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Ariana Grande
On “Sweetener,” the titular track to Ariana Grande’s fourth-studio album, Ari talks about bad situations in life and how you can bring light and a positive vibe to “sweeten” them. The track is very reminiscent of a 90s soul hip-hop song, but with elements of modern trap.
The track was teased in he...
[Pre-Chorus: Ariana Grande & Pharrell]
When life deals us cards (Ayy, ayy, ayy, ayy)
Make everything taste like it is salt (Ayy, ooh, ayy, ayy, ayy)
Then you come through like the sweetener you are (Ayy, sweetener, ayy, ayy, ayy)
To bring the bitter taste to a halt (Ayy, sweetener, ayy, ayy, ayy, ayy)
[Chorus: Ariana Grande & Pharrell]
And then you get it, get it, get it, get it (Ayy)
Hit it, hit it, hit it, hit it (Ayy)
Flip it, flip it, flip it
You make me say, "Oh," (Sheesh!) "Oh" (Sheesh!)
Twist it, twist it, twist it, twist it
Mix it, and mix it, and mix it, and mix it
Kiss it, kiss it, kiss it
You make me say, "Oh," (Sheesh!) "Oh" (Sheesh!)
[Verse 1: Ariana Grande & Pharrell]
I like the way (Way) you lick the bowl (You lick the bowl, sheesh)
Somehow your method touches (Sheesh!) my soul (Sheesh, touches my soul, yeah)
It lifts me up (Up) to heights unknown (Ayy, sweetener, sweetener, sweetener, sweetener, sweetener)
So when they ask, "How's life?" (Sheesh!) I go (Sheesh!)
[Pre-Chorus: Ariana Grande & Pharrell]
When life deals us cards (Ayy, ayy, ayy, ayy)
Make everything taste like it is salt (Ayy, ooh, ayy, ayy, ayy)
Then you come through like the sweetener you are (Ayy, sweetener, ayy, ayy, ayy)
To bring the bitter taste to a halt (Ayy, sweetener, ayy, ayy, ayy, ayy)
[Chorus: Ariana Grande & Pharrell]
And then you get it, get it, get it, get it (Ayy)
Hit it, hit it, hit it, hit it (Ayy)
Flip it, flip it, flip it
You make me say, "Oh," (Sheesh!) "Oh" (Sheesh!)
Twist it, twist it, twist it, twist it
Mix it, and mix it, and mix it, and mix it
Kiss it, kiss it, kiss it
You make me say, "Oh," (Sheesh!) "Oh" (Sheesh!)
[Verse 2: Ariana Grande, Pharrell & Both]
Your mama sent (Sent) us horoscopes (Us horoscopes, sheesh)
Had so much fun (Fun) watching them unfold (Sheesh, watching them unfold, yeah)
You said she like me, I smile (Ayy), I know (Sweetener, sweetener, sweetener, sweetener, sweetener)
So when they ask, "How’s life?" (Sheesh!) I go (Sheesh!)
[Pre-Chorus: Ariana Grande & Pharrell]
When life deals us cards (Ayy, ayy, ayy, ayy)
Make everything taste like it is salt (Ayy, ooh, ayy, ayy, ayy)
Then you come through like the sweetener you are (Ayy, sweetener, ayy, ayy, ayy)
To bring the bitter taste to a halt (Ayy, sweetener, ayy, ayy, ayy, ayy)
[Chorus: Ariana Grande & Pharrell]
And then you get it, get it, get it, get it (Ayy)
Hit it, hit it, hit it, hit it (Ayy)
Flip it, flip it, flip it
You make me say, "Oh," (Sheesh!) "Oh" (Sheesh!)
Twist it, twist it, twist it, twist it
Mix it, and mix it, and mix it, and mix it
Kiss it, kiss it, kiss it
You make me say, "Oh," (Sheesh!) "Oh" (Sheesh!)
[Bridge: Ariana Grande & Pharrell]
And then we lay it back, talk the rest of the night
Things that we can light make me say, "Oh," (Sheesh!) "Oh" (Sheesh!)
Talking 'bout what you wanna do, whether it's wrong or right
I am followin’ you 'cause you make me say, "Oh," (Sheesh!) "Oh" (Sheesh!)
(Hey) Said I don't know what I'd do without you in my life (ayy), it'd be so sour (Sweetener, ayy)
I'm hoping that everybody can experience what we have in ours (Sweetener, sweetener, ayy, ayy, ayy, sweetener, ayy, ayy, ayy)
[Pre-Chorus: Ariana Grande & Pharrell]
When life deals us cards (Ayy, ayy, ayy, ayy)
Make everything taste like it is salt (Sheesh, sheesh!)
Then you come through like the sweetener you are (Ayy, sweetener, ayy, ayy, ayy, ayy)
To bring the bitter taste to a halt (Sheesh, sheesh!)
[Chorus: Ariana Grande & Pharrell]
And then you get it, get it, get it, get it (Ayy)
Hit it, hit it, hit it, hit it (Ayy)
Flip it, flip it, flip it
You make me say, "Oh," (Sheesh!) "Oh" (Sheesh!, c'mon)
Twist it, twist it, twist it, twist it
Mix it, and mix it, and mix it, and mix it (Yeah)
Kiss it, kiss it, kiss it (Sweetener, sweetener, sweetener, sweet)
You make me say, "Oh," (Sheesh!) "Oh" (Sheesh!)
You make me say, "Oh," babe
[Outro: Ariana Grande]
Hey, ayy, oh, yeah
sweetener was written by Pharrell Williams & Ariana Grande.
sweetener was produced by Pharrell Williams.
Ariana Grande released sweetener on Fri Aug 17 2018.
This is all she’s said about the song so far:
But since the it’s the title track, we can expect it to have a similar meaning to the album title (making a bitter situation better).
Yes, “sweetener” was certified platinum by the RIAA on August 17, 2023.