“Motive” features a thematic link with “the way I Look for you.”
The premise with this track — Grande asking a possible significant other, ” What’s your motive?” — is like an expansion of “the way I Look on You,” one of Grande’s solamente tracks from her curated “Charlie’s Angels” soundtrack.
The track defines Grande’s distrust in a fresh relationship, along with her suspicion which he’s just dating her for popularity: “we made that you thing, like, ‘Who’s that guy?’ / Say you ain’t for. in it for the spotlight, boy / I don’t believe no one no more / Boy, show me what you’re in it”
The verse that is third ofMotive” is helmed by Doja Cat, whom raps, ” Do you would like a trophy or perhaps you want to sport me, baby? / Want me personally on the throat ’cause you desired respect.”
These lines, especially the recommended image of a “trophy wife,” mimic the theme of intimate cynicism for those two women that are famous.
“Similar to Magic” contains parallels to “7 Rings” — and a reference that is telling a number of the ladies it had been influenced by.
Grande described “Similar to Magic” as a training in “channeling the mindset that is right and manifestation.
“we genuinely believe that which is super genuine,” Grande told Sang. “we believe that that which you released and what you direct your attention on is exactly what expands, for certain.”
A few of the words read such as for instance an update that is spiritual Grande’s consumerist self- self- confidence bop, “7 Rings.”
“Twelve o’clock, i acquired a group conference, then a meditation at like 1:30 / Then I ride into the studio paying attention for some s— we composed,” Grande sings, recalling the “7 Rings” lyric, “Instead be tangled up with phone phone phone calls and never strings / Write my very own checks like we compose the things I sing.”
The line that is final the chorus, “I have every thing i would like ’cause I attract it,” also recalls the main lyric in “7 Rings”: “we are interested, i acquired it.”
Other words may actually reference people that are real-life tragedies in Grande’s life.
” simply simply simply Take my pen and compose some love letters to Heaven” is virtually definitely a mention of Mac Miller, Grande’s ex-boyfriend and “dearest buddy,” whom passed away of a accidental overdose in 2018.
She formerly described Miller, whoever genuine title had been Malcom McCormick, as an “angel” in “Thank U, Next.”
Grande additionally sings about “losing gay couple cam buddies left and right” in “Similar to Magic,” I just send ’em love and light. although she clarifies, “but”
Fans think this points that are lyric Grande’s longtime buddy Alexa Luria, who she unfollowed on Instagram early in the day in 2010.
Luria ended up being one of several seven ladies who received diamond bands from Grande, and she played roles that are numerous the “Thank U, Next” music movie. Grande also got an “A” tattooed on her behalf thumb in Luria’s honor.
Grande explained her choice to unfollow Luria on Twitter, writing, “sometimes people outgrow each other in spite of how much they love the other person or just just just how much history is here.”
“hopefully it really is short-term,” she proceeded. “all i ask is that y’all please not become involved or deliver anything negative her way. would like to get in front of that.”
Grande additionally recently unfollowed her close collaborator Njomza, another one of this “7 Rings” ladies. A duet involving the two musicians was apparently scrapped from “jobs” following some type or variety of fall-out.
Grande stated she therefore the Weeknd composed most of the words for “Off the dining Table.”
“Off the dining Table” plays just like a duet between two lovers that are new with Grande explaining her doubts therefore the Weeknd, created Abel Tesfaye, chiming in with reassurance and understanding.
Certainly, Grande told Sang that “Off the dining dining Table” was inspired by “that fear about brand new love” — more specifically, that her trauma that is past would “an effective, delighted, healthier” relationship.
“There are moments if the PTSD section of your head takes the demand chair and lets you know those ideas,” she explained, “therefore I think this is written from that destination.”
Narratively, the track is just a point that is turning the record. It comes down after having a sequence of tracks that describe the confidence, “fun intercourse,” and flirty emotions of courtship. “Off the Table,” Grande explained, is a second of reckoning: “Oh wow, i possibly could be dropping in deep love with somebody. Is even an alternative for me personally?”
Grande starts the track by performing, “Will I ever love the same manner once more? / Do we sit this 1 away and wait for the following life?”
This belief echoes “Bloodline,” the track that is fourth “Thank U, Next,” which include the lyric: “we ain’t lookin’ for my one true love / Yeah, that ship sailed away.”
The “true love” described in both tracks may reference Miller. Grande appears to feel responsible for finding pleasure once more and moving forward from her “all-consuming” grief.
Grande additionally confirmed that Tesfaye’s part into the track ended up being encouraged by her present relationship with Gomez.
“we provided him a sum-up that is little of — we caught up for a time and discussed life and everything,” she told Sang. ” And he types of, i do believe, composed their verse from a viewpoint of a person that could be filling specific shoes, and the things I’ve heard which has had thought good.”
Tesfaye’s words consist of numerous sources to old tracks of their own: “we is it possible to love you harder than I did before” (2014’s “Love Me much harder,” his first duet with Grande), and “I became haunted because of the hills” (2015’s “The Hills”).
He additionally sings, “You’re trying to fill the void with a couple of guys,” which echoes a lyric on 2018’s “Hurt You” (“You make an effort to fill the void with every man you meet”).