The Top 5 Ariana Grande Songs of All Time

Happy birthday, Ariana Grande!

The icon has long reigned as our princess of pop music, even back to her doo-wop debut, "Put Your Hearts Up." We've watched Ariana's journey from bubblegum pop on Yours Truly to timeless R&B and trap-infused hits thank u, next and Positions. Beyond her musical talent, Ariana has been a trailblazing advocate for social justice, participating in charity performances for LGBTQ+, women and animal rights, as well as protesting alongside the March for Our Lives and Black Lives Matter movements. 

In celebration of the pop icon's 30th birthday, we're ranking our top five favorite songs from her expansive catalog. Continue reading to see if your fave made our list!

5. 'Honeymoon Avenue'

"Honeymoon Avenue" has survived as our favorite track from Yours Truly since it premiered in 2013, and we still think it might be one of the best tracks from Ariana's catalog.

Ariana was one of the few artists reviving the bubbly doo-wop, pop sound of the '50s, and "Honeymoon Avenue" is a classic example. The infectious scat vocals—belonging to Ariana's Victorious co-star, Leon Thomas III—back by heavenly strings make for the sweetest concoction, only made more ethereal by Ariana's airy voice. 

If you followed Ariana back in the day, you know how classic this song—and album, for that matter—were. It's an era we look back on fondly, and Yours Truly will go down as one of the most nostalgic in our music collection.

 

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4. 'just like magic'

Ariana will always empower us with her musical manifestation. Her catalog consists of a few songs that incorporate the Law of Attraction—"successful," "pete davidson" and "7 rings"—but our favorite might be "just like magic."

On this Positions' B-side, Ariana boasts her lifestyle in her very successful care, but perhaps she wouldn't have made it without her manifestation. Whether treating everyone in her life with kindness or taking a second to meditate during her busy day, she always radiates positive energy. It's a good mantra for life that we're taking with us, and the feel-good production is the icing on the cake.

 

3. 'imagine'

We typically lean on Ariana's music to make us feel empowered and confident, but hidden within, she has a few tracks that pull at our heartstrings. "Imagine" is at the top of our list.

Written after the passing of Mac Miller, "imagine" places Ariana in the heartbreak of a love that can now only exist within her mind. We hear her fantasize about the little moments, eating pad thai and resting her head on his shoulder, before bringing us to the reality of the situation: "Imagine a world like that." Ariana closes the song with an effortless whistle note, proving to be an exemplary showcase of her vocal prowess.

 

2. 'goodnight n go'

As we previously hinted, we loved Ariana's "frilly" era. So, you can imagine how excited we were when Ariana brought back the innocence of a crush on "goodnight n go."

This track sees Ariana in the cute beginning of a new relationship, simply hoping her new romantic interest will stay with her by nature's forces—missing his train and cuddling in her apartment because the heat is out—because she's too shy to ask. She's light-hearted and youthful as she harmonizes over a sparkly synth, emphasizing the happy nature of the track. And knowing Ariana's long-time love of Imogen Heap, you'll understand how special this take on the original recording means to her.

 

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1. 'Sometimes'

"Sometimes" ranking at the top of our list will probably surprise most, but we're unapologetic about this choice. 

When we first listened to Dangerous Woman, "Sometimes" immediately felt like a different sonic space than any of Ariana's previous music. The addicting electric guitar added an unusually rustic vibe, tied together with the warped "la, la, la" that interludes the chorus and the verse. Despite its differences from Ariana's classic pop, EDM and hip-hop blend that dominates Dangerous Woman, it still makes sense in the album. In fact, it's the track that rounds out the project.

 

Looking for more ways to celebrate Ariana today? Use one of THESE 11 lyrics from her stacked discography as the caption for your next social media post.