If you're a fan of Ariana Grande, then you've probably been eagerly anticipating her forthcoming album for a number of months now. All we know about the record from the tight-lipped songstress is that it's called Sweetener, the names of six tracks, and that it will be released "sometime this summer".
However, maybe we should be giving the the 24-year-old a little more credit, because as it turns out, she's been dropping hints about the album for a long time now. A year and a half to be exact, and no one, not even her most hardcore fans noticed.
Well, let's take a look at the evidence, shall we? Back in November of 2016, Ariana shared a photograph of herself on Instagram, and it was simply captioned "Sweetener". Yes, it appears that the Bang Bang singer has been thinking about this upcoming venture for quite some time now, and none of us were any the wiser.
And while many speculated that it could have just been a coincidence, Ariana herself confirmed that the caption was a reference to the album's title after a fan questioned whether we had all really been so oblivious.
"Did you actually plan to call the album sweetener when you posted that pic on ig in 2016," one of Ariana's Twitter followers asked her.
To which she replied, "Yes! I always knew. I know some people don’t understand it yet but the body of work feels like sweetener. like warm yummy agave. And clouds. W a little big of crying and sex on the side? I gtg." Well, that is a fantastic description of an album. If this whole singing thing doesn't work, maybe Ariana could get a job writing food descriptions for the menus at restaurants.
Of course, this revelation blew the minds of Ariana's Instagram followers. They had no idea that, much like Edgar Allen Poe's The Purloined Letter, the secret was hiding in plain sight. But once they had a taste of information, they wanted more, more, more. One Twitter follower commanded Ariana to "Tell us about [the song] "Get Well Soon." Could it be dedicated to her ex, Mac Miller, who's struggled with drug abuse, and smashed his car into a pole while drunk driving?
The gracious pop queen that she is, Ariana replied, writing, "isss ab my anxiety. i felt like i was floating for like 3 months last year & not in a nice way. like i outside my body? was v scary and i couldn’t breathe well. so it’s ab that. & lots of voices in my head singin. i hope it comforts ppl who hear it pls."
Well, Ariana Grande fans, as you wait for the long-anticipated Sweetener, maybe you should spend some time poring over her Instagram photo. There might be clues for her next album there, and you don't even know it.
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