After about a week of hyping it up, Ariana Grande has released her latest single '7 Rings,' along with the music video for the song. '7 Rings' is meant to be a friendship anthem, Grande told her fans on Twitter ahead of the song's release. She explained how its energy compares to one of her last singles, 'Thank U, Next,' which was a big thank you song to her ex-boyfriends (and a mega-hit).
'I guess 'Thank U, Next' is more vulnerable and gentle lol,' she wrote. 'Seven rings is jus like.....a flex. Friendship anthem. How the homies WANT u to feel. What the ‘thank u next’ energy evolves into while embracing a new chapter (even tho both moods /energies are v present).'
The song itself borrows from The Sound of Music's 'My Favorite Things' melodically in the verses and is as much about Grande's resilience in the face of hardship (her ex Mac Miller's death and the end of her and Pete Davidson's engagement alone in the last couple months), success and self-made (insane) wealth as it is friendships.
'7 Rings' has a very real story attached to it. Back on November after Grande returned her engagement ring to Pete Davidson, she got seven Tiffany & Co. rings that she wears with six friends. Grande told the story of that shopping trip to Billboard magazine in their Women of the Year interview with her.
'It was a... challenging fall day in New York,' she started. 'Me and my friends went to Tiffany’s together, just because we needed some retail therapy. You know how when you’re waiting at Tiffany’s they give you lots of champagne? They got us very tipsy, so we bought seven engagement rings, and when I got back to the studio I gave everybody a friendship ring. That’s why we have these, and that’s where the song idea came from.'
Here, the music video for the song featuring her friends Tayla Parx, Rim Taya Shawki, Victoria Monet, Njomza, Alexa Luria, and Courtney Chipolone, along with the lyrics to the song, via Genius, to take in. (Parx, Monet, Njomza, Luria and Chipolone were five of the six girls who got rings from Grande in real life; Kim 'Kaydence' Krysiuk was the last. Grande's mother and grandmother also got rings after Grande wrote the song.)
Yeah, breakfast at Tiffany's and bottles of bubbles
Girls with tattoos who like getting in trouble
Lashes and diamonds, ATM machines
Buy myself all of my favorite things (Yeah)
Been through some bad shit, I should be a sad bitch
Who woulda thought it'd turn me to a savage?
Rather be tied up with cuffs and not strings
Write my own checks like I write what I sing, yeah (Yeah)
Pre-Chorus 1:
My wrist, stop watchin', my neck is flossin'
Make big deposits, my gloss is poppin'
You like my hair? Gee, thanks, just bought it
A reference to her signature high long ponytail and the extensions she buys for it, along with the styling by a professional.
I see it, I like it, I want it, I got it (Yeah)
Chorus:
I want it, I got it, I want it, I got it
I want it, I got it, I want it, I got it
You like my hair? Gee, thanks, just bought it
I see it, I like it, I want it, I got it (Yeah)
Verse 2:
Wearing a ring, but ain't gon' be no 'Mrs.'
Buy matching diamonds for six of my bitches
I'd rather spoil all my friends with my riches
Think retail therapy my new addiction
Whoever said money can't solve your problems?
Must not have had enough money to solve 'em
They say 'Which one?' I say 'Nah, I want all of 'em'
Happiness is the same price as red-bottoms
A reference to Christian Louboutin heels, which have red soles and cost over $695 (£537) per pair.
Pre-Chorus 2:
My smile is beamin', my skin is gleamin'
The way it shine, I know you've seen it (You've seen it)
I bought a crib just for the closet
Both his and hers, I want it, I got it, yeah
Grande has a crib for her pet pig Piggy Smallz, literally, that she's shown off on Instagram before in her multi-million Chelsea apartment.
Chorus:
I want it, I got it, I want it, I got it
I want it, I got it, I want it, I got it (Baby)
You like my hair? Gee, thanks, just bought it (Oh yeah)
I see it, I like it, I want it, I got it (Yeah)
Bridge:
I got my receipts, be lookin' like phone numbers
If it ain't money, then wrong number
Black card is my business card
The way it be settin' the tone for me
I don't mean to brag, but I be like, 'Put it in the bag,' yeah
When you see them racks, they stacked up like my ass, yeah
Shoot, go from the store to the booth
Make it all back in one loop, give me the loot
Never mind, I got the juice
Nothing but net when we shoot
Look at my neck, look at my neck
Ain't got enough money to pay me respect
Ain't no budget when I'm on the set
If I like it, then that's what I get, yeah
Chorus:
I want it, I got it, I want it, I got it (Yeah)
I want it, I got it, I want it, I got it (Oh yeah, yeah)
You like my hair? Gee, thanks, just bought it
I see it, I like it, I want it, I got it (Yeah)
Alyssa Bailey is the senior news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton). She previously held positions at InStyle and Cosmopolitan. When she's not working, she loves running around Central Park, making people take #ootd pics of her, and exploring New York City.
