All The Pete Davidson References On Ariana Grande’s New Album (Because You Know You’re Curious)

It’s absolutely no secret how big of a year Ariana Grande has had. The release and success of Sweetener, her fourth studio album, in August 2018 put her at the top of everybody’s most-loved lists — and sparked plenty of conversation. Most recently, singles from her new album Thank U, Next, have made headlines, including the titular first single, which sweetly mentioned a few of Grande’s high-profile exes, including her ex-fiancé. And unsurprisingly, there are several Pete Davidson references on Thank U, Next. Nods to the SNL cast member appears multiple times on the album, which dropped early on Friday, Feb. 8.

Grande and Davidson broke up in mid-October 2018 after striking up a relationship in May of that year. Soon after, Grande released the mega-hit "Thank U, Next," which is all about finding self-love after a breakup and seeing the good in those past relationships. In the song, Grande name drops Davidson, along with famous exes Big Sean, Ricky Alvarez, and Mac Miller. Moreover, Davidson’s photo actually appears in her "Burn Book" of exes in the Mean Girls-inspired video.

Needless to say, fans were expecting many references to Davidson on the album. And they were right.

"Thank U, Next"

This twist on a breakup song mentions quite a few exes, but Davidson’s name really stuck out, as Grande crooned the lyric, "And for Pete I’m so thankful." That’s a pretty classy way to speak about an ex.

"7 Rings"

Though Davidson isn’t explicitly mentioned by name on the third single from Thank U, Next, "7 Rings," the singer does have a line that could be referencing, in part, her breakup with him. "Been through some bad sh*t, I should be a sad bitch / Who woulda thought it’d turn me to a savage?" she sings on the track. Following in the footsteps of "Thank U, Next," the lyrics of "7 Rings" clearly show that Grande is always evolving throughout all the bad times in her life.

Later in the song, Grande also sings about the apartment she got with "his and hers" closets, which could be a reference to the New York City apartment she bought while the two were engaged.

"Needy"

In the very first verse of the song, Ari says, "Lately I’ve been on a roller coaster / Tryna get a hold of my emotions / But all that I know, is I need you close," and that might point to her most recent breakup with Davidson. Of course, unfortunately Grande has had more than her fair share of heartbreak. There was the Manchester bombing in May 2017, along with the passing of ex and good friend Mac Miller in September.

In verse too, she talks about, with "all this damage," she can’t being selfish and needy. However, again, not just a Davidson thing, but the breakup definitely didn’t help matters.

"Bloodline"

This one not only has a fast and infectious as hell, but it might be the one most about Davidson. The whole song is basically about wanting someone that might be the best fit for you, and realizing that you don’t want [them] in your bloodline. "Just wanna have a good time, yuh / Ain’t no need to apologise, no / But you gon’ have to let this shit go." Considering she and Davidson were engaged, the next step would have been kids, aka a bloodline together, as one contributor pointed out on Genius.

"Ghosting"

Alright, this one is probably the most heartbreaking thus far on the album. In a tweet answering a fan about what it’s about, she wrote, "feeling badly for the person you’re with bc you love somebody else. feeling badly bc he can tell he can’t compare…. and how i should be ghosting him." The lyrics are about crying while with one guy while still in love or thinking all about another man. It’s about guilt for doing this to him.

While it could be about any of her past exes, or even one we might not know about, the lyrics, "Oh, I wish he were here instead / No one that living in your head / He just comes to visit me / When I’m dreaming every now and then (And then)." She’s called Mac Miller, who died in September, an angel before in "Thank U, Next," and so having dreams where he shows up would only make sense. And Davidson was the relationship she had right after. It’s the one with the most tender feelings, and has Twitter ready to sob themselves to sleep over it. It’s very remorseful for these feelings, and it makes it all the harder to get through, especially because she thinks they’ll get past it.

"In My Head"

More to come…

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