Grande's second studio album, My Everything (2014), continued the pop-R&B sound of its predecessor and incorporated EDM elements. It topped the Billboard 200 and featured four US top-ten singles: "Problem", "Break Free", "Bang Bang", and "Love Me Harder" featuring The Weeknd, the most of any artist that year. Grande's pop-R&B styles extended on her third studio album, Dangerous Woman (2016), which was her first of three consecutive number-one albums in the UK, and spawned top ten hits such as the Grammy nominated title track and "Side to Side".
On her next two albums, Sweetener (2018) and Thank U, Next (2019), Grande experimented with trap while maintaining her characteristic pop-R&B tones; being projects with her most creative control yet and showing a more personal and vulnerable side, both debuted at number one in several countries and were acclaimed by music critics. The former won a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album and spawned the international top three hit "No Tears Left to Cry", while the latter broke several streaming records. Grande became the first solo artist to hold the top three spots on the Billboard Hot 100 simultaneously when "7 Rings", "Break Up with Your Girlfriend, I'm Bored" and "Thank U, Next" did so in 2019. She is also the first artist to have the lead singles from each of their first six studio albums debut within the top ten in the US.
Grande released her sixth studio album, Positions (2020) with its lead single, "Positions" debuting at number one in the US and the UK simultaneously. The song became her third number one hit in the US following "Stuck With U" in collaboration with Justin Bieber and "Rain On Me", also in collaboration with Lady Gaga. A deluxe version of Positions was released in February 2021, with four new songs and a remix of "34+35" featuring Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion. The remix helped the song peak at number two, the highest-charting song credited to three or more female soloist since 2001 when "Lady Marmalade" performed by Christina Aguilera, Mýa, P!nk, and Lil Kim peaked at number one. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, becoming her fifth album to do so. In April 2021, a remix of The Weeknd's "Save Your Tears" was released featuring Grande. The song reached number one in both the US Hot 100 and the Canadian Hot 100. It spent a total of 69 weeks in the US charts, becoming one of the ten longest-running songs in that chart since its publication.
In November 2021, it was announced that Grande would star in the two-part film adaptation of the musical Wicked as Glinda. The first movie released on November 22nd, 2024 to critical acclaim and a worldwide gross of over $750 million, becoming the highest-grossing musical film adaptation of a Broadway musical. Critics praised Grande's performance as Glinda and she recieved over 14 major awards and nominations in the Best Supporting Actress category. Wicked: For Good is set to release on November 21, 2025.
Ariana Grande’s highly anticipated seventh studio album “eternal sunshine" was released on March 8th, 2024. The title is a reference to one of her favourite films, “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” which stars Jim Carrey. The album is a concept album inspired by the events of the film. The lead single “yes, and?" was released on January 12, 2024 and debuted at #1 on the Hot 100. eternal sunshine had a debut at #1 on the Global Spotify charts and on the Billboard 200. The album's 2nd single “we can't be friends (wait for your love)" also debuted at #1 on the Hot 100. During this album cycle, she collaborated with Mariah Carey, Brandy, Monica, Charli XCX, and Troye Sivan on various remixes.
Grande has received various accolades, including two Grammy Awards, ten VMAs, one Brit Award, two Billboard Music Awards, and three American Music Awards. All seven of Grande's full-length albums have been certified platinum by the RIAA. Grande has sold over 90 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Having amassed 98 billion streams globally as of 2021, Grande is one of the most-streamed artists of all time and became the first female artist to surpass 90 billion streams. She was the most-streamed female artist of the 2010s decade on Spotify and Apple Music, and was the only female artist to reach 3 billion total streams on the latter as of 2019. In 2024, Grande became the first artist to have five albums with multiple songs over a billion streams on Spotify. She is the only artist to debut the lead single from all their studio albums in the Top 10 of the Hot 100. Her signature ponytail hairstyle has become an iconic piece of pop culture iconography. In October 2024, she was named the 9th greatest pop star of the 21st Century by Billboard and was the newest artist on the list. Forbes ranked her amongst the highest-paid celebrities in 2019, and Time named Grande as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2016 and 2019. Billboard recognized her as the "Woman of the Year" in 2018. Her song "Thank U, Next" was in Rolling Stone's 2021 revision of their 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 2023, the magazine included Grande among the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time. Grande was nominated in the 2024 GRAMMY Awards for Eternal Sunshine and the Oscars, SAG Awards, Golden Globes, and BAFTAs for her performance in Wicked: Part 1.
Recording artists who have cited Grande as an influence or inspiration include Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, Lana Del Rey, Bryson Tiller, Charlie Puth, Sufjan Stevens, Troye Sivan, Zara Larsson, Tate McRae, Madison Beer, Jung Kook, Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast, Giselle of aespa, and Meghan Trainor.
imperfect for you
Ariana Grande Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Throw your guitar and your clothes in the back seat
My love, they don't understand
But I'll hold your hurt in the box here beside me
How could we know
We'd rearrange all the cosmos? Mm
We crashed, and we burnedNow I just can't go where you don't go
And usually, I'm
Fucked up, anxious, too much
But I'll love you like you need me to
Imperfect for you
Messy, completely distressed
But I'm not like that since I met you
Imperfect for you
Let's go tonight
'Cause there's just a few seconds left 'til tomorrow
We have all that we need
Let's leave our baggage and wine at the table (mm), mm
How could we know
That this was a happy disaster? (Happy disaster) mm (mm)
I'm glad we crashed and burned (we crashed and burned)
I'll never forget when you told me
You said, "usually, I'm"
"Fucked up, anxious, too much
But I'll love you like you need me to
Imperfect for you
Messy, completely distressed
But I'm not like that since I met you"
Mm, how could we know
We'd make the bad stuff delightful? Mm
I'm glad we crashed and burned
I know we'll be there for each other
When we're feeling
Fucked up, anxious, too much
But I'll love you like you need me to
Imperfect for you
Messy, completely distressed
But I'm not like that since I met you
Imperfect for you
Fucked up, anxious, too much
But I'll love you like you need me to
(Like you need me to) imperfect for you
Messy, completely distressed
But I'm not like that since I met you
Imperfect for you
In Ariana Grande's song "imperfect for you," the lyrics paint a picture of a deep connection and understanding between two individuals despite their imperfections and struggles. The song starts with an invitation for her partner to take her hand and leave their troubles behind by throwing their guitar and clothes in the backseat. The singer acknowledges that others may not understand their relationship, but she is willing to hold her partner's hurt and vulnerability close to her heart.
As the song progresses, the lyrics reflect on the unpredictability of their love story and how it has turned their world upside down. Despite crashing and burning in the past, the singer reflects on how she can only truly be herself when she is with her partner. She describes herself as "fucked up, anxious, too much," but vows to love her partner in the way they need her to, imperfectly but wholeheartedly.
The chorus repeats the theme of imperfection and acceptance, emphasizing that the singer is messy and distressed but has found a sense of peace and stability since meeting her partner. The lyrics evoke a sense of gratitude for the happy disaster that brought them together and the joy they have found in each other's flaws and differences.
The final verses continue to express how the challenges they have faced have only strengthened their bond and made their relationship more meaningful. The singer recognizes that they may both be flawed and struggling at times, but they are perfect for each other in their imperfections. The repetition of the lyrics "imperfect for you" serves as a reminder of the unique and special connection they share, built on understanding, acceptance, and unconditional love.
Line by Line Meaning
My boy, come take my hand
Inviting my significant other to join me in facing life's challenges together
Throw your guitar and your clothes in the back seat
Let go of distractions and embrace vulnerability in our relationship
My love, they don't understand
Others may not comprehend our unique connection and bond
But I'll hold your hurt in the box here beside me
I will support you through your pain and struggles, keeping them close to me
How could we know
Reflecting on the unpredictability of our journey together
We'd rearrange all the cosmos? Mm
Surprised by the way our love has changed the universe around us
We crashed, and we burned
Acknowledging past failures but still standing strong together
Now I just can't go where you don't go
Committed to following your lead and being by your side wherever you go
And usually, I'm
Recognizing my flaws and imperfections
Fucked up, anxious, too much
Acknowledge my struggles and complexities
But I'll love you like you need me to
Despite my imperfections, I will love you in a way that meets your needs
Imperfect for you
Embracing the idea that our flaws make us perfectly imperfect for each other
Messy, completely distressed
Accepting the chaos and difficulties that come with love and relationships
But I'm not like that since I met you
Becoming a better version of myself because of our relationship
Let's go tonight
Embracing spontaneity and living in the moment
'Cause there's just a few seconds left 'til tomorrow
Appreciating the present and cherishing our time together
We have all that we need
Realizing that we have everything necessary to face the future together
Let's leave our baggage and wine at the table (mm), mm
Letting go of past issues and enjoying the moment with each other
That this was a happy disaster? (Happy disaster) mm (mm)
Finding joy in the unexpected turns and challenges of our relationship
I'll never forget when you told me
Remembering the meaningful moments and conversations we've shared
We'd make the bad stuff delightful? Mm
Turning difficult situations into positive experiences together
I know we'll be there for each other
Having confidence in our ability to support and care for one another
Like you need me to (li-like you need me to)
Adjusting my behavior to meet your needs and make you happy
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ariana Grande, Ilya Salmanzadeh, Max Martin, Peter Kahm
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@pukaji
[LYRICS]
[Verse 1]
My boy, come take my hand
Throw your guitar and your clothes in the back seat
My love, they don't understand
But I'll hold your hurt in the box here beside me
[Pre-Chorus]
How could we know
We'd rearrange all the cosmos? Mm
We crashed, and we burned
Now I just can't go where you don't go
And usually, I'm
[Chorus]
Fucked up, anxious, too much
But I'll love you like you need me to
Imperfect for you
Messy, completely distressed
But I'm not like that since I met you
Imperfect for you
[Verse 2]
Let's go tonight
'Causе there's just a few sеconds left 'til tomorrow
We have all that we need
Let's leave our baggage and wine at the table (Mm), mm
[Pre-Chorus]
How could we know
That this was a happy disaster? (Happy disaster) Mm (Mm)
I'm glad we crashed and burned (We crashed and burned)
I'll never forget when you told me
You said, "Usually, I'm"
[Chorus]
"Fucked up, anxious, too much
But I'll love you like you need me to
Imperfect for you
Messy, completely distressed
But I'm not like that since I met you"
[Bridge]
Mm, how could we know
We'd make the bad stuff delightful? Mm
I'm glad we crashed and burned
I know we'll be there for each other
When we're feeling
[Chorus]
Fucked up, anxious, too much
But I'll love you like you need me to
Imperfect for you
Messy, completely distressed
But I'm not like that since I met you
Imperfect for you
@BKTY1997
The “imperfect for you” key change is so GOOODDD
@lauraliaaa1331
FRRRRR I KEEP REPEATING
@noamchemla
There are no key changes in the song, what you're hearing is dissonance, which is technically not a key change but sounds similar due to being slightly unpleasant to the ear
@aurate.1
It’s the definition tbh
@Enhypenlovers_
She’s a GENIUS!❤
@shamron0728
I didnt expect it either.
@meelo8439
The “imperfect for you” sounds so hypnotising I’m in love
@charlio0903
@GregaJohn-gb6ev☠️☠️
@nika_lovitaa
Totally agree
@adriangray8309
Is this what they called butterflies in your stomach 🥰🤩