Shut Up

Album: Positions (2020)
Charted: 47
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Ariana Grande recorded her 2019 Thank U Later album following a grueling stretch that included a terrorist attack at her concert, the death of former boyfriend Mac Miller, and the public end of her engagement to comedian Pete Davidson. Not surprisingly, that record found her focusing primarily on dealing with personal baggage.

    Her follow-up album, Positions, finds Grande stepping into a new era where time has healed her and she can focus her energy on other matters. She opens the record with this baroque affair where she immediately changes the tone.

    How you been spending your time?
    How you be using your tongue?
    You be so worried 'bout mine


    Grande is brushing off her trolls, urging them to stop intruding into her private affairs. She dismisses those who presume to know all about her, telling them to get a life of their own. Such confidence and strength are themes throughout the record.
  • This cinematic song was the first one Grande wrote for Positions. She penned it with:

    Tayla Parx, who has worked with Grande all the way back to 2014's My Everything album. Parx co-penned five songs on Positions.

    Michael Foster of the duo Social House, who joined Grande's Sweetener World Tour in 2019 as an opening act. Social House worked on three Thank U Next songs, including the title track and "7 Rings."
  • Tommy "TBHits" Brown, Mr. Franks, Peter Lee Johnson, and Travis Sayles produced the sweeping, orchestral song. TBHits and Mr. Franks worked on most of the album, Sayles contributed towards five tracks on Positions, and Johnson arranged the strings on two of them.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Crystal Waters

Crystal WatersSongwriter Interviews

Waters tells the "Gypsy Woman" story, shares some of her songwriting insights, and explains how Dennis Rodman ended up on one of her songs.

Scott Stapp

Scott StappSongwriter Interviews

The Creed lead singer reveals the "ego and self-fulfillment" he now sees in one of the band's biggest hits.

Gary Louris of The Jayhawks

Gary Louris of The JayhawksSongwriter Interviews

The Jayhawks' song "Big Star" has special meaning to Gary, who explains how longevity and inspiration have trumped adulation.

Concert Disasters

Concert DisastersFact or Fiction

Ozzy biting a dove? Alice Cooper causing mayhem with a chicken? Creed so bad they were sued? See if you can spot the real concert mishaps.

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & Tears

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & TearsSongwriter Interviews

The longtime BS&T frontman tells the "Spinning Wheel" story, including the line he got from Joni Mitchell.

Adam Duritz of Counting Crows

Adam Duritz of Counting CrowsSongwriter Interviews

"Mr. Jones" took on new meaning when the song about a misguided view of fame made Adam famous.