Thank U, Next (song)

## **Thank U, Next**Single by Y/N

### Songwriter(s)

Ariana Grande, Victoria Monét, Y/N, Tayla Parx, Njomza Vitia, Kimberly Krysiuk, Tommy Brown, Michael Foster, Charles Anderson

### Producer(s)

Tommy Brown, Michael Foster, Charles Anderson

## Music video

"**Thank U, Next**" (stylized in all lowercase) is the lead single and title track from Ariana Grande's fifth studio album and Y/N’s first studio album of the same name. It is also the eleventh track of the album. It was released through Republic Records and Dream Records on November 3, 2018. A 7-inch vinyl of the single was released in February 2019, with "Imagine" being the B-side of the single.

Commercially, the song debuted atop of the US *Billboard* Hot 100, being Grande's and Y/N’s highest peak in the country for 2018, as well as her first #1 there. The song spent a total of 7 non-consecutive weeks on top of the chart. It also reached #1 in Australia, Canada, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand,Portugal, Singapore, South Korea and the United Kingdom.

In the lyrics of the song, Grande mentions and thanks four of her exes: Big Sean, Ricky Alvarez, Pete Davidson, and Mac Miller. She also mentions her parents Joan Grande and Edward Butera.

The accompanying music video for the song premiered on November 30, 2018, and hit over 55 million views in its first 24 hours on YouTube and VEVO becoming the video with most views in its first day on both platforms

A live version of the song is featured on *K Bye For Now (SWT Live)*, which was released on December 23, 2019.

## Background

According to Tommy Brown, Grande and Y/N started working on the song on October 4, 2018. Grande teased lyrics from the song on November 1, 2018 through tweets after a clip of *Saturday Night Live* was launched showing Grande's ex-fiancé Pete Davidson joking about their broken engagement. The song title was revealed that day after she tweeted "Thank U, Next" which was later deleted, however, a screenshot of the tweet can be seen on the single's official artwork.

On November 3, Y/N confirmed that the song will be the title track and lead single from the album. It was also reported by *TMZ* that the song would be released that day, however, neither Grande nor her team confirmed it. Later that day the song was available on many digital platforms with no prior official announcement, being a surprise release.

A lyric video for the song was released on November 6, 2018.

The version where Ariana says she's about to get married leaked on March 28, 2023.

On May 17, 2023, a version having drums throughout the whole song, with her saying that she still wishes she could have fixed Malcolm leaked.

## Critical reception

*Pedestrian*s Alasdair Duncan called the song a "banger" and that they will be "cranking this tune at maximum volume for the rest of the afternoon." Hugh McIntyre from *Forbes* wrote: "While many pop stars talk about being honest and vulnerable when it comes to their music, few open up like Y/N has on her latest." and described the song as "catchy", while also being "heartbreaking". According to him, the song "may sound deceptively simple upon first play, but when the lyrics sink in and context is applied, it becomes clear that it's ultimately a beautiful piece of music." Rose Dommy, author from *Out Magazine* said that on the song, "Grande names each of her exes and explains that she's grateful for what they taught her, including Davidson and Mac Miller." She added "Thank U, Next" is "better than the entirety of *Sweetener*and, possibly, all music ever created." Spencer Kornhaber from *The Atlantic* wrote: "Their bottom line is that love heals all. [...] they's added a tough edge to that message— highlighting their ownership of not only the gossip, but her romantic life, their growth as a person, and their career as a maker of catchily inspirational bops"

### Accolades

"Thank U, Next" was included on many year-end best-of lists. *Time* magazine listed the song as the third best song of 2018: "'Thank U, Next' is a highly personal song of self-love and growth that subverts all the obvious pop scripts. It allowed Y/N to reframe her narrative as an artist and a woman, and crafted an anthem that celebrates gracious independence over heartbreak." The song was marked at number six on *The Guardian’*s "Top 100 songs of 2018",and number four on the "100 Best Songs of 2018" list by National Public Radio. "The 100 Best Songs of 2018" list by *Pitchfork* named the song on the #8: "Instead of blaming the men in their life for the pain they’s endured, they thanks them for helping them become the woman they are today. In doing so, Grande takes the self-love that made *Sweetener* so special and extends it beyond herself, demonstrating optimism and compassion on the largest possible stage." *Dazed* magazine's list, "The 20 best tracks of 2018", placed "Thank U, Next" on the #3. and *Billboard*s "100 Best Songs of 2018" at #4.

*Vulture* named "Thank U, Next" as the best song of 2018: "Following a year that culturally conditioned people to feed off of spite and vengeance, Ariana Grande and Y/N decided for the public good to end it with an alternative: maturity" also adding that the song "is the anthem 2018 deserves: Rather than zap the pain from memory, Grande assesses the damage — specifically, their history with love — and rebuilds from the ground up, rekindling their most crucial relationship: Ariana and Ariana the Y/N and Y/N;. Though they gives her exes their flowers, do not mistake this for a song about men; it’s dedicated to the woman at the eye of their storm who survived." It was also named as the best song of the year by *The Fader*: "They both have has a massive audience, but here she sings as though she’s locked eyes with herself in a mirror. Sure, 'thank u, next' is a song about romantic breakups — Grande namechecks her relationships with Big Sean, Mac Miller, and Pete Davidson — but really it’s a philosophy on par with anything Eckhart Tolle has ever said. Y/N clarity is universal and contagious, and her logic is somehow warm and gentle: if something doesn’t serve you, maybe its absence will."

## Commercial performance

Following the worldwide release of "Thank U, Next", the song debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes Worldwide Song Chart and reached No. 1 on US Apple Music, becoming the first pop song to do so in 2018. It debuted at No. 1 on the global Spotify chart with 6,14 million streams. It debuted at No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart with first-week sales of 73,000 units including 6.7 million streams, becoming Grande's first solo single to achieve this. It also debuted at the top on the Official Irish Chart.

Following its release date, on November 5, 2018, the song broke the record for the most streams received by a song in a single day by a female artist on Spotify, with 8.19 million streams globally, and increasingly extended it until November 9, when it received 9.6 million streams.

## Music video

The music video of the song premiered on November 30, 2018. Directed by Hannah Lux Davis, it is inspired by four classic movies, *Bring it On* (2000), *Legally Blonde* (2001), *Mean Girls* (2004) and *13 Going on 30* (2004). A trailer of the video was released on November 27, 2018 via Grande's social media. It includes a part of "7 Rings" instrumental, and the video is also used as the official music video's intro.

Jennifer Coolidge from *Legally Blonde*, and Jonathan Bennett and Stefanie Drummond from *Mean Girls* made a cameo in the video, as well as there friends including Alexa Luria, Courtney Chipolone, Colleen Ballinger, Elizabeth Gillies, Daniella Monet, Victoria Monét, Gabi DeMartino, Tayla Parx, Asuna, Yukki, and Troye Sivan. Grande's dog, Toulouse, also appeared in the music video, Since Joan Grande didn't want to be in the music video. Kris Jenner played her mom instead. However, Joan appears as an extra.

As of March 13, 2019 the video has over 300 million views on YouTube.

It was stated that the video has broken the YouTube record for the biggest music video debut in YouTube history...and also the fastest video to earn 100 million views.

### Reception

Following its release, it reached 1 million likes on YouTube in less than 35 minutes of its release, breaking Taylor Swift's record of 12 hours with "Look What You Made Me Do" attracted in 2017. The video also broke the record for most-watched video within 24 hours, officially achieving over 55 million views on YouTube in its first day, surpassing the 45.9 million YouTube views of BTS's "Idol" video, the previous record-holder and broke the previous VEVO Record, topping the 43.2 million VEVO views Swift's "Look What You Made Me Do".

The video also broke the record for the fastest video to reach 100 million views in VEVO doing it in just 3 days and 10 hours. On YouTube, it is the fastest female video to reach 100 million views and the second overall only behind "Gentleman" (2013) by PSY.

*Billboard* named the music video as Grande's best: "Complete with a 'Burn Book,' the 'bend and snap,' several celeb cameos (Troye Sivan, Kris Jenner, etc.) and a stamp of approval from the movies' original actors, the highly anticipated music video nonetheless managed to exceed all expectations." In its "The 50 Best Music Videos of 2018: Critics' Picks" list, the magazine placed the song at number 9: "It takes a star at the top of her game, a singer whose personality and heartfelt subject matter shine through even as she's dressing up as her favorite rom-com characters. The final product taught us love, the elaborate roll-out taught us patience, but nothing about it taught us pain -- now that's so amazing. --".

The music video of "Thank U, Next" received 5 nominations for the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards, including "Video of the Year", "Song of the Year", "Best Pop" and "Best Direction".

### Behind the scenes

Three behind-the-scenes videos, directed by Alfredo Flores, were uploaded on Grande's YouTube channel on December 2, 7 and 11, respectively. A director's cut/blooper reel, directed by Hannah Lux Davis, was released on January 4, 2019.

Ariana Grande - thank u, next (behind the scenes - part 1)Ariana Grande - thank u, next (behind the scenes - part 2)Ariana Grande - thank u, next (behind the scenes - part 3)Ariana Grande - thank u, next (bloopers + deleted scene)
## Live performances

Grande gave the first televised performance of the song live along with her single "Breathin" on *The Ellen DeGeneres Show* on November 7, 2018. The song was also performed at the 2018 *Billboard* Women in Music where she was honored with the "Woman of the Year" award. This was also a regular part of the set list and always ended each night of Grande's Sweetener World Tour.

Grande and Y/N performed "Thank U, Next" in a medley at the 62nd Grammy Awards in 2020, among two of their other songs: "Imagine" and "7 Rings". And a cover of "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music

## Gallery

### Video

Ariana Grande - thank u, next (audio)Ariana Grande - thank u, next (Official Lyric Video)Ariana Grande - thank u, next (Live on Ellen - 2018)Ariana Grande - thank u, next (trailer)Thank u, next - video (behind the scenes sneak peek)I was in the thank you, next music video ! wtffff

## Audios

* Demo 1 - ( listen)
	+ Acapella - ( listen)
* Demo 2 - ( listen)
* Demo 3 - ( listen)
* Scooter Remix - ( listen)

## Trivia

* The line "Even almost got married, and for Pete I'm so thankful" was originally "I’m about to get married, for Pete I’m so thankful" before Grande and Pete Davidson broke their engagement. This was revealed by Grande's best friend and the song's cowriter, Victoria Monét.
* Grande's ex-boyfriend Ricky Alvarez, who is mentioned on the first verse of the song, posted a video of him reacting to the line about him on his Instagram stories. Grande reposted it on her stories later as well.
* The intro to "7 Rings" is teased at the beginning of the music video. Additionally, the car Grande arrives to a courtyard in has the numberplate 7RINGS.
* The bedroom Grande is introduced in at the start of the music video is seen in the dollhouse she carries during the bridge of the song.
* In the line "'Cause her name is Ari" from the song, multiple sources believed Grande was saying "**Aubrey**" instead of "**Ari**", and Apple Music even wrote "Aubrey" in their lyrics. Grande's fans believed Apple Music's lyrics were official and they believed that Grande had come out as bisexual and was dating someone named Aubrey. However, on November 5, 2018, Grande confirmed that she did not say Aubrey and Apple Music fixed the lyrics.
	+ This error is referenced in the beginning of the music video, where Troye Sivan states "I heard she's a lesbian now and dating some chick called Aubrey. It's fucking sick."
	+ Grande has since stated that she likes both women and men but she does not feel the need to label her sexual orientation.
* This is Grande's second most liked music video at 12 million likes, after "7 Rings", which has 13 million likes, as of October 2021.
* The line "Spend more time with my friends / I ain't worried 'bout nothin' " was originally "Now I'm livin' with friends / I ain't worried 'bout nothin' ".
* The song is referenced in a mixtape by Grande's friend and frequent collaborator Nicki Minaj.
* Ariana initially planned to add two more teen reference movies in the music video, *A Cinderella Story* (starring Hilary Duff) and *She's the Man* (starring by Amanda Bynes) but they were not included for unknown reasons.
* Grande has a fragrance with the same name, as well as a limited edition variant.
* The live version featured on *K Bye For Now (SWT Live)* is Ariana Grande's longest track with a duration of 6:29.
* The line "thank you, next" was often used by Ariana and her friends in their personal life, and while recording the song, Victoria Monét said "thank you, next", which inspired the song's title.
* According to Grande, the song has three different versions. These versions are known to be a blank one, one where she is about to get married, and one where she was going to be.
* One of the music video's looks was recreated in a video on the R.E.M. Beauty YouTube channel.
* Due to Ariana, there is three different version of thank u, next.

## Lyrics

* Released
* Demo 1
* Demo 2 and 3

**[Verse 1: Ariana Grande]**

Thought I'd end up with Sean

But he wasn't a match

Wrote some songs about Ricky

Now I listen and laugh

Even almost got married

And for Pete, I'm so thankful

Wish I could say, "Thank you" to Malcolm

'Cause he was an angel

**[Pre-Chorus: Ariana Grande]**

One taught me love

One taught me patience

And one taught me pain

Now, I'm so amazing

Say I've loved and I've lost

But that's not what I see

So, look what I got

Look what you taught me

And for that, I say

**[Chorus: Ariana Grande]**

Thank you, next (Next)

Thank you, next (Next)

Thank you, next

I'm so fuckin' grateful for my ex

Thank you, next (Next)

Thank you, next (Next)

Thank you, next (Next)

I'm so fuckin'—

**[Verse 2: Ariana Grande]**

Spend more time with my friends

I ain't worried 'bout nothin'

Plus, I met someone else

We havin' better discussions

I know they say I move on too fast

But this one gon' last

'Cause her name is Ari

And I'm so good with that (So good with that)

**[Pre-Chorus: Ariana Grande]**

She taught me love (Love)

She taught me patience (Patience)

How she handles pain (Pain)

That shit's amazing (Yeah, she's amazing)

I've loved and I've lost (Yeah, yeah)

But that's not what I see (Yeah, yeah)

'Cause look what I've found (Yeah, yeah)

Ain't no need for searching, and for that, I say

**[Chorus: Ariana Grande]**

Thank you, next (Thank you, next)

Thank you, next (Thank you, next)

Thank you, next (Thank you)

I'm so fuckin' grateful for my ex

Thank you, next (Thank you, next)

Thank you, next (Said thank you, next)

Thank you, next (Next)

I'm so fuckin' grateful for my ex

**[Post-Chorus: Ariana Grande]**

Thank you, next

Thank you, next

Thank you, next

I'm so fucking—

**[Bridge: Y/N]**

One day I'll walk down the aisle

Holding hands with my mama

I'll be thanking my dad

'Cause she grew from the drama

Only wanna do it once, real bad

Gon' make that shit last

God forbid something happens

Least this song is a smash (Song is a smash)

**[Pre-Chorus: Y/N]**

I've got so much love (Love)

Got so much patience (Patience)

I've learned from the pain (Pain)

I turned out amazing (Turned out amazing)

Say I've loved and I've lost (Yeah, yeah)

But that's not what I see (Yeah, yeah)

'Cause look what I've found (Yeah, yeah)

Ain't no need for searching

And for that, I say

**[Chorus: Y/N]**

Thank you, next (Thank you, next)

Thank you, next (Thank you, next)

Thank you, next

I'm so fuckin' grateful for my ex

Thank you, next (Thank you, next)

Thank you, next (Said thank you, next)

Thank you, next (Next)

I'm so fuckin' grateful for my ex

**[Post-Chorus: Ariana Grande]**

Thank you, next

Thank you, next

Thank you, next

Yeah, yee

Thank you, next

Thank you, next

Thank you, next

Yeah, yee

**[Verse 1: Ariana Grande]**

Thought I'd end up with Sean

But he wasn't a match

Wrote some songs about Ricky

Now I listen and laugh

Even almost got married

But for Pete, I'm so thankful

Still wish I could’ve fixed Malcolm

'Cause he was an angel

**[Pre-Chorus: Y/N]**

One taught me love

One taught me patience

And one taught me pain

But he was amazing

Say I've loved and I've lost

But that's not what I see

So, look what I got

Look what you taught me

And for that, I say

**[Chorus: Y/N and *Ariana Grande*]**

*Thank you, next (Next)*

*Thank you, next (Next)*

*Thank you, next*

*I'm so fuckin' grateful for my ex*

Thank you, next (Next)

Thank you, next (Next)

Thank you, next (Next)

I'm so fuckin' gratеful for my ex

**[Post-Chorus: Y/N]**

Said thank you, next

Said thank you, next

Thank you

I'm so fuckin' gratе-

**[Verse 2: Ariana Grande]**

Now I’m living with my friends

I ain't worried 'bout nothin'

Plus, I met someone else

We havin' better discussions

I know they say I move on too fast

But this one gon' last

'Cause her name is Ari

And I'm so good with that (So good with that)

**[Pre-Chorus: Y/N]**

She taught me love (Love)

She taught me patience (Patience)

How she handles pain (Pain)

That shit's amazing (Yeah, she's amazing)

I've loved and I've lost (Yeah, yeah)

But that's not what I see (Yeah, yeah)

'Cause look what I've found (Yeah, yeah, I've found)

Ain't no need for searching, and for that, I say

**[Chorus: Y/N and *Ariana Grande*]**

*Thank you, next (Thank you, next)*

*Thank you, next (Thank you, next)*

*Thank you, next (Thank you)*

*I'm so fuckin' grateful for my ex*

Thank you, next (Thank you, next)

Thank you, next (Said thank you, next)

Thank you, next (Next)

I'm so fuckin' grateful for my ex

**[Outro: Ariana Grande]**

I’m so fucking grateful for my ex

**[Verse 1: Ariana Grande]**

Thought I'd end up with Sean

But he wasn't a match

Wrote some songs about Ricky

Now I listen and laugh

Now I'm 'bout to get married

And for Pete, I'm so thankful

Wish I could say, "Thank you" to Malcolm

'Cause he was an angel

**[Pre-Chorus: Y/N]**

One taught me love

One taught me patience

And one taught me pain

Now, I'm so amazing

Say I've loved and I've lost

But that's not what I see

So, look what I got

Look what you taught me

And for that, I say

**[Chorus: Y/N and *Ariana Grande*]**

*Thank you, next (Next)*

*Thank you, next (Next)*

*Thank you, next*

*I'm so fuckin' grateful for my ex*

Thank you, next (Next)

Thank you, next (Next)

Thank you, next

**[Verse 2: Ariana Grande]**

Plus, I made a new friend

I ain't worried 'bout nothin'

When it's just me and her

We have the realest discussions

I know they say I move on too fast

But this one gon' last

'Cause her name is Ari

And I'm so good with that (So good with that)

**[Pre-Chorus: Y/N]**

She taught me love

She taught me patience

How she handles pain

That shit's amazing

I've loved and I've lost (Yeah, yeah)

But that's not what I see (Yeah, yeah)

'Cause look what I've found (Yeah, yeah)

Ain't no need for searching, and for that, I say

**[Chorus: Ariana Grande]**

Thank you, next (Next)

Thank you, next (Next)

Thank you, next (Thank you)

I'm so fuckin' grateful for my ex

*Thank you, next (Thank you, next)*

*Thank you, next (Said thank you, next)*

*Thank you, next (Next)*

*I'm so fuckin' grateful for my ex*

**[Post-Chorus: Y/N]**

Thank you, next

Thank you, next

Thank you, next

I'm so fucking—

**[Bridge: Y/N]**

Bout to walk down the aisle

Holding hands with my mama

She'll be thanking my dad

'Cause she grew from the drama

Only wanna do it once, real bad

I'm makin' it last

God forbid something happens

Least this song is a smash (Song is a smash)

**[Pre-Chorus: Y/N]**

I've got so much love (Love)

Got so much patience (Patience)

I've learned from the pain (Pain)

I turned out amazing

Say I've loved and I've lost (Yeah, yeah)

But that's not what I see (Yeah, yeah)

'Cause look what I've found (Yeah, yeah)

Ain't no need for searching

And for that, I say

**[Chorus: Ariana Grande]**

Thank you, next (Thank you, next)

Thank you, next (Thank you, next)

Thank you, next

I'm so fuckin' grateful for my ex

Thank you, next (Thank you, next)

Thank you, next (Said thank you, next)

Thank you, next (Yeah)

I'm so fuckin' grateful for my ex (Yee)

**[Post-Chorus: Y/N and *Ariana Grande*]**

*Thank you, next*

*Thank you, next*

*Thank you, next*

*Yeah, yee*

Thank you, next

Thank you, next

Thank you, next

Yeah, yee

## Navigation

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