15 best Ariana Grande songs
By Micah Wimmer
6. “Problem”
“Problem” has to overcome a lot to approach the greatness it achieves. There’s a lackluster verse by Iggy Azalea, an occasionally intrusive horn part, and a chorus that is less of a sung hook than just a repeated line delivered in a strange whisper by Big Sean. Yet none of those elements matter when listening to Grande sing here. The power she displays on the verses and pre-chorus is just astounding as a golden age-style hip hop beat backs her, intermittently punctuated by strong chords. It’s just so fun and loose, and the fact that the tone of the music and her voice bely the inability to learn and move on that is apparent in the lyrics just does not matter. “Problem” is not a perfect song, but it has some perfect moments, becoming her first of many top five singles in the process.
5. “Pete Davidson”
Like the relationship with the man this song pays homage to, “Pete Davidson” is quite brief. It clocks in at just over a minute and yet despite its brevity, it wonderfully captures the joy and effervescence of new love, the affection in her voice conveying so much. It can be sort of a blink and you miss it track, appearing right before Sweetener’s grand finale, but “Pete Davidson” is a minor masterpiece in its own, small way.