Ariana Grande is a queen in the pop community. From her sassy ponytail, to the fact that her songs constantly and consistently climb the charts. Many would tell you that she is a woman they took up to.
While I’ve never been one to seek out that kind of music, I do occasionally enjoy some secular pop. Especially when it hits the spot for musicality. Hello, Imagine Dragons. But I tend to be careful of lyrics that are usually overtly or sexually explicit.
But I do work in a secular workplace where ‘new pop’ is the radio station of choice, so I often hear all the new hits. And when I heard Ariana Grande’s new song, my stomach turned over.
It’s not because I judge the song, or am legalistic, or because I am self-righteous. The song made me sick because it made me sad.
This isn’t about Ariana, this is about our culture.
The lyrics aren’t about true love and the glorification of selfish relationships honestly scared me more than I already am for this generation.
My opinion or convictions honestly have nothing to do with how many relationships is appropriate because I know that everyone’s journey is different and I don’t care if you are in one or ten. It’s all about the motive.
Arianna’s flippant disregard for the other humans she was in relationship with hurt my heart. It was all about what she could get out of the relationship not what ‘we’ could get out of it and God forbid you even consider what he could get out of the relationship.
The disturbing reality of the gimme-what-you-can-give-me-and-as-soon-as-I’m-not-satisfied-anymore-leave is something that I see is consuming our culture. And we wonder why so many marriages are in trouble, or why multiple marriages are more of a trend than sticking together.
Where are the “I love you and made a commitment to stay true” kind of relationships? Where are the ones who live for more than just momentary gratification and live to bring honor to each other and our Creator?
Let’s honor and respect each other as human beings to give a little more into a relationship instead of being wrapped up in how it makes us feel and being worried that our needs aren’t being met.
By all means, don’t live in dangerous, abusive situations, and don’t settle for anything less than you deserve. But let’s not live only for our selfish desires.
Let’s learn to say just “thank you” a little more, instead of “thank you, next.”
“Love your neighbor as you do yourself.” Matthew 22:39
By God’s Grace,
Victoria
I have not heard about this song but I might have heard it before. Sometimes I pass for a second like in the mall or store and listen closely to the song that’s playing. It’s so easy to get disturbed by them… the whole message of this culture is about self and the flesh.
Thank you for this post! It’s great!
Yes, Victoria! This is so true. Thank you for doing this post.
Thank you!!! (Haha, see what I did there? XD) I so appreciate this.
I second all of this! I also tend to avoid secular pop but I do hear it on occasion. I personally have never liked any Ariana Grande’s music but this song really made me not like it. Thank you for posting this, Victoria!!
This modern-day world is full of scary things like this. *shudders* I don’t really listen to pop music either but once a while, yeah. But this is horrible. 🙁
I’m in agreement with what u shared, I’m in a different generation, and it break my heart to see what is happening to your generation.
Brave post, don’t back down. Proud of the conviction you have
Love, Nana
Yeah, I’ve never been as enamored with Ariana as some people are, and this is not the first song of hers to cause me concern. Is she a talented singer? Yes, definitely. She hits notes some people can only dream of, and I understand people admiring her for that and wanting to be as successful as she is. But the meaning of the words she chooses to sing are frequently not something I want to put in my mind.
Yes. Yes yes. That’s all. <3
Oh my goodness, yes I totally agree. I mean sometimes we get in a bad relationship and need to move on, but going into a relationship with, “What can I get from this person?” instead of, “How can I help this person grow closer to God?” is totally, always, no matter what, the wrong motive.
Everything you said is true!! I have never liked Ariana Grande, due to the fact of the way she dresses, her lyrics, etc. I first heard this song in a store (I was waiting for my sister who was trying on some clothes) & as I sat there, I actually listened to the lyrics & it made my heart hurt, due to the fact that this is exactly what society does!!!!!
Anyways, thank you Victoria for this post! It is/was needed.
I agree with you 100%. Thank you for sharing a glimpse of the truth about the society we live in. It’s so sad to see this kind of thing taking place in our culture. Will be praying that’s for sure.