I've been on a roller coaster/Tryna get a hold of my emotions.”
6. “Touch It”
Not many people have vocals strong enough to hold their own against a busy electronic beat. But Grande does, and you hear that beautifully on “Touch It,” a sprawling electro-pop opus in which she bemoans a lover to, “Take me all the way!” There's a haunting, desperate quality to this track that makes you want to lose yourself in a crowd of 2,000 people. That can't happen for a while, but you can blast this on your AirPods right now. Max Martin and Ali Payami's production deserves to be heard in the highest quality possible.
5. “One Last Time”
Grande has dedicated “One Last Time” to the victims of the bombing that took place at her concert three years ago in Manchester—and because of this, it's taken on new meaning. What once was a catchy, romantic tune from her My Everything album is now a piece of catharsis: an urgent, rapturous command to hold the people you love most and never let them go.
4. “Knew Better/Forever Boy”
“Knew Better/Forever Boy" is, in effect, two songs: one is a mid-tempo, R&B break-up anthem; the other is romantic and bright with a killer club beat. They're connected by a hazy, strobe-lit interlude ideal for dance floor make-outs. The result? A quintessential Ariana Grande song, one that nods to both her glittery pop past and Thank U, Next present.
3. "Into You"
When talking about her collaboration with Lady Gaga (“Rain on Me”) earlier this year, Grande said, “I do feel like it’s been a minute since I’ve done something that poppy, really. And that’s funny because I am a pop person, but it’s just, everyone knows that my heart is kind of rooted in the R&B influence music that I make, and that’s where my heart is.”
If Grande never makes “poppy” music again, that's OK—because we have “Into You,” inarguably one of the best dance tracks to emerge from the 2010s. The crunchy, sledgehammer chorus knocks you on your ass, and the bridge is A+ Ari belting.
2. “Bad Idea”
“Bad Idea” is one of Thank U Next's lighter moments, but it still packs a punch. The song is classic AG: “yuh”-heavy with a carnal, pulsating beat that's very much her take on pop. You hear this clearly at the 3:20 mark, when gorgeous strings transition the track from sweaty, gay-club ecstasy to something brooding, almost trap-like. It's all drama—a key ingredient to any good Ariana Grande song.
1. "Ghostin"
This song is what heaven sounds like—particularly the melodic breakdown around the 3:23 mark. It's a masterpiece, simply put: a bravura display of turning pain into art, of sharing your tears with strangers so maybe they can heal their own wounds. “Ghostin'” is believed to be about Grande grieving the loss of Mac Miller while she was still with Pete Davidson—but that was never officially confirmed. Regardless, the track is a rare example of vulnerable pop done right; where an artist actually bears their soul instead of feigning authenticity. It's about as real and raw as music can get.
Honorable mentions: “Pink Champagne,” “Bloodline,” “7 Rings,” “You’ll Never Know," “Greedy,” “Bad Decisions,” “Thinking Bout You,” “Only 1,” “Just a Little Bit of Your Heart,” “Honeymoon Avenue,” “Break Free,” “Hands on Me” (featuring A$AP Ferg), “Be Alright,” “God Is a Woman,” “R.E.M,” “Breathin,” “Goodnight n Go,” “Get Well Soon,” “NASA,” and “In My Head.”
Worst
10. “Almost Is Never Enough,” featuring Nathan Sykes
“Almost Is Never Enough" is pretty, don't get me wrong. But it's far too long—five minutes and 28 seconds!—and never really goes anywhere. Grande has far better ballads in her catalog, ones that don't include a downright jarring male vocal cameo.
9. "Sometimes"
Dangerous Woman is an album that expertly blends glossy dance-pop and sultry R&B. So when the easy-listening “Sometimes” comes on, you're a bit turned off. It doesn't fit with the record, plain and simple, and it gets lost as a result.
8. “Bang Bang,” with Nicki Minaj and Jessie J
It's a bit of a running joke in the AG fandom that she doesn't like this song, and, honestly, I understand why. While “Bang Bang” may have sounded fresh in 2014, it's aged like milk. Everything from the horn-honking chorus to Jessie and Ari 's competing vocal gymnastics just feels…overwhelming.
7. "Best Mistake," featuring Big Sean
My Everything gave us so many Grande gems: “One Last Time!” “Break Free!” “Just a Little Bit of Your Heart!” However, the lethargic “Best Mistake” isn't one of them. Grande has since refined her R&B-influenced sound and produced more effective midtempo tracks. This was just a test run.
6. “I Don’t Care”
The big-band vibes of “I Don't Care” are welcomed and appreciated—but, again, they just don't fit within the framework of Dangerous Woman. The song would almost be better suited for a grown-up Yours Truly album.
5. "Put Your Hearts Up"
Grande famously detests “PYHU," and it's obvious why. The track is bubblegum fizz with about 300 extra grams of sugar. May I suggest the pop-tastic, unreleased “Pink Champagne” instead? Now there's a cheesy track from Grande's Disney past that's aged liked wine.
4. “Borderline,” featuring Missy Elliott
Pharrell Williams's production on Sweetener is very hit or miss, and it's a miss on “Borderline.” Repetitive, monotone, and featuring far too many cowbells, not even a fire verse from Missy Elliott can save it.
3. "Blazed," featuring Pharrell Williams
Like “Borderline,” “Blazed” never really takes off; it's one note throughout yet still manages to sound hectic and disorienting. And not in a fun way.
2. "Pete Davidson"
Do I even need to explain why this one's on the list? Thought so.
1. “The Light Is Coming,” featuring Nicki Minaj
This might be the only unlistenable song on our list. Let me preface that by saying Nicki Minaj's verse is pure gold—one of her best, maybe!—but even she can't stop “The Light Is Coming” from descending into murky, melody-free chaos. Listening to this song is just stressful.
Originally Appeared on Glamour
