Ariana Grande’s album Yours Truly debuted yesterday to widespread plaudits amid number one iTunes charts positioning in multiple countries including the US, Canada, Denmark, Australia, Greece and the UK.
Celebrating with a standout performance on The Today Show on Tuesday morning (September 3) in New York City, the 20-year-old sang her hits “The Way” with Mac Miller and “Tattooed Heart.”
Her Yours Truly LP released via Republic Records already boasts two Top 40 hits.
Her breakout March single “The Way” peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and the follow-up “Baby I” debuted at No. 21.
Known to many as Cat Valentine on Nickelodeon’s hit series Victorious and current spin-off Sam & Cat, Grande recently told MTV she wants her 13-track album to enable fans to connect to the real Ariana — not her child actress character.
“People got to know me first as an actress, but my mom said I’m a singer who acts on the side, but now they are gonna get to know Ariana the little brunette girl from Boca [Raton, Florida] who loves music more than anything,” Grande says .
“And that’s very exciting to me and it’s very relatable. A lot about boys a lot about love, a lot about romance. I’m a hopeless romantic.”
Recently wrapping her first headlining tour The Listening Sessions, the songstress teamed up with her Victorious co-star Leon Thomas and veteran artist/writer Babyface to write some of her album.
Of that experience, the Scooter Braun managed artist adds:
“I feel like some of the most important years of my life have been captured in this album and some of my most important experiences like relationship-wise. So many things I’ve learned I’ll remember when I listen back to these songs. It’s just such a special thing for me. I can’t wait for my fans to hear it.”
Grande reveals one song, the retro-soul “Honeymoon Avenue” is the most personal and one she finds difficult to sing.
“I almost cried last night when I was singing it onstage, ’cause it’s about something that’s so special to me when I hear it. It strikes a personal chord,” she explains .
“‘Honeymoon Avenue’ is about knowing you are at the end of a relationship and wishing it could not be the end and go back to the beginning and start over.”
Fans of the singer may wonder if the pretty star is referring to her recently ended relationship with Australian teen comedy star Jai Brooks of The Janoskians.
Grande is now dating Nathan Sykes of The Wanted who she partnered with on the duet “Almost Is Never Enough,” featuring on the supernatural film soundtrack of The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones.
Of the many Yours Truly reviews, the New York Times calls Grande’s debut “practically Streisandian, startling in its utter rejection of the now” noting its nods to the first two Mariah Carey 90s albums as “modern pop-R&B with a sturdy vintage backbone.”
Over at Idolator , Ariana’s “whistle register and melismas for days” received high praise while some of Harmony Samuels production was seen as “snoozy.” Overall, the album verdict is summed as one that:
” […] delivers on her promise, and it’s liable to make her a star; that will be a good thing. Radio needs Ariana Grande, and if this is a strong debut, the sophomore set is likelier to be even more dazzling.”
Yours Truly is now available to buy in stores and here at IQ it’s already on repeat.
[ Images via Zimbio ]