Maps of Music

Positions (2020)

Where the lyrics of Positions take you, and where it was really made.

Ariana Grande became the first artist to replace herself at number one with two solo songs, when '34+35' unseated the title track on the Mainstream Top 40 chart.

Key places

Recorded at Capitol Studios (2020)

Recording site Capitol Studios — The album's recording credits name Capitol Studios in Los Angeles as a recording location for Positions. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Jungle City (2020)

Recording site Jungle City Studios — The album's recording credits also name Jungle City in New York City as a recording location for Positions. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Positions: sixth studio album by Ariana Grande
• Released 30 October 2020 by Republic Records
• R&B and pop with trap influences, expanding the sound of Sweetener (2018) and Thank U, Next (2019)
• Themes: sexual intimacy, attraction, and romantic devotion

Background

• Grande announced the album on 14 October 2020, saying it would come out that month
• Inspired by her 'emotional healing'; she wanted to emphasize her vocals
• Worked with many producers, including frequent collaborator Tommy Brown
• Longtime co-writers Victoria Monét and Tayla Parx took part
• Guest features: Doja Cat, the Weeknd, and Ty Dolla Sign; Megan Thee Stallion appears on the deluxe edition

Recording

• Recording credits name Capitol Studios in Los Angeles and Jungle City in New York City

Cover

• Three slightly different covers, all black-and-white beauty shots of the singer
• Shot by Dave Meyers, who also directed the title track's music video
• Creative direction by Stefan Kohli

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Early life

• Born June 26, 1993, in Boca Raton, Florida.
• Performed as a child with the Fort Lauderdale Children's Theater, playing Annie.
• Sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" at a Florida Panthers home game at age eight.

Career

• Began in the Broadway musical 13 (2008).
• Gained fame as Cat Valentine in the Nickelodeon series Victorious (2010–2013) and its spin-off Sam & Cat (2013–2014).
• Signed with Republic Records; debut album Yours Truly (2013) debuted atop the Billboard 200.
• Albums My Everything (2014) and Dangerous Woman (2016) brought international success.
• Sweetener (2018) and Thank U, Next (2019) mark her trap-influenced period; Positions followed in 2020.
• Eternal Sunshine (2024) marked her move into dance and house music; Petal (2026) followed as her eighth studio album.
• Acting work includes Don't Look Up (2021) and Glinda in Wicked (2024) and Wicked: For Good (2025).

Recognition

• Three Grammy Awards, one Brit Award, and fifteen MTV Video Music Awards.
• Ten Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles; the first solo artist to hold the top three Hot 100 spots at once (2019).

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Positions received generally favorable reviews from music critics
• Grande's vocal performance was often praised; the lyrics and production style drew criticism
• The Irish Times' Louise Bruton labeled the album a 'big orgy of breathless R&B songs' that solidifies Grande as one of pop's leading voices
• Clash called it refreshing but removed from her usual major pop moments
• Metacritic gives the album an average score of 72 based on 24 reviews, indicating generally favorable reviews

Records

• Debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with 174,000 album-equivalent units in its first week
• Number one on the UK Albums Chart, Billboard Canadian Albums chart, and Irish Albums Chart
• Certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America
• Contended for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards (2022)
• Grande tied Kelly Clarkson for the most nominations for an act in that category, with five each

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• On 27 October the album's release was announced with limited-edition CDs featuring two alternate cover artworks, sold by preorder on Grande's website.
• Limited quantities of standard edition CDs, autographed by Grande, were sold directly through the website on release day.
• The standard edition vinyl came out on 9 April 2021, including a glow-in-the-dark variant sold exclusively at Target.
• Physical releases credit Doja Cat and the Weeknd as featured artists rather than co-lead artists on 'Motive' and 'Off the Table'.
• Grande said the song '34+35' began as a joke built on strings that sounded Disney-like.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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