2020-10-30
Positions
Ariana Grande
By Maeve C.
“Shut Up” opens Positions with pizzicato strings and orchestral flourishes, and string arrangements run through much of the album. David Campbell arranged strings for four songs, among them “Off The Table”, Ariana Grande’s slow R&B ballad with The Weeknd, while her frequent collaborator Tommy Brown was the main producer.
Doja Cat appears on “Motive” and Ty Dolla Sign on “Safety Net”. The title track, issued a week ahead of the album, debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and Positions itself opened at the top of the Billboard 200 and the UK albums chart. “POV” closes the record with rain sounds and a quiet arrangement for cello and viola.
Sources
Label-owned editorial (uDiscover Music, Universal; Republic is a UMG label), published 9 November 2020: “The new set was released on October 30 by Republic Records”; UK No. 1 album; Billboard 200 No. 1 with 174,000 units; “Motive” features Doja Cat.Rights-holder metadata (℗ 2020 Republic Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.): October 30, 2020.
Independent corroboration: released by Republic Records on October 30, 2020; title track released 23 October 2020 and debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100; “Shut Up” chamber pop with pizzicato strings; David Campbell string arrangements on tracks 5, 6, 11 and 14; Tommy Brown main producer and frequent collaborator; Doja Cat on “Motive”, The Weeknd on “Off the Table” (slow R&B ballad), Ty Dolla Sign on “Safety Net”; “POV” opens with rain sounds and a cello and viola arrangement; Billboard 200 No. 1. No source seen gives a different day.